Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-29
TIE CUBAN ELECTIONS
United States Authorities Will
Have Nominal Supervision
OF Elections.
Maso's Friends Anxious to Have
Order Barring Control by
the Military.
War Department Not Likely to
Give the Request Serious
Attention.

| Washington, Nov. ga cablegram
was received from Havana yesterday
asking that special order be issued by
the war department requiring that the
military government in Cuba exercise
10 authority or influence or interfere
| iE any way with the election which is
about to be held in Cuba. The depart
ment Is not disposed to issue the order
as requested.
The request comes from the support
ers Of Bartolome Maso, one OF the can
didates for president, who opposes Es-
| trada Palma. 1t has been repeatedly
charged by the Cubans that the mill
| tary government in the island is favora-
BILE to the candidacy OF Mr. Palma, and
| 1t Is recognized in Washington that he
numbers among his supporters most OF
I the men OF the island who now hold
offices, and who have been picked in the
organization of the military govern
ment because of their efficiency and spe-
| cial qualifications for the places in
which they serve. Because of this con-
d!tion it is believed the impression has
neen created that the military govern
\ n,ent will lend its influence to the cause
os Palma.
Nothing that has come thru official
sources indicates that such is the inten-
| ton or that such has been the attitude
of Gen Wood. 1t is not believed that,
as an officer of the army, he would exer-
| else any influence in the Cuban cleo
tons, nor has this government any in
terest in the outcome of the election
contest further than to see that the
public peace is maintained. The mill
tary authority will not be exercised on
election day except when the authorities
of the municipality are unable to cope
with situation which might develop.
| The election OF president and sena-
torial electors, members of the house of
representatives, governors of provinces
and members Of provincial councils will
be held on Dec. 81. The date is fixed
by military order from Governor Wood.
The same order provides all the neces-
sary preliminaries to the actual casting
OF the ballots. 1t names the conditions
| Of eligibility, provides for registration,
the designation of candidates and COM
plete election machinery
An order from the war department..
directed to Gen. Wood, providing for an
Impartial position on the part of the
military government, would be direct
| intimation that he did not intend to OBJ
serve the very rules and election law
which his own military law has pro-
yided Gen. Wood will be here on FRI
day or Saturday, and Will be the guest
OF Secretary Root. Ample opportunity
| will be given the secretary to canvass
| the present situation In Cuba with the
governor, and IL any additional instruc-
lions or suggestions are deemed neces-
sary by the secretary he will probably
give them In person to the governor.
| At a recent mass meeting in Havana
of the supporters Of Maso number of
| fiery speeches were made, IN which there
were open charges OF interference on
the part OF the military government
| with the canvass which was being made
| by their candidate. 1t looked as tho this
would result in direct issue between
the two candidates. Palma and Maso. on
the question Of friendship for Ameri-
cans. The speeches of the Maso follow
ing were distinctly hostile, not only to
the military government, but to the
United States as a nation. Several OF
! the speeches were denunciatory OF the
action of the constitutional convention
! in adopting the Plat amendment under
/ the claim that this was clearly the plac-
ing of yoke about the neck of Cuba,
which could never be shaken off.
Followers of Palma undoubtedly
would have welcomed the Issue raised,
and made the fight one along the lines
indicated, had not Gen. Maso come out
the Following day in public statement
repudiating all that had been said at the
mass meeting and expressing friendship
for the United States, entire acceptance
OF the conditions OF the Plat amend
ment and confidence in the sincerity of
this country In Its promise to give to
the Cubans an independent govern
ment.
The administration is Indifferent as to
persons in the campaign now on in
4 Cuba. 1t looks only for results. and.
| while 1t is desirable that intelligent and
representative men be selected for the
places in the new government the
| United States concerns itself more with
4 the character of government to be or
ganized and the attitude which it will
assume in its relations with this coun-
try There will be no interference with
| the Cubans in the conduct of their cleo
ton. The administration feels that 1t
has no duty but to preserve the peace in
/ the island until new government is or
| ganized. 1T will then carry out the pro-
visions of the Plat amendment with
the government in the establishment of
naval stations, the regulation of sani-
| tation and other obligations of the
amendment. 1t will also take up the
question of reciprocal trade arrange
ments along line yet to be indicated
/ by congress.