The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-05
THE NEW CUBA.
Politics and the Presidential Campaign

|
ment of Cuba's immediate political situa-
ton is difficult. prediction of the out
come of the campaign now in progress 10
impossible. Lacking definite issues upon
which the political parties, the Moderates
and the Liberals, may rest their respective
claims, the campaign necessarily resolves
itself into a conflict OF men rather than Of
| measures.
| In the election Of 1901 the opposing par
ties appeared as the Republicans and the
Nationals. With some crossing from the
one to the other the Republicans have be-
come the Moderates and the Nationals APP
| pear as the Liberals. In the campaign OF
that year Mr.. Estrada Palma was the can
didate OF both parties. During the early
days Of this year he was induced to affili-
ate himself openly and definitely with the
Moderate party, which an absolutely fair
poll Of the island would show decidedly as
the minority party. Yet the fact OF numeri-
cal preponderanoe Of Liberals by no means
insures Liberal success.
On June Q the Moderates held a sort OF
preliminary convention in Havana, but be-
yond the presentation OF a platform no
definite action was taken. In view OF the
existing situation and the attitude thus
far held by this group, the platform con-
tains not little that approximates the
farcical. 1t declared for various princi-
pies which it quite dsregarded when 1t had
ample power to give them effect. Article
II. calls for the faithful preservation Of the
Constitution by maintaining the principle
Of the separation OF the different powers OF
the State. One Of the very serious COM
plants in Cuba relates to the domination
OF the judiciary by the Executive, himself
a Moderate, who will doubtless be the
Moderate candidate In this election,
Article ". calls upon the Moderates to
maintain the constitutional principle
OF decentralization regarding the provinces
| and municipalities, without prejudice, how
ever to their fscalization by the superior
organic bodies to which they belong
This offers a highly interesting tumble.
Provinces and municipalities are to be. in
accordance with the Constitution; fully
autonomous, but the central Government
is to do their financing for them. Under
the Constitution cities may levy taxes,
effect loans and appropriate the money
obtained by those systems Under the
Moderate platform this function would seem
to be taken from them. Their schools.
their police, their public works, their judi
ciary are provided and paid for by the CEN
trail Government, which has in several
cases even claimed the right Of removing
their officials and appointing others in the
places so vacated. The Liberal party also
declares for decentralization, and has re-
sisted this course when attempt has been
made to remove Liberals and replace them
with Moderates.
The greater part Of the platform consists
OF repetition of constitutional provisions
and an array OF political platitudes re-
garding tariff, civil service, civil rights, i'm
migration and agricultural development.
Much Of it Is essentially farccal in view of
the fact that. it being even now quite pos
sible, no effort Is made to do that which
the platform says should be done. Ameri-
cans who are disposed to be particularly
derisive about this matter are cordially
invited to read carefully any Of the cam
paign textbooks issued in the United States
during the last half century or so. In
failing to make their platform declaration
of political principles to which they intend
to adhere with all fidelity. and not a mere
collection OF platitudes to tickle ears and
catch votes. the Cuban Moderates are
merely initiating a bad example set for
them by several older institutions. Except
for far more limited ability to give imme-
ciate effect to their professions. the Liberals
in their platform are fairly on all fonrs
with their opponents
The death of Maxine Gomez will I'M
doubtedly have an important bearing on
the political situation. He was not an
aspirant for any office. but his personal
following was large. His control OF the
- 10 ,har - al
adherents made him an important. II not
the determining factor in the politics Of
his country. But it Is impossible to say
Just what will be the effect Of his removal
from the field, for the reason that his course
in the campaign now going on had not
been proclaimed and it is even more than
probable that he had not fully and finally
decided what that course would be. He
had declared his opposition to President
Palma, who owed to him more than to any
other man or any other influence bis first
election. But he was also on unfriendly
terms with Jose Miguel Gomez, the nominee
Of the Liberals. and the old man was not
one who easily forgot or forgave. His
support. which the Miguelstas hoped to
secure, would have insured, almost GER
tainly, the defeat OF Palma His support
or Endorsement OF rama was possible, DOt
quite improbable.
The largest probability was his support
OF his prot6gd, Gen. Emilio Nuhez, the
present Liberal Governor OF Havana Prov
ince This would have split the Liberal
vote. with the result Of creating a three
cornered fight. out Of Which Mr.. Palma
would have emerged, In all probability
triumphant In the perhaps somewhat
remote possibility Of Maxine Gomez
Nuhez coalition with the Estradistas, and
in the greater probability of an independent
Nunez ticket. which would have split the
opposition to Palma to the great advantage
OF Don Tomas, there lies the force OF the
recent editorial comment OF THE Sun that
President Palma had reasons of political
nature to mourn the death OF Maxine
Gomez. 1t now seems in all ways prob
able II not entirely certain, that the re-
moval of Gen. Maxine will leave Emilio
Nuhez politically helpless IA Presidential
candidate, and 80 leave the contest a po-
litical duel instead Of a triangular con-
flict. This, in the view Of many sound OBJ