Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17

a long time in acquiring. But the Gu
bans say that they like their own cooking
best, and on the stage of the variety the
alter, at least, they are going to have 1T
back, while they poke fun at the Ameri-
cans. In some of the fun there is malice,
but hardly enough for seasoning.
President Palma's presence in the city or
dinarily would help to turn attention to
purely domestic concerns. 1 had thought
that this would be so. and notice the large
degre of attention which the United States
continues to receive as an illustration of my
own bad judgment.
The processes of nation making go on in
full view, but all is with an eye on the
nation of North America" as some of the
local orators still call The truth is
recognized, and now, | believe, ungrudging-
ly, that it is the United States which has
laid the foundation for the Cuban repub
lie All the world which is looking on
knows that this foundation IS laid. What
is going on now is to put in the Orders
and beams and the Notwithstanding
Task of Cabinet Making.
President Palma's special task is cabinet
making. He has to do this with the best
material at hand, and all of it is not sea-
sOned. Many of the local leaders who are
only journeymen carpenters would like to
help him, but apparently they are not hav-
Ing much to do with it.
"A little Jealousy has been shown because
the president-elect is housed with Maxine
mics have not yet become his friends, even
under the banner of the republic. They do
not like 1t that the old generals influence
is given such marked recognition. Yet this
faction is in the minority. and its protests
are smothered in the popular approval.
Palma and Gomez between them shape the
deStinieS of Cuba.
The independence of factions and of
groups which the president-elect showed in
his journey through the island he is re-
peating now, though seeking to avoid all
personal diSappointments. For months,
deep down, a struggle has been going on
between two or three groups of ambitious
men to put themselves in position where
they would control the new government.
They have failed. Mr.. Palma, with the
Cuban people back of him, has been too
much for them. He will be able to form
his cabinet and determine the personnel of
his administration not exactly he
pleases, yet without the necessity of pleas
ing any set of men.
In making up the cabinet there are some
traces of the nation which the English king
who first formally recognized cabinet gov
eminent had in trying toaavoid the recOg-
milton of parties. In the beginning it would
be neither feasible nor patriotic for Mr..
Palma to form a party government. His
administration nOminally will be made up
of the representatives of all parties. I'm
like George Washington, he will not have
rivals in his cabinet.
After a time the cabinet will simply rep
resent the administration. Some of its
members may go in as republicans
nationals these being the present political
divisions. When the period is reached that
the policies of the Palma administration
are challenged and opposed then the Oppo-
sftion party will come into existence, and
at the outset it may be called either repub-
Hcan or national indifferently. In this case
there is nothing in name.