The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-23
Rivera's Demand of the Intervening
Government Puts Them I'm an
Uncomfortable Position.
GENERAL RIVERA TO RESIGN
CANNOT, AS AN OFFICIAL, TAKE
ACTIVE PART IN POLITICS.
Curious Results of Recent Census
Growth Of the Democratic Union
Party-PetitiOn by Negroes.

HAVANA, April 22.-The members of the
Cabinet are still considering where they
stand with respect to the recently ex-
pressed views of the secretary of agricul-
ture, Gen. Rus Rivera, who has demand
ed that the United States government
should set time limit for the occupation
Of the island. Most of them feel that if
they do not resign they will be looked
upon by the Cuban voters as being neg
Iectful of the interests of the island; while.
en- the other hand, they feel that If they
should resign they would not only lose
their salaries, which TO majority of
them are important items, but also that
their places would be occupied by men,
beTs of the Democratic Union party,
which is gaining strength every day, and
which represents the conservative element,
together with all the autonomist organiza-
tons.
Four Cuban generals now belong to the
Democratic Union party-Mayia Rodrid-
guez. Enrique Collazo. Euisbio Hernandez
and Carlos Garcia-while Emilio Nunez
and Fidel Pierra, with other prominent
members of the revolutionary party. have
joined the new movement With the ex-
ception of Senior Villalon, the members of
the present Cabinet are members of the
National party, and they would dread the
effect of new party coming into office;
for, with the patronage at the disposal Of
the new party, it would unquestionably
become predominant AS a matter of fact
the Democratic Union party is already
fast gaining ascendency. It's leaders believe
in giving the United States full swing
ic hat zyhf
lasts, they should devote themselves to
preparing the country for eventual self
government, and they would favor an
elected advisory board instead of the pres
ent appointed Cabinet.
A number of negroes have presented to
Senior Tamayo, secretary of the govern
ment. n petition to be submitted to Gov
ernor General Wood asking the latter to
issue a decree making illegal the use by
newspapers, official documents and police
warrants of such terms as ''mulatto -
colored and brown" which distinguish
a man by his color. The petition asks that
the papers and the authors of such docu-
nents shall be instructed to use the word
citizen. 1t says: tine colored race has
already proved its value and capability
and that the continuance OF the use of
such descriptive epithets only tends to
2erpetuate the barrier between the black
and the white"
A representative of the NuevO Pals called
upon Senior Varona, secretary of finance.
TO ask his opinion regarding the Demo-
cratic Union party, but the secretary de-
clined to comply with the request on the
ground that his position under the inter-
vening government did not warrant him
in discussing the subject
The Dfario de la Marinau says to-day:
Tho number of inhabitants of the island
is about the same as before the uprising.
The number of deaths from the war and
the policy of reconstruction could not have
been very large. Moreover, during the last
thirty years the black population has in
creased in about the same proportion as
the white, In spite of the fact that whites
have been greatly augmented by immigra-
ton. This goes to show that If immigra-
ton ceases the blacks will quickly pre-
dominate in Cuba"
The census returns cause considerable
comment, especially the fact that males
predominant over females in all the prov
inces except Santiago. This causes much
annoyance in Havana, for the Spaniards
low publicly claim that the census proves
that all the stories about the thousands
who were killed during the revolution were
fictitious
AT the inaugural meeting of the Repub-
1ican party to-day Senior Domingo Mendez
Capote was elected provisional president.