New-York tribune., 1901-07-04
TALK WITH SENIOR GONZALES.
HE SAYS THAT GoMEZ's VISIT HAS No
POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSBl
Washington. July 3.-Sehor Gonzales, who speaks
English like native declined TO repeat any ques
tions 10 his chief on the plea that the visit
strictly social and that General Gomez was too
fatigued by travel 10 answer questions.
General Gomez is a great adrnirer Of both Presi-
dent Mckinley and Secretary Root and ran over
10 Washington from New-York merely to pay his
respects" is the way Senor Gonzales put the case.
General Gomez and Tomas Estrada Palma. who
lives in New-York. old friends and com
panions in arms and had not met for several years
until the general visited Mr. Palma by invitation.
Senor Gonzales continued in explanation OF the
visit, and then went on to say:
came along al the earnest solicitation of Gen
eral Gomez who wanted me 10 act as his inter
prefer and guide while here. General Wood con-
sented as a matter of courtesy for me to come. He
gave me no no aoGa1f For me ne trp IN me fac If
was unnecessary TO instruct me. because General
Gomez was not coming 10 this country on any Of
ca or political mission t MADE yaT2TS n1 trips e
tween 1884 and 1857 when ne was preparing for the
him OF sight Of Spanish spies and American
newspaper men. My hardest work now is to pre-
with questions about matters that do not concern
Then you mean that General Gomez moth
ing about Cuban politics or who is TO be the first
president Of the republc?" was asked
In a personal sense he does not" replied Senior
Gonzales. "At least he is not and will not be
candidate for president. Free Cuba was the cher
ishe of his life for more tnan twenty years
Free Cuba is now accomplished fact. and the
fzrizzled warrior is too happy in the reaiza ton
70 ernbroil himself in partisan politics Ali he
wants is 10 be let alone, that he enjoy in
ease and comfort the remainder of his life. He may
not even continue live in Cuba after the govern
raent is established and is running I'm good order
His estates, you know. are in San Domingo, of
which country he is a native He now holds
office in Cuba and desire TO hold Office there
or elsewhere AS a matter Of pride, his friends
forced the constitutional convention TO eliminate
s-om the original draft Of the constitution the
'ause shutting him out from the presidency. That
-tlon has been widely misconstrued in this coun-
y as meaning that General Gomez active
randidate for president Under the constitution as
modified the demand OF General Gomez's friends
hree four other men not born in Cuba made
eligible 10 the presidency. Two OF these are Sehor
Rolor now fiscal agent Of Cuba, who is a native Of
Poland and Ruiz Rivera. a native Of Honduras
Both of these men, like Gomez. fought ten years
more in for Cuban independence. The con-
stitution provides that anybody who renders this
service be elected president
When asked II Estrada Palma General
Gomez's candidate for president, Senor Gonzales
evaded direct answer by declaring that he did
know. Nor did Sehor Gonzales claim to know when
the first election In Cuba viii be held. That all
depends upon President Mckinley" he said But
the constitutional convention has not yet framed