Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-29

get down 20 actual business as the
chief executive.
1t is related that Palma wept when
some weeks before his Inauguration he
, landed at Gibara and again set foot
upon his native soil. Again when he
visited his birthplace and met sister
whom he had not seen for thirty years
he wept. And again when he caused
the disinterment of his mothers re-
mains and their reburial at the old
home the mother having died from
Spanish fortunes and cruelties during
the ten years war. General Palma's
grief is said to have been as touching
as if his mother had just died. This
tender heartedness, this love of family.
IS one of the Cuban presidents most
distinguishing characteristics.
1.-The Little SchOOImaster.
Palma came TO New York after his
release from the Spanish prison in
1878. Being pennilesS and unable to
speak English. he soon found that
New York was not the place for him.
General Maxine Gomez, with whom
he had fought for years and who had
been his secretary of war during Pal
mas brief experience as provisional
president, was then in Honduras. He
wrote TO Palma, urging him to go to
that country. Palma borrowed money
from friends and went TO Honduras,
where the president of that little re-
public appointed him postmaster gen
eral. The Cuban reyolutioniSt soon
married the presidents daughter. and
son was born to the couple.
Another president coming into power,
Palma lost his official position and
brought his family to New York, de-
termning to become an American citi-
zen He settled at Central Valley. in
Orange county, forty miles above the
metropolis. and opened the Estrada
Palma institute III roomy. old fash
Toned farmhouse. where he took up his
residence. Here for nearly eighteen
years he lived. teaching English To Gu
ban and other Spanish-American boys
and teaching Spanish 10 the boys of
his neighbOrhOod. Head Master Palma,
or Estrada. as he was known i'll Cen
trail Valley. soon became proficient in
English himself. though he still speaks
it with Il strong Spanish accent He
was known affectionately III Central
Valley as the little schoolmaster."
There five more children were born to |
the family. making the future Cuban |
executives brood equal in number to !
President RooSevelts.
When in 1890 the second and success |
full war for Cuban independence began |
Schoolmaster Estrada was unanimous |
~ chosen by the Cuban revolutionary |
societies in various countries to repre-
sent the revolutionists us their general |
agent for the raising of funds with
which to carry on the war Palma |
opened dinSy little Office in New York |
city and for three years worked inces-
sanity. raising hundreds of thousands |
of dollars for the cause.
The war ended. Cuba free by grace
of the intervention of the United States.
Palma returned to his home ut Central
Valley. He had closed his school upon
taking charge of the ''junta." He was
poor There was still mortgage upon
his house and twenty-four acres of land
at Central Valley. But the land was fer
tile, and the old patriot. like Cincin-
natus. set his hand to the pillow and
started in to make Il living as Il garden
er. In SemiSarcaSm somebody called
him "a gentleman farmer"
Such was Tomas Estrada Palma
when there came from Cuba an ire
Sistible demand that he should stand
for the presidency of the new republic.
At first he demurred. He was sixty
seven years old. Married in middle life.
his children were still growing up
around him. He was deeply devoted
to his family and his quiet home life
Moreover, he felt that the place of ex-
ecutive power the honor of being the
first president. belonged to another
General Gomez" he said. lis en-
titled TO it. He has been fighting in
the field. l have been away for many
years. Gomez should have it."
But Gomez himself came to New
York and urged Palma to accept the
The rest is history
Compliments of the Ten Years War.
Up in Central Valley the common
'olk still call the president of Cuba
Mr.. Stradder' They knew him
.hiehy as the village schoolmastcr. an
understood, grayish man, of modest
temeanor. somewhat rusty black
'lothes and nervous manner Quite
handsome he might have been but for
wo RESPONSIBILITIES. These were
spanish compliments of the Ten
ears. war One had blaZed a bare