Evening star., 1900-12-11

cleverness as a political leader by ignoring
the color line. While he might count on
the support Of a large element of his own
race. he has steadily appealed to the Cuban
sentiment for independence. which Is not
| based on race questions He IS ambitious,
and no one can yet tell what Is going to be
the outcome of his ambition.
Another colored man in the convention Is
Martin MOrua Delgado He is a mulatto,
and has considerable influence. though he
is not much of a talker Mr.. Delgado has
some reputation as a literary man. and
| translated Hugh Conway's Called Back
and other English novels into Spanish.
The Marquis Santa Lucia used to be we'll
known in Cuban revolutionary movements.
but his identity is sometimes lost as Sal
vador Cisneros Betancourt, because he in
sists that there shall be no titles of no
bility in the Cuban republic. He is quite
an old man, and is sometimes heard of in
connection with radical programs for end
ing American control in Cuba. He is also
engaged In the movement against the pres
ent Catholic bishop, Monsignor Sbarretu,
and wants him replaced by native
Cuban Catholic. General Cisneros looks
for all the world like a Georgia planter
Of thirty or forty years ago. He is tall
| and slim. with high shoulders and sparse
gray chin beard. In spite of his radicalism
he is very good-natured, and instead of
gesticuating in his talk he thrusts his
hands in his trousers pockets like an Amer
lean.
Manuel Sanguilly, who is one of the liter
French guardsman. He has a fierce
moustache, but twirls his eyeglasses very
unlike soldier. He is one of the best
takers and writer's among the delegates
and is much less radical than his talk indi-
Gates.
One of the most aggressive members of
the convention is Senor Giberga. who rep
resentS in a measure the old autonomSt
party. He was opposed to the insurrection
end was one of the few of the autonomists
who entered actively into the political
campaign. Much to everybodys surprise
he was elected a delegate to the conven-
ton. He has announced his purpose of
working for the good of Cuba and opposing
the radicals when they go too far. Senior
Giberga has a bulldog expression and
| really looks more like an Englishman than
a Cuban.
The oldest member of the convention Is
Senior Llorente, who is seventy-siX. He is
short and wiry, with white hair and beard,
and illustrates perpetual motion. He is
one of the associate justices of the supreme
court and is very well liked for his impul-
sveness. but chafes under the restrictions
of parliamentary discussion. He will have
a good deal to say about the judicial pro-
visions in the constitution. In the early
stages of the convention Senior Llorente
was the presiding officer He had his own
notion about recognizing the delegates.
Some Of them whom he felt would indulge
in trivial talk he refused to recognize. Once
the galleries applauded something that was
said Senior LlOrente, as presiding officer,
rebuked them severely, but when they ap-
plauded him he accepted the tribute and
made speech of thanks. He Is very in
teresting figure in every way.
The Convention Prudent.
There are other delegates who are in
teresting in their personality and in their
appearance. but l shall leave them for
some future session.. On this occasion few
Of them made their presence known. ex-
cept in answering the roll CALL The ques-
tiOn up on a motion made at an earlier
stage of the proceedings by Juan Gualberto
Gomez that the convention should frame
reply to the address made by Governor
General Wood in opening it. The alleged
purpose was to intimate to the American
authorities that the convention would not
be bulGosed. 1t was feared also that some
anti-American sentiment would crop out.
GuaIberto Gomez disclaimed any such
purpose but the constitution makers were
wary. and they buried his resolution by
an overwhelming vote. The process was
simple enough. The chair held that the
In other words. that the previous question
had been ordered. In Spanish parlance, a
member of a deliberative body, who Is
recognized by the chair 'tiene la palabra,
o. has the floor. More literally translated,
he Is having his say. Senor Llorente had
positive opinions about the unwisdom of
Gualberto GomeZ's motion, and though
nothing was in order. except the roll-call,
he interjected his opinions quite freely.
Chairman Capote said with some asperity
that Senior Llorente no tene la palabra,
was not having the floor, or was out of
order. and gave his bell several vigorous
rings but the delegates laughed and took
Senior LIorente's explosive utterances good
naturedly.
simultaneous COnsider ration.
After the Gomez resolution had been re-
jected. the convention adjourned and took