New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
CUBA'S TWO GOMEZES.
ONCE FOES. THEY HAVE NOW KISSED IN
PUBLIC AND MADE UP.
Correspondence OF The Associated Pressl

PUBLIC AND MADE UP.
Correspondence OF The Associated Press3
Havana. Dec 2s-The Constitutional Convention
has not been in session for several weeks. but the
different sections thereof busly at work con-
sdering various clauses OF the plans which have
been offered by Senors Rivera. Quesada and
Maura from which It Is hoped and expected
constitution will be wrought. Other plans besides
those offered by these members Of the Convention
also receiving attention while IL Is known
that particular features have been thought out by
individuals without entire constitutions having
been prepared. and these special clauses or pre-
visions have also been received and being given
consideration
In individual sections there have been animated
discussions and a good deal of elimination and
elimination. The chief bones OF contention are
those of suffrage and the Presidency. For the
former there various propositions although u
is not possible from the outside to gather all the
phases of the topic In the main II is boiled down
10 decision to whether suffrage shall be uni
versal or not. A strong contention Is being made
by the more conservative element TO base II upon
an educational and property qualification basis.
But the more rabid element In the convention led
by Juan Guaiberto Gomez a negro g,Ipported by
General Aleman. General Lacret. Jose Montegne1o
and two three OF the delegates from the eastern
part Of the island. is pressing hard for universal
citizenship The radical Republican element fayors
this provision while strange as II may appear the
Cuban Nationals. heretofore the extremely radical
element. rather lean toward restricted suffrage
The blacks of the island are so near one-half Of
the entire population that when the Spanards who
reserved citizenship with the mother country the
Americans the English the Germans and the
French none Of whom are accounted Cuban" In
the political or governmental sense are counted
out they the negroes. wifi have najority Of the
votes should universal suffrage carry.
The proposition form Federal Government
with SIX states-Havana. Pinar del Rio Matanzas
santa cara. Puerto Principe and Santiago-s real
~ ~ nsnt ior universal citizenship 1t is conceded
Dy the Federaists that IL not possible for these
sections to sustain separate governments eense-
quently the proposition has been offered 10 make
thelr central governments r part of the general
system that Is 70 receive support from the insular
revenues or TO make It distinct but sti1 sustained
OUT Oh those funds There is small faction In the
convention which really desires a federal svsfer,
ou' II Is hopelessy in the minority apparentlv ana
'e contention Is being made TO force western dole
sHies 10 agree that the large black population OF
to vote 'iie Hsnt
"hat the outcome will be seems not dIfscu,t 20
~ Inc United States. II is said in certain
f'e's mere can hardly accept universal SUI
Hase clause Consequently az il would he 49,
~'iS HAZARDOUS TO grant this island govern
ment which might at some time he domina+od ~
Ahr oiaeks' and thus make a Hayti or a San Do
iihso OK H. II is hardly thought Of That there Is
eahser IN TINS relation is made certain from the
Iset that the dominating spirit of the Conve,,io,
Wnlch Is making the Constitution Is a threeoUa
negro i G rms man Is more than a demagogne He
spirit of the old "Assembiea' which deposed ciens
eTaI Gomez from command of the Cuban army
f1a ano having broken Into the Convention
1OIn the Province of Puerto Principe he has srad
asiS a sot no!d OF the reins and is now recognized
strongest, spirit in it, II Is as easv 10 have sH
nsGs 1,sGs mans government as it is 70 have black
acter - as nominating chaF-
The other fight is on the Presidential oues,,o,
The two Gomezes have kissed and made up Tbey
embraced each other heartily in public three weeks
ago, the doughty old General Affirming that fro11
HOM I on ne is heart and soul with his old enemy
Juan tIuaoerto, OF the same surname In his deter
nlnation TO have an absolutely independent gov
SIithent ior cuba He would not have done this
the acquiescence OF Juan Gualberto to the clause
that admits of the election any one to the Presi
HPsiey Piveyys~ ~1T sefHed IN the Revolution. General
tuition in this matter. providing that no one NOT
native Cuban should be eligible 10 the Presidency
native of San Domingo Juan Gualberto had to
De pached: and in order to open the way there had
opportunity for the old General TO hug his coiored
enemy not because he loved him more than for
merry; but because he could not afford 10 be out
gone In display and pronUnciamento of patriotism
Hence the hug, hence the utterance and hence the
fact that the Constitution will probably say that
any one Is eligible to the Presidency who Is a
strument Of state. Maxine will be eligible almost
tpsyona question. While Juan GualbertO may carry
the united states will be confronted with delicate
and dangerous problem
1t IS now thought that the convention will resume
rs regular sessions within few days, though a
few of the delegates proclaim that the sessions will
not be resumed before the middle of January. since
the committees. or sections, WranglinG so in
sstently over the suffrage and Presidential ques-
tions.
Incidentally the question OF federalism or unI-
tartan form OF government is being foughy over
but the general consensus Is that the latter will be
adopted.