The San Francisco call., 1901-12-18
ROOT REPLIES
IN SHARP WORDS
Secretary Of War Will
Not Delay the Cuban
Election.
Politicians of the Island Are
Told to Observe the
Laws.

WASHINGTON, Dec H.-Secretary Of
War Root has addressed letter to Sill
dele A. Pierra, the representative or the
Maso party in Cuba, who is at present
in this city, denying his request for
postponement of the Cuban elections Sec
retary Roots letter, which IS dated De-
cember 16, is as follows:
the Cuban election presented by you on Sat
urday December la, in behalf OF the supporters
of General Maso, as canoloale LOT FEesloeht
of Cuba has been carefully considered Inc
effect of granting the application would be to
prolong American occupation and postpone the
Independence Of Cuba and the control OF the
island by the government OF her own people;
This ought not to be done In the interest OF
any candidate or without the noss welsney anu
which you present is that the central board OF
Gentlemen none Of whom is in favor of Gen
eral Maso and all Of whom are In tavor OF
General Palma, and you declare tnat tnat
board is unfair and Will be unfair IN the per-
formance of its duties:
tuted without reference to any candidate and
before any candidates had been named IL
consisted of the president and four OF the dls-
tinguished members Of the Constitutional Con-
vention elected by the people OF cuba TO pro
vide for the establishment of the new govern
ment 1t had the approval OF the convention 1l
and of the people whom the convention rep.
resented Since the board was thus constituted
candidates for the Presidency have been nom
mated and it happens that you ana your our
no adherent on the board. That furnishes no
ground for turning the board out OF office or
for postponing the election and overturnlng the
election machinery carefully provided by the
representatives of the Cuban people In conven-
ton assembled and establishing new machinery
for the purpose of putting adherents OF your
candidate into office. If such a course were
adopted new nominations would require new
postponements and rearrangements and an elec-
ton might be indefinitely postponed. 1t Is a
false theory of official responsibility which as
sumes that gentlemen placed in conspicuous
positions of public trust will be guilty or Of
fcial malfeasance because they may personally
prefer one candidate rather than another
AS to the assertion that the central board OF
scrutiny has in fact proved to be unfair, some
thing besides mere assertion is necessary. No
facts are stated by you to sustain this assertion
except that you aIlege that illegal selection
of delegates to provincial board of canvassers
has been approved, but you state that there was
a failure to post a list Of taxpayers, which the
CITY Council of Havana ought to have posted
on the 29th of October. This was not the busi-
ness of the central board of scrutiny L am
Informed moreover, by cable from Havana that
the list in question was posted on the 3Oth OF
October. The single days delay could not nave
occasioned you your associates the slightest
injury or inconvenience and objection based
upon it is in the highest degree technical While
l do not for a moment suppose that you intend
any such result, 1 cannot avoid the conviction
that your request calls upon the United states
for the very interference with the Cuban cleo
ton which your associates have deprecated and
which it is cur duty and purpose to avoid. Your
application must, accordingly. be denied