The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-06
CUBA'S FIRST CAMPAIGN.

From the present prospect there WI
be need for the calling out of tn
, Americans forces in Cuba, but the mex
time for the purpose of keeping tn
i. peace between warning factions of tn
people of the island.
Every report which comes from Ha
vsna concerning the political campaign
indicates there will be great fight be
fore the Maso contingent will permit
\ the Palma folk to carry off the cleo
ton and the offices too without she'd
ding of blood. The retirement from the
| canvass of the Maso committee, the
resignation of all officials of that faith,
and their denouncing of the central
| board, will mean, in the light of the
! Cuba of the past, only that there is to
be a great contest before the citizens
accept the result of the first balloting
in the newly freed island.
The troubles arose over the allega-
ton of the members of the Maso COM
mittee that the General Board of Scru-
tiny are members of the Palma Exec
utive Campaign Committee and were
also candidates for office on that tick
let. The conditions were such that one
delegate to Washington to ask that the
election be postponed until the last of
January, said that it would be impos
ernor-General Wood was at that time
in Washington, asking for tariff con-
cessions for Cuba and could not see
that there was anything to justify such
allegations, and 50 would not give the
extension of time for the campaign,
nor would he change the membership
of the committee. This caused the
Masoites to withdraw from the can
vass. Resolutions were passed to the
effect that the central board was COM
posed of partisans; that Maso,. after |
all the means in his power |
to insure that the coming elections !
would be carried out under conditions !
which irnpartiality and rectitude and /
justice required for acts of such i'm !
portance in the establishment of gov
had become convinced that |
neither In official circles in Washington |!
nor in Cuba does any intention exist |
to see that the elections are carried out !
with sufficient legality to secure that !
real wish of the Cuban people, which |
Is to freely elect the first Constitution
al government and to have their Ideas !
by their representatives. In |
virtue of this letter they have decided :
not to go to the elections and to with
draw the entire candidates of the Maso
party on the island. All representa-
tives on electoral boards belonging to
the coalition will resign. The party
will issue manifesto to the country
explaining thoroughly the reasons for
the withdrawal.
Commenting on the above the Lucha
says this is the right course to pursue,
as the elections would be an entire
fraud which would be justified if the
Maso element went to the polls. The
official organs say that the withdrawal
If the Maso people is a sign of weak
less which was prompted by a desire
o hide their lack of strength.
The Diaria de la Marina says that
nasmuch as Maso is backed by the
and better element there
will be no trouble.
The Republica Guiana says the Gu
'ans themselves are to blame for the
whole trouble, because those who are
aisifying elections are Cubans who do
lot care what happens to the country
n their greet4 for office.