New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-06
OPENED BY GENERAL WOOD.
WISE COUNSEL TO CUBAN DELEGATEs-THE
CONVENTION ORGANIZED.

CONVENTION ORGANIZED
Havana Nov 6.-The Cuban Constitutional
Convention met in the Marti Theatre this after
noon at 2 o'clock Long before that hour the
theatre crowded. Many thousands were
unable 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
enthusiastic welcome on entering the hall, the
band playing America" Sehor Cisneros and
General Rivera escorted General Wood to the
platform, and he almost Immediately opened the
convention, speaking follows:
As Military Governor or the island of Cuba,
and representing the President of the United
States, call this convention to order. 1t will be
your duty first of all 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
States.
The constitution must be adequate to secure
stable orderly and free government. When you
have formulated the relations which in your
United States the Government Of the United
States will doubtless take such action on it's
part as shall lead to final and authoritative
agreement between the people Of the two coun-
tries, TO the promotion Of their common inter-
ests
All friends Of Cuba will follow your delibera-
tions with the deepest interest. earnestly desir-
ing that you shall reach just conclusions, and
that by the dignity individual self-restrant and
proceedings the capacity of the Cuban people
for representative government may be signally
illustrated
The fundamental distinction between true
representative government and 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 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 island. Your powers
strictly limited by the terms of that order
General Wood then wished the delegates a
speedy and successful conclusion Of their work
He said that Chief Justice Perez would admin
lister the form Of oath which the delegates
might select and he concluded by appointing
senor Figuereo. Under Secretary Of State and
Government temporary chairman
The convention organized with Senor Llorente
Justice Of the Supreme Court as president and
sehor Villuendo secretary. The following
oath was then administered:
to the National Constitutional Convention,
swear faithfully to fulfil the duties of office
we publicly and soemnly renounce allegiance
TO or compact made with any State Nation
TO the sovereignty Of the free and Independent
people or Cuba and swearing to respect the So
luton this convention may adopt well as the
Government established by the Constitution.
All Of the thirty-one delegates were present
Sehor Aleman, who said that the convention
was only continuation OF the fight for inde-
pendence," moved that the regulations govern
ing the old Cuban Assembly at Yaya in 1896
be adopted. AS nobody seemed familiar with
at : p. m, when copies will be furnished to the
delegates.