The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-06
AGAINST CENTRALPOWBR
The Cuban Convention Gives Free
dom TO the Provinces.
Made in "a Large Measure Indcpcn-
dent of the General Government-
Fear of Gomez Thought to Have
Urged the Nction-Senor Gibern's
Spcech-Proposed Demonstration.

HAVANA. Feb. 5.-Last night the Con-
stitutionai Convention reached the end of
section Is. Only few changes were
made in the project. Today the first two
clauses of section II were approved. Senor
Zayas proposed an amendment to clause
providing that the Governors of prov
inces should be nominated by the central
executive instead of being elected by the
people. and also providing for provincial
councils. Senior Zayas thought that the
election of the Governors by the people
would result in the wrecking of the State.
He argued that the central executive
should be firmly established in the prov
inces.
The amendment was rejected by a large
majority. II is thought that possibly fear
or dislike of Gen. Maxine Gomez in
fluenced some of the delegates to vote as
they did, as the present position OF the
provinces toward the central power makes
them almost Independent One of the dele
gates said that even if General Gomez
should become President the present sys-
TEN will make the provinces Independent
of him.
Senor Giberga made what was probably
by far the best and most patriotic speech
yet delivered in the convention. He
warned the delegates against the diluted
federalism proposed in the project. He
said he was the only avowed Conservative
in the convention who viewed with sym
/ pathy the efforts of the Radicals and revo-
! lutionists to build country out OF Cuba.
tliD ho n "a
| for any mis- takes she might make. The
delegates ought, therefore, to lay sure
| foundations from the beginning.
| BY making the election of provincial
| governors constitutional the door would
be shut to profiting by the experience of
! other Latin Republics which was that
: these officials should be nominated.
: itself felt in the provinces according to
: the constitution, Senior Giberga replied
that this was not apparent. The prov
I inces and municipalities were asking for
/ autonomy when they could not get on
/ without financial aid from the State. The
! Intervention of the State should. there
! fore be far more ample, instead of being
| legal only in cases of infringement of the
| laws. as provided for in the constitution.
| When questioned regarding the use OF
! limited intervention against the number
! less blundsrs and untimely and ill-judged
| acts so frequent in Cuban municipalities.
! Senior Giberga said that the Cubans had
| no traditions TO guide them. The consti-
| tuition should harInonize as far as possible
| with all parties. but delegates had come
| hidebound to the convention and showed
lack of confidence in the future good faith
CT the executive power by taking away the
right of intervention in provincial mat
| ters Without this faith their work would
| be vain one.
The anti-Gomez delegates scout the idea
of procession and public demonstration
| in favor Of General Gomez influencing the
| vote of the convention. They declare that
| the anti-Gomez men will only the more
| determin edly adhere to their opinion II
| such a procession takes place.