Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-10-07
GoMEZ's CHARGES.

Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez, the candi-
date ofthe liberal party for the presidency
of Cuba, who is atpresent in New York,
said yesterday that it is the duty of the
United States government, under the
Platt amendment, to interfere in Cuba,
and to see to it that the island has gen.
uine and honest elections. He described
what he said was the despotism of Presi-
dent Pama's government and the COM
bined and open use of fraud and force in
Cuban elections, as follows:
1.-The days of the 2lst, 22d aud 23d OF
last September were days of terror in all
Cuba. The chief leaders ofour party
were interchangeable men, men OF
conservative ideas, merchants, and dis
tinguished professional men. The assss-
sinstion of Villuendas took place. de
w.s a young man of great vigor and the
leader of the liberal party in the House
OF Representatives. A stupid story Of
dynamite was invented, being made up
only to make an impression on the United
States, as it was only received with laugh
ter in Cuba.
"On tie 22d day of September, the
day preceding the election OF members
of the election boards, the mOderates ar
rested the leaders of our party organiza-
tions, and on the 29d the ballot boxes
we're taken to the polling places, already
stuffed with votes, and defended by men
of criminal antecedents, armed with
rifles, and also by the rural guard and
the municipal police. Wherever the
members of our party resisted they were
fred upon. In the province of Santa
Clara there were many killed and
wounded.
"Alter having prevented the liberals
from voting OH the 23d, the election
leaders of the moderate party filled up
the ballot boxes accordingto to their desire.
con the 25th of September the draw
ing up of the list of voters was begun.
1t was padded to an extraordinary de-
gree. there being iHscribed as voters
names of persons who had never existed
or had died. In many cases the num-
Der of names Of the voters falsely in
serted we're more than double the num-
Der of names Of genuine voters"
Asked whether the coming December
elections might be conducted in this
same manner, Gen. Gomez replied
"Yes, the result in the coming elec-
tions will be that as this body of imagi-
nary voters has been created, the will OF
the genuine electors will be stifled by
the members of the boards of election
officers, who will fill the ballot boxes with
the votes Of false electors.
81 assure you that, if interpreted hon
estly, the Plat amendment cannot be
guarantee Of bad government In Cuba oy
placing bad government beyond the
reach Of all punishment for its miSdeeds.
That the Interpretation of his amend
ment ought either to be a liberal one
land in this case the protection OF the
United States should be exercised in ta'
yor of the Cuban people whenever the
government violates its fundamental
rights), or a broad one, and in this case
the attitude of the United States should
be one Of complete passivity as long AZ
the rights of foreigners are not inter
fered with. 1t would not be difficult fo
the government OF the United States t
ascertain the truth of what have as
serted, and to see to it that there are
genuine and horest elections, which
all that we ask.