The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-01
CUBA'S ELECTION LAWS.
The Conservatives Gain n victory in
the Couyeutfou


HAVANA, Jan. 31.-The convention last
night changed the first article OF the sew
enth section of the constitutional project
so as 10 provide that four Senator's shall
be elected in each province by college
consisting of provincial counselors, and
double their number of electors, half Of
the electors to be chosen from among
taxpayers paying more than certain
amount of taxes and the other half from
among persons having professional de-
grees- This is a victory for the Con-
servatives as the Radicals wanted direct
vote without tho Intervention of an cleo
toral college.
senior Portuondo argued that the sec
ond chamber was meant to be Conserva-
tive, but Cuba had no traditions. 1t YVES
also provided that the Senate would have
to confirm the nominations of judges made
by the President. and also the nominal
lions OF judges and governors OF prov
inces. II preference was given TO those
VINO paid the higher taxes the confirming
power would be entrusted to a body rep
resenting Spaniards and foreigners. who
were weather. than the native Cubans.
Both houses had the same duties. What
Cuba needed was security and liberty
the third ella Use was amended so as to
provide that the Senators must be native
born Cubans. The eleventh section was
approved. with few changes.
Today the twelfth section. dealing with
the Presidency, was discussed The dele
gates held private session previous to
deciding whether or not foreigner could
be President. They sat for two hours |
senior Sanguily made long speech against |
Maxine Gomez. declaring that he would !
resign If General Gomez was permitted |
to become candidate for President A |
vote resulted in a tell to IA The sup |
porters of General Gomez then entered |.
the Convention room and sent 81 senior |
Gener who is a partisan of i..s cid revo- |
lrtions-rs.- -,-c1@- Tnc anti-Gomez refused
to appear however knowing that they |
would be defeated. The meeting broke up !
for want of quorum.
A majority OF the delegates .-s against |
General Gomez, but ere afraid to oppose |
him. Some say this is owing to the fact |
that .ne people want General Gomez, |
while others say that it is due to fear OF
Gomez himself. who is regarded by many |
as lawless man Of strong and dangerous
passions.
Old Cubans say that he would not be |
bound by any constitution. He has been |
a revolutionist all his life. and is the in |
of autocraey and waywardness. |
combined with a strong will. Others say |
that he has sold himself to the Americans. |
The real motive prompting the dele |
gates. however. seems to be that each one |
is thinking of his own future. Those |
a gainst General Gomez imagine that they
would be killed politically II Gomez should |
be elected. One of the Gomez delegates !
says that he prefers despotism under |
Gomez to anarchy under some one else. /
The "Diario de la Marina" referring to |
the telegraph despatch published by LA
Lucha," saying it has been learned from \
reliable sources that the absolute indie /
pendence OF Cuba would be granted i'm /
mediately and the American troops with
drawn. says the reliable sources" may be /
certain second rate lawyers who pretend /
10 be close to the Admnistra ton. whereas |
In Washington they are not known, even !
20 the porters. at the White House. This. /
however. does not prevent these lawyers
from Dragging in Cuba that they have
been commissioned to do great things
With diplomatic skill. The ''Diario" adds
Let the formal statement be made to
he effect that the American troops are |
going and see how the conservative |
lasses would protest. The American Gov
,rnment cannot have made such state
nent, which can only be the Maehia-
7ellain idea of certain second-rate law
Ters. These fake kilograms though we'll
understood, tend to unsettle the atmos-
,here. Some regard them as connected
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