Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-26
His Reelection Next Deem
Der Predicted.
'OMPARED WITH DIAZ
THE ISLAND OF CUBA NOW Is
PROSPEROUS.
His Administration Pronounced Mod
crate, but Firm-Liberal Leaders
Are Of Anarchistic Tendencies


news dispatches have given such a variety
Of predictions as to the actual result which
will obtain when the election is held three
months hence that it seems of particular
interest to hear an unbiased report of
actual conditions the island at first
hand. Just such statement OF fact IL
was possible for Star reporter to hear
this morning when in interview with
Herbert J. Browne. well-known former
Washington newspaper man, who now has
large business interests in Cuba, Mr..
Browne gave graphic description of polf-
tics and politicians of the island republic
together with resume of the growth of
wealth and industry which are a part of
the present regime Mr.. Browne has lust
returned home after an extended business
trip through Cuba. in the course of which
he naturally had many opportunities to
study the situation and to formulate a
probably accurate forecast of the result as
well as to note the visible evidences OF
prosperity.
Reelection of President Palma.
The overwhelming triumph of the Cuban
moderate party, PaImstas." said Mr..
Browne, "unquestonably foreshadows the
reelection of President Palma in December.
Should the moderates be equally success
full In the congressional elections which
take place at the same time they will fur
msh President Palma with a united con.
gress to carry out the policy of his admin
lstratlon and give full effect the obliga-
tlohS or the Platt amendment. For the last
two years President Palma has been serl-
ously obstructed by the peculiarly harass-
ing tactics of the opposition, which con-
troiled the house of representatives. The
proper measure for the sanitation of Cuban
cities, as required by the Platt amendment,
could not be secured, and even now the
Cuban government is running upon an ex-
no how r{y1ur
failed to make the necessary appropriation
There have been some strenuous scenes
during the last two months, leading up to
the election of the electoral boards on Sat-
urday. Clashes between the opposing par
ties have been of daily occurrence but
the affair of Friday at Cienfuegos, result
of the prominent liberal congressman. VII
luendas, one of the most beloved of liberal
leaders, acted a warning to caution for
all parties and factions.
Preparing for Extremes.
Undoubtedly the liberal leaders had
been preparing to go to extremes In
Villuendas quarters found store
of weapons and of dynamite bombs,
Prominent liberals were implicated in
the destruction last July of the city hall
and records of the little city of Las Vuel-
tas, Santa Clara province, where the gov
ernment had ordered the records exam
mayor of that city. Orestes Ferrera,
manager of the campaign for Gen Jose
Miguel Gomez, governor of Santa Clara
province and liberal candidate for the
presidency, one of the most brilliant
members of the Cuban bar, is an Italian
by birth and professed anarchist and
has from the beginning of the campaign
indulged in the most violent speeches,
counSeled open resistance to the law, and
has been breathing blood and slaughter
in every address. Several other anarch-
lists have been his political associates.
Even Gen. Gomez himself has declared
Cuba to be "a powder magazine from
Cape San Antonio to Cape Maysi, with the
fuse half burned
With not only the necessity for pre-
serving order upon his shoulders for do
nestic reasons, but with the still greater
responsibility growing out of the as
sumption of the Platt amendment, Presi-
dent Palma, in the eyes of every disin-
terested observer, has been fully justified
in resorting to strong measures to pre-
vent the inf1anmable speeches of the OPP
position from throwing the island into a
condition of anarchy. 1t should be borne
in mind that, while splendid progress is
being made in educating the coming gem
Grafton, the older generation is largely
composed of illiterates, who can be
moved more readily by appeals to preju-
dice than by appeals to reason.
Folly of Liberal Methods.
"The liberal leaders demonstrated in ad-
vance the folly of their political methods
by attempting to force through Congress
a resolution providing for the printing of
10 600 copies of the Cuban constitution with
the PIatt amendment omitted This failed
because the moderate majority of the SEN
ate refused TO ra-ify so obvious and foolish
an attempt to insult the United States. Not
satisfied with this rebuke, the liberal lead
ers made opposition to the Platt amend
ment the most cons SoicuouS plank in their
national platform. 1t Will bring feeling
of relief TO the administration in Washing
ton to learn at this early date that the
trend of events in Cuba IS SO strongly to-
ward the continuance of President Palma s
eminentIy conservative administration.
president Palma Y1ust be reckoned as on
a par with President Diaz of Mexico. Until
the first of the year he held himself to be
and only when the trend OF
political events in Cuba made IL manifest
that he would have to act with vigor to pre-
serve the republic from danger did he con-
sent to reorgan:ze his caDinet partisan
lines. And not until within the last six
weeks, when il became manifest to him
that no other moderate leader could COM
mand the strength to resist the fierce cam
paign OF the liberals, was he brought to
consent with reluctance to again become
the candidate for the presidency.
President Palma's Growth.
From being the unknown quantity of a
country school master in the little village of
Pleasant Valley. y. Y, to his present stat
ure as the strong willed and nfiexible presi-
dent OF the most promising republic in
Latin America, is growth which history
has seldom paTaIeled. Under his guidance
Cuba has become prosperous beyond any
period In its history. There Is a public
school education for every child in Cuba.
Roads equal to the best macadamized high
ways of Europe are being extended in every
direction. Harbor improvements are being
carried out and as soon as the Cuban con-
gress comes to his support President Palma
will carry out to the letter the require
lnents of the Piatt amendment In regard TO
the sanitation of Cuban cities.
President Palma justly points with pride
TO the fact that he has government aDso-
utely without graft. The Cuban treasury
has so large a surplus that, out of the S25-
a0e040 to be raised to finish paying the SOL
1iers' claims. not less than $14,0a0,Oo0 will
- taken outright from tho froo ct,rv th,,e