Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-06-05
A MAJORITY OF ONE,
By This Narrow Margin the Platt
Amendment Is Accepted.
The Cuban Constitutional Convention
Adopts Recon- nj endat1Ons of Com.
mtttee on Observation-Disclosures
of the Report.

Havana, May 29.--The Platt amend
ment was accepted by the Cuban con-
stitutionai convention Tuesday by a
vote of Is to II. The actual vote was
on accepting the majority report of
the committee on relations, which en-
bodied the amendment with explana-
tions of certain clauses.
Oppo.erx Grow Bitter.
The radicals made hard fight at the
last moment, and Seniors Portuondo,
Gomez and Tamayo bitterly arraigned
the conservatives. Senior Tamayo was
particularly vindictive and declared
that everybody who voted in favor of
the Platt amendment was traitor to
his country. The convention com
PEELED him to retract this statement.
On several occasions personal encoun-
ters seemed imminent.
Senior Gomez spoke for more than
an hour, and his speech undoubtedly
won over Seniors Castro, Robau and
Manduley. He appealed to the patriot
ism Of delegates and rehearsed the
cling as perj,Irers all who favored the
Platt amendment, on the ground that
they had sworn to draw up Il constitu-
ton for an Independent republic. Sew
eral conservatives rose and asked
Senior Gomez to retract, but he abso-
(utely refused.
The following delegates voted
against the majority report: Gomez,
Gener, Portuondo, Lacret, Manduley.
Cisneros, Ferrer, Forum, Robau, E.
Tamayo, Silva, Castro, Zayas and Ale
man. Seniors Rivera and Bravo were
absent.
The convention will continue it's SEES
sions. which will be devoted to draw
ing up the election law.
The report adopted Tuesday is put
in the form of an appendix to the
constitution. Tt begins by quoting
the joint resolution of congress re-
'ating to the independence of Cuba
and the first article of the treaty of
Paris. gives the details of the send
ing of the Platt amendment to the
convention, and quotes the amend
ment itself. Reference is made to the
visit Of the Cuban commission to the
United States and the explanation of
the meaning Of the clauses of the
Platt amendment by Secretary Root
Incorporated in Constitution.
The report then continues that in
view of all this the convention should
add the PIatt amendment to the con
stitution, which law is to have the
meaning and Interpretation as laid
down in the preceding paragraphs,
and also the meaning expressed in
the following amendments:
"First--That the stipulations contained
in clauses and . of the Plat amendment
are internal constitutional limitations
which do not restrict the power of the gov
eminent of Cuba to celebrate freely po-
!itical and mercantile treaties with any ma l.
ton, nor It's powers to contract loans and
debts. except with regard to it's being bound
and subject itself to what is established
by the Cuban constitution and what is laid
down in the two1clauses referred to-
The second explanation deals with inter-
vention. which. the report says, can only
take place by formal action Of the govern
ment of the United States, and will only be
exercised to prevent the action of a for
eign power over Cuba or in case of per-
turbation of order capable of providing an
archy.
Third-That clause of the Platt amend
ment refers to acts properly committed
during the military occupation of the
island by the Americans and the rights le-
gally acquired by virtue Of these.
Fourth-That clause Of the Plat amend
ment refers to plans for sanitation which
may be mutually agreed upon between
Cuba and the United States.
The fifth explanation is to the effect that
Cuba will treat with the United States in
regard to the ownership of the Isle of Pines,
although it is believed that that island is
actually comprehended within the bounda-
ries of Cuba.
The sixth clause. which refers to coaling
stations, is to the effect that these sta
tons will be for the sole purpose of pro-
tecting Cuba and the United States against
attacks by foreign powers.
Result Never in Doubt.
With the exception of few Amer
lean and Cuban. newspaper men and
half a dozen politicians, nobody but
the delegates were present to hear
the result announced. 1t is consid-
cred by some that the voting was
practically arranged beforehand, and
that if there had been any doubt as
to the result more of the deIegates
would have voted in favor of the re-
port.