Evening star., 1902-01-03
PALMA FAR IN THE LEAD.
Has Fifty-Ffve Electors to Eight for
Gen, MakO,

Has Fifty-Five Electors to Eight for
Gen. MasO.
A dispatch from Havana yesterday says:
The central board .of scrutiny has made
public the following returns of the elec-
tions held in Cuba on December 81:
Tomas Estrada Palma, the nationalist
candidate for the presidency of Cuba, has
ffty-five electors while General Bartolome
Maso, the democratic candidate, who with
drew from the campaign, has eight elect
orS.
Senior Palma secured the unanimous cleo
toral delegations from the provinces of
Pinar del Rio. Havana, Matanzas and San
ia Clara, and one elector from Porto Prin-
cipe and five electors from Santiago. Gen.
Maso secured three electors from Porto
Principe and five from Santiago.
The following civil governors were elect
ed: Perez, in Pinar del Rio Nunez, in Ha-
vana; Lecuona, in Matanzas; Gomez, in
Santa Clara Recio, in Porto Principe, and
Echevar1ia, in Santiago province.
A dispatch from Central Valley, n. " to
the Philadelphia Press last night says
Gable dispatches and kilograms from his
compa atriots and friends congratulating him
on his election to the presidency of Cuba
continue to pour, in to General Tomas Es-
trada Palma The Cuban president-elect is
still undecided about the time of his de-
parture to Cuba. He will probably take
his wife and three youngest children to
Havana and will sbe joined by the other
three in the summer. lie, told a correspond
ent today that he would not go to Cuba be :
fore April He is to take office on May l.
Now that the election Is over General
Palma talked more freely about the policy
he will pursue. He said: I'm the first
place l wish to correct the statements that
have been made 1.-The effect that my can
didacy was advised .bys the United States
government, and that. II elected would be
under its control. OF course, l can never
forget the debt We owe this country for
helping us gain our independence. Notwith-
standing, am first, of all a Cuban No one
will control me-. The reconstruction of
Cuba will devolve, on AL of us. We must
gather about us the best element of the
country, both Cubans and the Spanish res
idents. ta
"A commercial Treaty fes.tt;' with the United
States is an urgent necessity 1t should be
effected without loss Of time. With a re-
we will be enabled to develop our other in
dustries."
General Palma approves OF the Platt
amendment and believes 1t to be to the In
terest of Cuba and her Independence. Re
garding the Isle OF Pines he said: 81 un-
derstand that this island Is really of use
to the United States in connection with the
projected interoceanic canal. Anyway, the
shallow waters make 1t difficult and dam
gerous for vessels of large tonnage to touch
there. On the other hand, 1t might be an
important addition to the territory OF the
Cuban republic, and the United States
might be induced to give up the island
| Touching on the financial policy, the gem.
eral said he favored most economical gov
ernment. There will be no useless -Ofiicials.
and the diplomatic corps at the start will
probably be limited 70 q minister at Wash
fngton. The question OF paying OF the Cu-
ban army for their -services during the rev
oiution VIII be one OF the most important