Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-06
(By telegraph to virginIan.pnotA

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pnot9
Havana, Nov. 5.-The Cuban Consti-
tutional Convention met in the Marti
Theatre this afternoon at 2 O'Clock.
Long befort that hour the theatre was
crowded. Many thousands were una
BILE to gain admittance. and the streets
in the neighborhood were blocked with
people. General Wood and his staff.
accompanied by General Fitzhugh Lee
and his staff, received an ovation on
entering, the band playing America"
Senior Cigneros and General Rivera es-
corted General Wood to the platform
and he almost Immediately opened the
convention.
AS military governor of the island
OF Cuba and representing the President
OF the United States" he said II call
this convention to order. 1t will be
your duty first of all to frame and
adopt q 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
States.
The constitution must be adequate
TO secure stable. orderly and free gov
eminent 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 n
final and authoritative agreement be-
tween the people OF the two countries
to the promotion of their common in
tereStS.
"4All friends of Cuba will follow your
deliberations with the deepest interest,
earnestly desiring that you shall reach
rnnclIcinnS nv ~ die-
nifty, individual self-restrai-t and wise
conservatism which shall characterize
your proceedings the capacity of the
Cuban people for representative gov
eminent may be signally illustrated
THE fundamental distinction be-
tween true representative government
and n 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 restraint there
cannot be free constitutional govern
ment.
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 are strictly
limited by the terms of that order"
THE OATH ADMINISTERED.
The convention organized with Senior
Llorento. Justice of the Supreme Court,
as president, and Senior Villuendo as
secretary. The following oath was
then administered:
I'VE. delegates elected by the people
OF Cuba to the National Constitutional
Convention. swear faithfully to fulfill
the duties of our office. We publicly
and Solemnly renounce alleeiance to or
compact made with any state or n2-
ton. whether made directly or in
directly. swearing to the sovereignty of
the free and independent people of
Cuba and swearing to respect the Sou-
ton this convention may adopt. as
well as the government established by
the constitution"
All of the 81 delegates were present
Senior Alemon, who said that the
convention was "only n continuation
of the fight for independence" moved
that the regulations governing the old
Cuban assembly ut Yaya, in 1896, be
adopted. AS nobody seemed familiar
with them. the convention adjourned
until Tomorrow, when copies will be
furnished TO TIE drfGgates.
RESOLUTION PRESENTED.
The following resolutions were pre-
sentcd to the president of the conven-
ton Just before adjournment, and will
probably be adopted tomorrow:
that the Constitutional Assembly adopt
the following resolutions:
First. that q committee of the as
sembly proceed Immediately to call up
on General Wood and TO manifest the
satisfaction with which the delegates
have seen him carry out the difficult
mission entrusted TO him.
''Second, that the committee re-
quest General Wood to cable TO the
President of the United States as fol-
lows
THE delegates elected to the Con-
stitutional Convention assembled ut
their inaugural meeting greet with
profound gratitude and affection the
President of the United States, and
they are satisfied with the honesty
demonstrated in the fuliilment of the
declarations made in favor of the lib
erty and the independence of the Gu
ban people"