Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06
He Says the Government to BE Exta
lishei! There Must He a stable Ono


On the 25th Of July, 1900, l direct, tbate
call be issued for an election in Cl.fa for
members OF a constitutional convention TO
frame a constitution as basis for stable
and independent government in the island.
In pursuance thereof the military gov
ernor issued the following instructions:
Whereas, the congress OF the United
States by its joint resolution Of April 20,
1898, declared:
THAT the people of the island of Cuba
are, and of right ought to be free and III
THAT the United States hereby disclaims
any disposition or intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over
said island except for the pacifcation
Thereof and asserts It's determination,
when that is accomplished, to leave the
government and control of the island to its
people;
established municipal governments. deriv-
ing their authority from the sufrages Of
the people given under just and equal laws.
and are now ready, IN IKE manner, 70 pro-
coed TO the establishment OF general gov
eminent which shall assume and exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction and control over
the island;
election be held in the island of Cuba on
the third Saturday of September, in the
year nineteen hundred, to elect delegates
to convention to meet in the city of Ha-
vana at u o o'clock noon the first Mon
day of November, in the year nineteen
hundred, to frame and, adopt a constitu-
thereof to provide for and agree with the
government of the United States upon the
relations to exist between that government
and the government Of Cuba, and to provide
for the election by the people Of officers
under such constitution and the transfer
of government to the officers so elected.
THE election will be held in the several
voting precincts of the island under, and
pursuant to, the provisions of the cleo
toral law of April IS, 1900 and the amend
mentS thereof.
The election was held on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, and the convention assembled on
the 5th of November, 1900, and is now in
Our Position Outlined
IN calling the convention to order, the
military governor of Cuba made the fol-
LAS military governor of the island.
representing the president of the United
States, I call this convention to order.
1T will be your duty, first, to frame
and adopt a constitution for Cuba, and
when that has been done to formulate
what in your opinion ought to be the
relations between Cuba and the United
THE constitution must be adequate to
secure a stable, orderly and free gov
When you have formulated the rela-
tons which in your opinion ought to ex-
list between Cuba and the United States,
the government of the United States viii
doubtless take such action on its part as
shall lead to a final and authoritative
agreement between the people of the two
H.
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 Dig
nifty, individual self-restraint and wise
conservatism which shall characterize
your proceedings the capacity of the Gu
ban people for representative government
may be signally illustrated.
THE fundamental distinction between
true representative government and die
TO tH1-c &c hot in hn
representative of the people. in whatever
office, confines hims strictly within the
limits of his defined powers. without
such restraint there can be no free con-
StitutiOnal 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 islands.
Your powers are strictly limited by the
terms of that order
When the convention concludes its la
Dor I will transmit to the congress the
constitution as framed by the conven-
action it may deem advisable
For n Pacific Cable.
I renew the recommendation made in my
special message of February 10, 1889 as to
the necessity for cable communicate be-
extension to Manila. Since then circum-
stances have strikingly emphasized this
need. Surveys have shown the entire
feasibility Of chain of cables which at
lean territory, so that the system shall be
under our own complete control. Manila
once within Geographic reach, connec-
ton with the systems of the Asiatic
coast would open increased and profitable
opportunities for a more direct cable
route from our shores to the orient than
is now afforded by the transatlantic, con-
tinental and trans-Asian lines. / urge at
tention to this important matter.
THE ARMY.
The President Recommends an In
crease to $4,000 or GO,OCn Men.
The present strength of the army is 100,-
600 men, G5,C00 regulars and $4,000 Yolun-
teers Under the act of March 2, 1899, on
the Goth of June next the present Volun-
teer force will be discharged and the regu-
lar army will be reduced to 2.4F officers
and 20 CPS enlisted men.
In 1883 a board of officers convened by
President Cleveland adopted comprehen-
sive scheme of coast defense fortlhcations,
which involved the outlay Of something
over $100 0GO, 600 This plan received the APP
, prevail of the congress, and since then regu-
lar appropriate have been made ara
the work of fertilization has steadily
progressed.
investment in Guns and Forts.
More than s6O,000,O 900 have been invested
in a great number OF forts and guns, with
all the complicated and sclentlhc machln-
for their use. The proper care of this
defensive machinery requires men trained
in its use. The number OF men n necesiiaIy
by the war department at minimum
allowance to be 1870 .;,i.o s+s =,
the United States other than the coast
defense Notifications.
The number of these posts is being con-
than than So. 90 Geo have been expended IN
building and equipment, and they can only
be cared for by the regular army. The
posts now in existence and others to be
built provide for accommodations for and.
if fully garrisoned, require 26,00 troops.
Many of these posts are along our frontier
or at important strategic points, the occu-
patton of which is necessary.
The Need of Soldiers.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and $3.50
troops. For the present our troops IN that
| island cannot be Withdrawn or materially
! diminished, and certainly not until the con-
| clusion of the labors of the constitutional
| convention now in session and-a govern
mept provided by 5hg new W. G iq
! assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
| risons to 1875 which include 500 native
| troops. There is no room for further re-
| duction here We will be required to
keep considerable force in the Philip
pine islands for some time to come. From
| the best Information obtainable we shall
| need there for the immediate future from
$4,000 to 50. 900 men. | am sure the num-
shall come to acknowledge the author
| ity of the United States, of which there
are assuring Indications
| It may be apparent that we will re-
quire an army of about $4,000. and that
durqg present eondtens in sh Guba and
| authority to increase the force to the
! present number of 1oo. 600. included in
| this number authority should be given to
raise native troops in the Philippines up
/ to $1,000 which the Taft commission be-
| lieve will be more effective in detecting
and suppressing guerrillas, assassins and
| Ladrones than our own soldiers.
The full discussion of this subject by
| the secretary of war In his annual report
| Is called to your earnest attention.
TnIn