New-York tribune., 1901-12-18
NOINTERFERENCE IN CUBA
SECRETARY ROOT REFUSES TO POST
PONE THE ELECTIONS.

Washington, Dec 17.-Secretary Root has ad-
dressed a letter to Ffdel G. Pierra, the repre-
sentative of the Maso party in Cuba, who is at
present in this city. denying his request for
postponement of the Cuban elections. The let
ter, which is dated December 16. follows:
Sir: The application for a postponement of
the Cuban election presented by you On Satur-
day, December H. in behalf of the supporters
OF General Maso candidate for President OF
Cuba. has been carefully considered.
The effect of granting the application would
De TO prolong American occupation and post
pCne tie independence of Cuba and the control
or the island by the government of her own
people. This ought not to be done in the in
terest of any candidate without the most
Welghty and substantial reasons. The sub
stance of the reasons which you present is that
the Central Board of Scrutiny. now consti-
tuted, is composed of men none of whom IS
in favor of General MaSo and all of whom are
in favor of General Palma, and you declare that
that board is unfair and will be unfair in the
performance of its duties The board to which
YOU refer constituted without reference to
any candidate and before any candidates had
been nominated. 1t consisted of the president
and four of the distinguished members of the
constitutional convention elected by the people
Of Cuba to provide for the establishment of the
new government 1t had the approval of the
convention and of the people whom the conven-
ton represented.
Since the board was thus constituted candi-
dates for the Presidency have been nominated
and it happens that you and your friends have
nominated a candidate who has no adherent
in. the board That furnishes ground for
turning the board out of office or for poStponing
the election and overturnlng the election ma
chinery carefully provided by the representa-
tives of the Cuban people in convention assem-
bled and establishing machinery for the
purpose of putting adherents Of your candidate
into office. IF such a course were adopted, new
nominations would equally require new post
ponements and rearrangements, and an elec-
ton might be Indefinitely postponed. 1t Is
false theory of official responsibility which as
SumeS that gentlemen placed IN conspicuous
positions Of public trust will be guilty of official
malfeasance because they may personally pre-
Ter one candidate rather than dnOtner.
AS to the assertion that the Central Board or
Scrutiny has in fact proved to be unfair, some
thing besides assertion is necessary NO
facts stated by you to sustain this asser-
ton except that you allege that Illegal selec-
tion of a delegate to a provincial board of con-
vassers has been approved but you give no
facts showing that the selection was tegdl.
list of taxpayers. which the City Council % OF
Havana ought to have posted on OCTOBER 20
This was not the business Of the Central Board
of Scrutiny | am informed, moreover. by caole
from Havana. that the list in question was
posted on October so. The single days delay
could not have coca stoned you OF your asSo-
ciates the slightest injury or inconvenience ana
al objection based upon It Is In the hlghesl
degree technical
While | do not for a moment suppose that
you intend any such result cannot avoid the
conviction that your request calls upon the
United States for that very interference with
the Cuban election which your associates nave
deprecated and which it is duty and pur-
pose to avoid. Your application must accord
ingly he denied. I remain, with great respect
your obedient servant, ELIHU Ro0I,
Secretary of War.
Fidel G. Perra, esq. the Arlington. Washing
ton, u. c.