The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-06
CONSTITUTION FOR CUBA
The Delegates Hold Their Opening
Session at Havana.
Convention Called to Order by Gov
ernOr General WOOd-BOdy Asked
to Define the Relations With the
United states Debate Over Elcc-
tions-Interest In the Proceedings.

| HAVANA, Nov. 5.-The annual conven-
tion was opened today by Governor Cen
eral Wood. Long before the hour set for
the opening large crowd, gathered in
the vicinity Of the Marti Theatre, in
which the convention assembled. When
the doors we're thrown open the building
was speedily filed to its utmost capacity,
the best class Of Cubans being repre-
sented.
Governor-General Wood arrived Hhortly
after o'clock accompanied by Ruis
Rivera and followed by Senior Cisneros,
Secretary Villalon, and other delegates.
and his staff. General Wood at once ent
to the platform. but did not sit down dur
ing the short time he was in the theatre.
Each delegate occupied "A seat at one of
the thirty-one little tables, which occu-
pied the body OF the theatre. A number
of ladies were behind the. table en- the
stage where General Wood delivered his
opening speech, everyone standing during
its delivery. General Wood said:
Delegates to the annual convention OF
Cuba, gentlemen: AS Military Governor
of the island. representing the President
of the United States, l call this conven-
ton to order. 1t will be your duty first,
to frame and adopt constitution of
Cuba. and when that has been done, to
formulate what in your opinion ought to
be the relations between Cuba and the
United States.
1.-The constitution must be adequate to
secure stable, orderly. and free Gov
ernment When you have formulated tn,
relations which, in your opinion, ought
to exist between Cuba and the United
States, the Government Of the United
States will doubtless take such action on
its part as shall lead to final and au
thoritative agreement between the people
OF the two countries to the promotion Of
their common interests.
"All friends of Cuba will follow your
deliberations with the deepest interest,
earnestly desiring that you will reach
just conclusions, and by the dignity, In
dividual self-restraint, and wise conser-
vatism which shall characterize your pro
ceedings the capacity of the Cuban people
for representative government may BE-
signally illustrated. The fundamental
distinction between true representative
government and dictatorship is that in
the former every representative OF the
people, in whatever Office, confines him
self strictly within the limits of his well
defined powers. Without such restraint
there can be no free and constitutional
government.
Under the order pursuant to which you
have been elected and convened you have
no duty and no authority to take part in
the present government Of the island.
Your powers are strictly limited to the
terms OF that order
There was loud cheering when General
Wood concluded his formal opening
speech. In withdrawing from the plat
form. he said: \
Il nominate the Sub-Secretary OF State
as temporary chairman. / have request
ed the Chief Justice to administer the
oath to the delegates. the form OF which
must be decided by themselves. wish
ing you speedy and successful conclu-
sion of your work. / now withdraw.
He then left the theatre. The delegates
then cheered for the United States and
then for free Cuba and independence.
The Sub-Secretary OF state then asked
the delegates to proceed to draw up tenn
porary regulations for the conduct of the
convention. The delegates decided TO elect
Senior Llorente president. as being the
Oldest delegate, and Senior Villuendas sec
retary as being the youngest. These took
their seats at the presidential table. the
Sub Secretary of State Withdrawing in
their favor.
Both the president and secretary spoke
to the effect that all the delegates come
with the single honest purpose to act ia
triotically in making a cons'''''.
| free Cuba. The preside
| delegates to come TO The
Chief Justice swore then
| Senior Aleman proposed 7a-
| ton, being a continuance
the revolution, should ad
lions adopted at Yaya.
| Puerto Principe. where .-.-
| lutionary leaders had % t t-.l
| meetings in 1896. This motion ~as aa-
cepted. but the deleg: 1- .ound
| themselves in difficulties, as the conven-
ton had no copy of the Yaya regulations.
President Llorente at this point declar-
ed that he did not know what the Yaya
regulations were.
Senior Capote said the meeting should
not break up before deciding upon some
thing. No cause had been given for any
thing which had been said against the
CAPACITY of the Cubans for self-gOvern-
ment.
Senior Gualberto Gomez declared that
the greatest proof that could be brought
against the competence of the delegates
would be their having adopted set OF
regulations which they did not know
| themselves, even the President having
confessed his ignorance of them. He
therefore moved that the convention adj
journ until tomorrow. when the regula-
lions would be Forthcoming. This motion