The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13
LUDLOW
ON CUBA
Problems Before the
Government.
QUESTIONS OF SUFFRAGE
Danger of Letting Every Man Vote
Pointed Out by the Governor
of Havana.

HAVANA, Jan. 26-Brigadier Gen
eral William Ludlow, who is now in
command of the Department of the City
of Havana, has acquired during resi-
dence in Cuba, which commenced with
the opening gun of the war against
Spain, year ago last June, an intimate
and intelligent knowledge of the polit
ical conditions prevailing here. 1t is
likely that his department will, within
few months, be extended to include
the provincial area as well, and there
seems little doubt that General Lud-
lows services will be retained for this
wider field of usefulness by the admin
istration. General Wood has expressed
himself as having a very high opinion
of General Ludlow's ability and tech
nical knowledge, and has also express
ed great satisfaction with the results
accomplished in the city of Havana,
under General Ludlow's direction.
When asked as to his views on the all
absorbing question of the Cuban fran
chise in the approaching election, Cen
eral Ludlow said:
I'm replying to questions of that
character, affecting matters of import,
which are. naturally under serious con-
sideration by all concerned, what l say
must be taken as merely representing
my own views, as derived from per-
sonal experience, and in no manner are
they to be regarded as possessing any
official character or authority. They
are simply my private opinions"
But" continued the general, 81 GER
tainly think the limitations of suffrage
should be drawn to exclude ilIiteracy.
The reasons for this seem manifold
and conclusive, whether from the his
torical, the political or the economic
standpoint. Historically, we have an
opportunity of observing the conditions
existing in neighboring islands, where
the illiterate multitudes drive the des-
TIMES of the country along what are
apparently retrogressive routes.
Menace of Universal Suffrage.
with universal suffrage in the ISL
and OF Cuba at this time I should con-
slider its future as self-governing
81 hfCly
The percentage of illiteracy can be
determined only after the data of the
| recent census becomes available. 1t is
currently estimated at rs to 80 per cent,
by no means an incredible figure, as,
from recent data, the peninsula of
Spain itself, comprising $4,000, 900
souls, contains 6,000,0 900 who do not
| read and write. The Spaniards never
| encouraged or furthered popular edu-
cation IN Cuba, giving it a merely NOM
| inal recognition, a course which can
be explained by their seeming indiffer-
| ence to the matter at home, and partly,
perhaps, for the same reason that be-
| fore the war the southern planters dis
| couraged the education of the blacks
| as tending to make them more for
midabIe.
"The methods of administration of
| the government of a country are the
| exponent OF its advance in civilization.
There can be no question that the vital
| future interests of Cuba depend upon
| the intelligence, the orderliness, the
capacity and the integrity of those
charged with the responsibility.
"In my judgment, it would be bit
ter travesty of independence and pro-
found wrong to Cuba were It's destinies
to be now intrusted to its least inform
ed and, from the immediate view of in
telligent citizenship. the hopeless class
or It's population 1 have not the least
doubt that the majority of those sin
cerely interested in the present and
future prosDerity of the people would
concur in this view. The opposing view
is likely to be held by the huge major
tty. whom this decision would exclude
from suffrage, and by those who desire
to control the tremendous power of the
| ignorant vote to further their own ends
individual or political.
Restrictive Qualifications.
Il should say, then, that those only
should have the right to vote and thus
indirectly control the conduct and fu-
ture of the island, who are able to read
a book or to receive and send commu-
nicationS in writing.
"A modification of the rigor of this
rule might be made. First, as sub
stitute for literacy, it might be he'd
that a man who has legitimately ac-
Quired and owns $500 or 81 600 worth
Il N--E 1ENT