Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-11

eminent, of disarming those who had
taken the field in opposition to Presi-
dent Palma and Of restoring order and
confidence is being carried on smooth
ly. \ commission on disarmament, at
the head Of which is Brig. Gen. Funs-
ton, was appointed to cooperate with
a similar commission appointed by the
insurgents. This mixed commission is
visiting the military camps, receiving
the surrender of the arms of the in
surgents and sending the latter to their
homes.
Meantime American marines, who
are being strengthened by the addition
of 5000 troops ordered to Cuba by
President Roosevelt, are maintaining
order on the island.
Secretaries Taft and Bacon are now
working energetically to effect internal
reforms. They hope to have things in
such condition as to 9e able to leave
Cuba soon, feeling satisfied that after
the arrival Of Gov Beekman Winthrop
of Porto Rico the new provisional head
of Cuba, their services will no longer
be required. The first and most press
ing reform will be the revision of the
election laws. When the new elections
will be held has not been determined.
The Cuban constitution calls for the
election of half the members Of Con
gresS a year from next December, but
the last election, whereby the other half
was seated, having been declard illegal,
and there being no President or Wise
President in office, the election of those
officials and that half of Congress
whose title was questioned will be held
as soon as the island is thoroughly
pacified.
An important movement in cOnnec-
ton with the Cuban elections, no mat
ter when they may be held, has started
among the foreign residents who have
considerable property interests on the
island. They all want annexation or
permanent American occupation i'll the
form of a protectorate, and they be-
lieve one proposition or the other can
secure votes of enough Cubans of prop
erty to enable them to carry out their
purpose if they can get it to vote.
4 league is forming to urge the pro-
visiOnal government to allow the sub
mission to the people at the next cleo
ton of these three propositions Shall
Cuba remain a purely native govern
ment: shall it be annexed to the Unit
ed States, or shall it have a government
under the protection Of the United
States?
1t is said that all persons with prop
erty interests will vote for one of the
two last propositions and that they will
be able to influence so many native
votes that one of them will be carried.
This. of course, means that all foreign
residents shall be allowed to vote on
the propositions, which they are now
prevented from doing by law.
Of course in this particular the pro
visional government will be guided by
the attitude of Washington and this at
titude is still unknown Judging by the
time that must elapse before the Cuban
elections are held. the american mill
tary occupation of the island will be
long continued, for of course the mill
tary power of the United States must
be I,aintained until Cuba is again able
to Ie@yk after her own affairs. The 5000
trocos ordered to Cuba viii. it is ex-
pecf4d. be able TO deal with the situa-
ton but if necessary. additional troops
viii Sc sent. The maintenance of peace
and order Is the first consideration.