The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-31

CONSIDERABLE agitation has
arisen in cuba. and TO some
~ extent in the United States.
over the provision made by the
United States authorities for holding
the Cuban elections. 1t anpears that
what is known in cuba as the central
board of scrutiny. that is to say. the
board having charge of all the arrange
ments controlling the polling and count
ing of the vote as we'll as the matter
OF challenging at the polls. was ap-
pointed before the Cuban people had
divided into two presidential parties,
one favolng the candidacy of Tomas
Estrada Palma and the other support
ing Barlolome Muso. The men named
upon the board We're representative
| Cubans. but it subsequently CHANGED
that after the division came these men
all belonged to the Palma faction.
AT once the cry arose that the United
States had packed the board in the in
terest of Palma, who had already be-
come, to Il large degree, the candidate
of the Cuban office holding class. OF
course, there was no truth in this
| charge. While most Americans have
more confidence in the ability and
character of Palma than of Maso be-
cause they know him better, it does not
have to be said that the American gov
eminent meant and means to be abso-
| lutely impartial, But the Cubans are n
suspicious people. They are also new
nd
therefore more than ordinarily anxious
| to have their own way about 1t. Con-
seQuently the Maso supporters mmedi-
ately wired II protest to Washington
asked that the date of the election be
postponed so as to enable them 10 lay
! their case before the highest authority
in this country ana dispatched dele
CATION.
The delegation has arrived, visited
Washington, seen the authorities and
failed to get them to look ut the matter
| from the Cuban point of view. Upon
| the communication of their fate to the
| Maso campaign committee in cuba,
notice was Immediately sent out to the
| faithful that Maso. despalring of se-
'NIlnS ~ l'li 'ouilt, Nollli llo lbHScF
consent to remain Il candidate and he
| accordingly withdrew. The whole pro-
ceeding is unfortunate. But ii is diff
cult 10 see how the United States au-
thorties could consistently have done
| otherwise than they did. 1t Was not
| their fault that the Maso people were
| tardy in getting into the arena. When
| they selected the election supervisors
no complaint was offered. The men
| they named We're as good men as could
| be found Charges of purtiality were
| inevitable in amy event after the second
candidate entered the field, 10 have put
| back the date OF the election under the
| circumstances would simply have in-
vited more fuming and fussins. IT
would also have been construed as an
act of partality in the interest of Muso
ana would Justly have incurred the re-
| sentiment of the supporters of palma.
| There Was really no tenable means of
| escape from the original decision. 1t
was fair when made and il it Is not fair
| now the fault does not lie with the
| American government
This miX-up is TO be regretted, for it
gives Il handle to the elements in Cuba
who are unfriendlyto everything Ameri-
can and looking for opportunities to
| make trouble. But in u few months It