The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-22
THE CUBANS
GIVE IN
Continued from Page L.

NOhlinucu lTOuu axe LII
sion at the Cabinet meeting Saturday
Now that the Plat amendment has be-
come a part of the organic laws of
Cuba, interest naturally is aroused as
to when the President will be author
lied to withdraw the United States
troops and turn the island completely
over to the Cubans. The Cabinet prob
ably will address itself to this phase
of the question at Saturdays meeting.
However, as there is no division OF
opinion among Cabinet members on
this point, the discussion is not likely
to, be prolonged.
There is no doubt at all in the mind
of any body who has given the subject
much thought that the President is
not authorized to withdraw the troops
Immediately. On the contrary, he can
not do this until all the requirements
of the Plat law have been complied
with. Acceptance of that law is only
the beginning of the requisite compli-
ance on the part of the Cubans Not
until they have fully organized. equip
ped and stable government will the
Cubans be permitted to conduct the
affairs of the island. How soon this
will be depends entirely on the politi-
cal leaders in Cuba and largely on the
constitutional convention. The conven-
ton must formulate an electoral law.
1t is thought that several weeks and
perhaps months, will be consumed in
this work, as the candidates for presi-
dent and other offices to be filed In the
first election will each try to have the
law so framed as, to give advantage to
individuals. Even if the constitutional
convention should speedily formulate
and promulgate the electoral law, the
election could not be held until au-
tumn. After the election considerable
time will be required to organize the
various departments of the govern
ment After this work is completed
the United States government will
then for the first time have govern
ment in Cuba to deal with, and not
until then can all the requirements of
the Plat law be complied with.
1t is evident therefore that this gov
ernment will not entirely release con-
troll of Cuba for several months, per-
haps a year or more, and until a
complete release is made the President
cannot withdraw the United States
forces from the Island and proclaim
to the world the birth of the new re-
public.
OPINIONS OF LEGISLATORS.
NEW YORK June 1.-The Washing
ton correspondent of the Times has
interviewed members of the Senate and
House upon the future of Cuba and
the adoption of the Plat amendment
by the constitutional convention, with
the following results:
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
expressed qualification at the action of
the Cuban constitutional convention,
but he has grave doubts about the sue
cess of the people to govern them
selves. Il should like to see every po
litical tie between the United States
and Cuba severed" he said, "but
realize that we will be obliged to ex-
ercise some sort of supervision over
the Island. In my opinion, the Cubans
are not capable of self-government,
and my prediction is that in twelve
months the Cubans will be at each
others threats. Then perhaps, we will
be forced to intervene.
Il should regard it as a great mis-
fortune if the United States should
ever annex the Island with it's turbu-
lent people. Guerilla warfare against
our authority would go on in the ISL
and and it would cost us much blood
and treasure to suppress it. l remem
Der that the United States enlisted
8, 900 men to put down the Indians in
Florida, and when they were finally
rounded up, there were exactly seven
ty,one of them. The situation in the
Philippines is different. We can take
control of all the larger cities and
towns and let the natives learn grad
ually with the lapse of years, that
obedience to our authority is to their
interest.
ITO go back to Cuba, we must bear
in mind that those people we have been
dealing with are children, and 1 am
afraid they are pretty bad children,
just as little qualified to govern them
selves as so many youngsters"
Senator Cockrell says that Cuba
must be dealt with deliberately. and
not cut loose unprepared to stand
alone.
Il believe that things will run along
smoothly now" said the Senator. The
Cubans did the right thing in accept
ing the amendment, and this govern
ment will deal fairly with them. All
that was needed was thorough I'M
derstanding, and that has been reach
ed with the result that they have ac-
cepted our terms. OF course we cap
not Immediately withdraw from the
Island No reasonable person expects
that, and there is no authority to
whom we could turn over the govern
ment.
THE next step, and the one which
it is absolutely necessary to take, is
for the convention to pass election
laws HNlHS Udte lOT the eleCllOn Oh d
president and other officers of the gov
eminent as provided for in their con-
stitution. Under this law the military
government will call an election, and
when all the machinery of government
is organized we will turn over affairs
to them, but not until then. This will
require some time; how long I cannot
say, but it WILL l believe, be done
within reasonable time"
Senator Burrows was pleased at the
action of the Cuban constitutional con-
vention in accepting the Plat amend
ment.
''This action" he said, Ought to lead
to speedy and desirable results. 1t
ought to be followed by Cuban indie
pendence and a home government.
There will be nothing in the way of
the establishment of a republic in Gu
ba, and I expect to see that accom-
plished and troops withdrawn. The
republic of Cuba will shortly be one
of the nations of the earth. We are
now fulfilling our promises to Cuba
and to the ,nations of the world
Speaking Of Cuba, Senator Elkins