The Forrest City times., 1901-12-20
COMING CUBAN ELECTIONS.
Secretary Root Denies the Request of the Maso Psrtisans for a Postpone
 mcnt of Elections.

Washington, Dec. 17.-Secretary Root has addressed a letter to Fidel G. Pierra, the representative of the Maso party in Cuba, who is at pres ent in this city, denying his re- quest for a postponement of the Gu ban elections.
 Secretary Roots letter, which is da- ted December 16, is as follows:
 "Sir:-The application for post ponement of the Cuban elections pre- sented by you on Saturday, December IA, in behalf of the supporters Of Gen. Maso, as candidate for presi- dent of Cuba. has been carefully con- sidered The effect of granting the application would be to prolong American occupation and postpone tte independence of Cuba and the control of the island by the govern ment of her own people. This ought not to be done in the interest of any candidate or without the most weighty and substantial reasons. The substance of the reasons which you present is that the central board of scrutiny, as now constituted. is com posed of gentlemen, none of whom is in favor of Gen. Maso, and all of whom are in favor of Gen. Palma, and you declare that that board is unfair and will be unfair in the per formance of it's duties. The board to which you refer was constituted without reference to any candidate and before any candidates had been nominated. It consisted of the pres ident and four of the distinguished members of the constitutional con vention, elected by the people of Cuba to provide for the establish ment of the new government. It had the approval of the convention and of the people whom the convention represented. Since the board was thus constituted candidates for the presidency have been nominated. and it happens that you and your friends have nominated candidate who has no adherent in the board. That fur nishes no ground for turning the board out of office or for postponing the election machinery carefully pro v,ded by the representatives of the Cuban people in convention assem- bled, and establishing new machinery | for the purpose of putting adherents | of your candidate into office. If such a course were adopted, new nomina- tions would equally require new | postponementS and rearrangements, | and an election might be indefinitely postponed. It is false theory of official responsibility which assumes that gentlemen placed in conspcu- ous positions of public trust will be guilty of official malfeasance because they may personally prefer one can didate rather than another.
 "As to the assertion that the cen tral board of scrutiny has in fact proved to be unfair, something be- sides mere assertion is necessary. No facts are stated by you to sustain this assertion, except that you all lege that an illegal selection of a del egate to q provincial board of can vassers has been approved, but you give no facts showing that this se- lection was illegal. and you state that there was failure to post list of taxpayers, which the city council ought to have posted on the 2Sth of October. This was not the business of the central board of scrutiny. I am informed, moreover, by cable from Havana, that the list in question was posted on the 30th of October. The single days delay could not have oc- casioned you or your associates, the slightest injury or inconvenience, and an objection based upon it is, in the highest degree, technical. While l do not for moment suppose that you intended any such result, you can not avoid the conviction that your request calls on the United States for that very interference with the Cuban election which your asso- ciates have deprecated and which it is our duty and purpose to avoid.
 "Gour application must accordingly be denied.
 Il remain, with great respect,
 Your obedient servant,
 "ELIHU ROOT,