The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-01
THE CUBAN CONVENTION.
Objection to American Influence in
the Assembly.

Objection to American influence In
the Assembly.
HAVANA, Oct. 27.-Interest is growing
in the constitutional convention, to meet
on November 5. and the delegates are al
ready gathering here. Their first concern,
and apparently the concern Of the ma
jority of the people, is as to whether the
convention is to have a free hand. Dele
gates who have not arrived have been re-
Quested to be here some days in advance
of the conventions assembling, when a
caucus is to be held to determine the
ACCESSIBILITY of requesting President Nc
Kinley to withdraw the provision in the
call directing the convention to determine
the relations between Cuba and the United
States, and also asking that the United
States Government keep hands OFF and
permit the convention to adopt such
form Of government as it may deem ad-
visable for the people of Cuba, without
consideration of what might satisfy the
Administration in Washington.
With political shrewdness, it is suggest
ed that this request be forwarded to Wash
ington. or to Canton. before the date OF
Another worry on the part of some OF the
delegates is the suspicion-almost belief
entertained that the Washington Govern
ment is coaching some Of the delegates,
and that when the convention Is ready
to discuss a constitution, 1t will find one
fully prepared for 1t. Governor Woods
declaration in New York that the conven-
ton will be allowed to work its unham-
pered will has not exercised this suspi-
cion. A significant editorial in La Lucha"
on this subject says:
THE delegates soon to convene must
remember that they do not constitute an
absolutely sovereign assembly in full con-
troll of the destinies of the country. They
are brought together by order Of an ire
sistible foreign power, whose superiority
in the Western Hemisphere cannot be dis
puted.
This power is a factor without which
We cannot organize our civil institutions
any more than We could have conquered
Spain without it's assistance.
with the moral and material aid Of
the United States, the ideal of separation
from the mother country was attained.
The same reasons which made military in
PREVENTION necessary will compel close su-
pervision Of arrangements that Will vitality
affect mercantile and political interests"
Just when the convention will begin
the consideration of the business for
which It is called, is uncertain. That de-
ponds ON the time to be consumed in de-
Gliding the election contests. 1t Is probable
that ultimately these contests will be
decided on a partisan basis. and it
is predicted that in that event a coalf-
ton Of the Republicans and Democrats
will out-yote the Nationalists. But mean
time there must be a semblance at least
of judicial procedure, and this will in
volve, not merely a recounting of the
ballots, but minute examination of
them. as the charges on which the con-
marking Of the ballots.
Another preliminary subject of discus
sion in the convention may be the eligi-
bility Of some delegates, said to number
ten. who are United States citizens. Dur
ing the wars for liberty 1t was customary
for Cuban citizens. at that time subjects
of Spain, to go to the United States and
take out papers of citizenship. Many of
them returned to Cuba. and some of them
were among the best fighters in the ranks
of the Cuban army. Their patriotism for
Cuba Is unquestioned. but the objection
to their participation in the convention is
the old one that American citizens should
not frame a constitution for Cuba.
This mixture of Cuban and United States
II 1t may be SO called. is a
result Of the peculiar Government rela-
lions growing out Of the war and the lib
Grafton of Cuba. A striking example of
1t is furnished in the person of Senior Per-
fecto Lacoste, who, although Secretary of |
for Cuba, is citizen Of the |
United States. registered in Cincinnati, |
and will vote there for Mckinley.