The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-20
STATE THEIR CAUSE
BOTH SIDES APPEAR BEFORE SEC
RETARY TAFT.


Havana, Sept 19.--The Presidents OF
both the Moderate and the Liberal
parties this afternoon submitted 10
Secretary of War Taft and Assistant
Secretary of State Bacon their respec'
tive statements of the facts leading
up to the revolution and the conduct
of belligerents.
Each of the Presidents tomorrow VIII
present written statement OF the
peace terms to which they are willing
to agree. General Menocal, represent
ing the veterans also related the ef-
forts he had made for peace ana tho
difficulties he has encountered and gave
his opinion as to what courses hotc
any promise of an amiable settlement.
committee of Isle of Pine Americans
also appeared. but got little satt3far-
tion. their attorney simply present
ing a statement of their grievances
which was not taken up
Today's bearing began at the home
of Minister Morgan, in the village Of
Marianao, which is only three miles
II ON the advanced insurgent forces.
The hearings were held privately In n
room adjoining the library. no one be-
ing present except those directly inter-
ested and newspaper men.
Secretary Taft informed Vice .Presi-
dent Mendez Capote. Senator Alfredo
Zayas and General Menocal that to-
days conferences would be purely pre-
liminary and that all would be heard
egain. Vice-Presideut Mendez Capote
was given an appointment for 10 o'clock
tomorrow and Senator Zayas for 2
o'clock.
After the hearings Secretary Taft
said to the Associated Press that no
had just begun his work. and that II
was evident that the mission on which
he had come would require more tine
than he had anticipated He init
mated that ten days you'd be required.
nut he could not say whether II will
be necessary to visit insurgent camps
or not.
He was pleased that representatives
of evarv faction had appeared. consid-
ering that this augurs well for the
success of the mission. Mr.. Taft said
that he expected to talk also with
representatives of commercial interests.
A private telegraph wire is being
strung from Minister Morgan's house
to the cable Office in order that Messrs.
Taft and Bacon may be able to re-
pert direct to President Roosevelt.
Three hundred rural guards hare
been sent to Marianao, which hitherto
has not been specially protected.
Vice President Mendez Capote said
that the government Is absolutely OPP
posed to any plan which involves new
elections. He added that he is pre-
pairing a written statement of the
terms which the moderates will ac-
cept.
Senator Zayas said that he had been
asked not to talk about the conference
but acknowledged that he had been
fighting. He said that he feared that
he would be unable to reach distant
insurgent camps in time and pointed
out that the attack by a force of in
surgents under Tello Sanchez at Sane
II Spiritus on Tuesday was a viola
tion of the governments armistice.
Senator Zayas related to Secretary
Taft the efforts he had made for the
relief OF the liberals arrested as con-
spirators and Mr.. Taft informed him
that President Palma had stated that
the prisoners under Indictment would
be released under bali. Up to tonight.
however. they had not haan released.
Senior Zayas said 1t was imperative
that Jose Miguel Gomez and others of
the prisoners should assist in the
peace negotiations. Mr.. Taft was
careful not to commit himself to either
faction but encouraged all to talk
freely.
During Secretary Taft's visit to
President Palma earlier in the day
the latter spoke freely of the situation
and the future possibilities, adding that
IN tne contingency OF general cleo
tion being ordered he would not feel
that II would be consistent in hin. 10
continue as president No member of the
government, President Palma said.
will consent. to a genera election.
Following his visit TO President Pal
ma. Secretary Taft boarded the cruiser
Denver to return Commander Colwelrs
call. He found there Senior Zayas
awaiting him under a pre- arrangement
with Commander Colwell and thus
cordial relations were established both
with the palace and with the revolu-
tionists. Senior Zayas had on Tuesday
sent a letter to Secretary Taft through
charge GAffairs Sleeper, rendering
him his greetings. Unfortunately the
letter did not reach Mr.. Taft but Sc
nor Zayas made 1t public today.
The conditions in the field are quiet.
although the situation at Cienfuegos
is threatening. General Rodrigues
said this evening that rural guards
and militia are patrolling the out
skirts and suburbs of Havana One
thousand militia from Matanzas has
been removed from the Cabanass for
tress to Camp Columbia