The Forrest City times., 1900-11-09
A REAL FRIEND OF CUBA.
Wise Words and Wholesome Advice to the Cubans from Gov.-Gen.
 Wood.

tutional convention met in Marti the- ater yesterday afternoon at two o'clock. Long before that hour the theater was crowded. Many thou- sands were unable to gain admittance, and the streets in the neighborhood were blocked with people.
 Gen. Wood and his staff, accom- panied by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and his staff, received an ovation on entering, the bands playing America"
 Senor Cisneros and Gen. Rivera es- corted Gen. Wood to the platform, and he almost immediately opened the convention.
 As military governor of the Island of Cuba and representing the presi- dent of the United States" ne said, "I call this convention to order. It will be your duty first of all to frame and adopt a constitution for Cuba, and, whent that has been done, to formulate what, in your opinion, ought to be the relations between Cuba and the United States.
 "The constitution must be adequate to secure stable, orderly and free gov- ernment. When you have formulated the 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 authoritative agreement between the people of the two coun- tries to the promotion of their com mon interests.
 "All friends of Cuba will follow your: deliberations with the deepest interest, earnestly desiring that you shall reach just conclusions and that by the dignity, individual self-re- straint and wise conservatism which shall characterize your proceedings the capacity of the Cuban people for representative government may bs signally illustrated.
 'The fundamental distinction be- tween true representative govern ment and dictatorship is that in the former every representative of the people, in whatever office, confines himself strictly within the limits of his defined powers. Without such re- straint there can not be free consti- tutional 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 arc strict ly limiteds by the terms of that orr der"
 Before withdrawing Gen. Wood wished the delegatesa speedy and suc- cessful conclusion of their work. He said that Chief Justice Perez would administer the form of oath which the delegates might select, and he con- cluded by appointing Scnor Figuerero, under secretary of state for the gov ernment, as temporary chairman. The convention organized with Senor Llorente, justice of the supreme court, as president, and Senor Villuen- do as secretary.
 The following oath was then admin. | istered:
 | We, delegates, elected by the peo- pie of Cuba to the national constitu- tional convention, swear faithfully to fulfil the duties of our office. We pub
 icly and solemnly renounce allegiance to or compact made with any state or nation, whether made directly or ip- directly, swearing to the sovereignty of the free and independent people of Cuba. and swear to respect the solu- | tion this convention may adopt, as well as the government established by | the constitution"
 | <sT Ja1 k,x Senor Alleman, who said that the convention was "only a continuation of the fight for independence" moved that the regulations governing the old Cuban assembly at Yaya, in 1896, be adopted. As nobody seemed familiar with them the convention ad- journed until to-day at ? p. m., when copies will be furnished to the dele gates.
 | The following resolutions were pre- sented to the president of the conven- tion, just before adjournment, and ! will probably be adopted to-day:
 "The undersigned delegates propose that the constitutional assembly adopt | the following resolutions: "First-That a committee of the as- sembly proceed immediately to call on Gen. Wood and to manifest the satis- | faction with which the delegates have seen him carry out the difficult mis- mission assigned him.
 "Second-That the committee re- quest Gen. Wood to cable to the presi- dent of the United States as follows: The delegates elected to the constitu- tional convention assembled at their inaugural meeting greet with pro- found gratitude and affection the president of the United States of America, and they are satisfied with the honesty demonstrated in the ful- fllment of the declarations made in favor of liberty and the independence of the Cuban people,"
 Released on Writ of Habess Corpus.
 Chicago. Nov. 6.-Ralph Silberstein, arrested on fugitive warrant from MicSnnri xxoc ra1aacaI fro,.. o,,~tol,-