The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-23
HANGING ON
 CONFERENCE Crisis in the Cuban Affairs. TAFT HAS DEFINITE PLAN Negroes on Island Bitterly Opposed
 to Intervention. Automobiles Rush From Villa of Min fster Morgan With Messages and
 Crowds Throng Streets About American Legation.

Havana. Sept. 22-Everything hangs upon a conference that Is now proceed ing at United States Minister Nor gan's home between Secretary of War Taft and Assistant Secretary of state Bacon and representatives of the Lib eral leaders. the prisoners under arr rest for alleged conspiracy. and the rebel field com handlers.
 Since the arrangements fer this in- portant meeting were completed, Ser- retary Taft hal believed that this was fair reason for expecting a favorable outcome to the negotiations which would lead to settlement without the necessity of American intervention. The situation today was considerably changed from that of Friday as re. suit of the proposal made Friday night by the Moderates to accept whatever disposition of the controversy Messrs. Taft and Bacon might decide. upon, a condition that the rebels surrender their arms and legally promise to accept | and comply with such derision what ever 1t might be. Secretary Taft. however, sees a way tonight Of saving the sovereignty of the Cuban republic. He admits that he has tangible plan but will not disclose It's exact character. It Is not victory for either | political party. but contemplates radi- ] cal concessions by both.
 The Secretary's program is as yet embryonic and depends upon the pa triotism of the Moderate and Liberal leaders, both of whom have shown con- I hdence in the mediators by naming delegates with definite powers Of at torneyV to treat for their respective i parties
 | Action Is Important.
 This action by Messrs. Taft and Ba- con is regarded as the most important vet taken. Negotiations on new | basis will open immediately and 1t Is | relieved that eventually the opposing delegates will be brought together at Ministc. Morgan's villa, at Marianao. with President Roosevelt's medfators ss referees. This afternoon the un- l welcome news reached the mediators l that the Government had refused to lFsleasc the prisoners in order that they might attend tonights conference, and that the prisoners themselves had re- rused to accept these conditions. de- cijning absolutely to be the recipients | of favors from the present Govern ment.
 Secretary Taft took up the matter afpion,a tically with the result that Con- suI- General Steinhart and Captain Me- Gov. military aide to President Roose | welt, drove in an automobile 10 the | PraEi6lO here, WHSTc lHCy o0" PSSs tary Montalvo and got his consent for inc release of Jose Miguel Gomez and four others of the leading alleged con | sntrators The latter returned with them to Minister Morgan's house, ar | rivtnp there at 7:30 o'clock this even ing. 4. 1 Meanwhile Machado and Ferrera, the rebel leaders in Santa Clara province had taken an automobile here and cone | .aI outside rianao. returning with General Del castillo and Pino Guerra, respectively tbe ladders of the revolt in the prov ,rcas of HavanG and Pinar del Rio, who were on horseback. 4. | Arriving at Marianao, they went tc the local President of the Liberals, Bal domero Infante, where they heid nreliminary session. On the arrlVai ol inc nrisoners from Havana, all went tn Mr ,Nforean's house and the confer ence m which all persons felt re 'teo the success of the endeavors to settle matters without American intervention proceeded. x,,u
 crowds Around the Villa.
 No, since the efforts at mediation began had such intense interest ple vailed. Crowds thronged the street surrounding Mir. Morgan's Vilia ah' with suppressed excitement awaited th' arrival of the rebel leaders. It Wal evident that the sentiment of the VII Iare was with the rebels. but the peo ple feared to applaud them.
 Automobiles dashed to and from th' villa regardless of speed limits, tax ing participants to the conference an' carrying messages, There were simi lar scenes in front of Senor Infantei hcuea during the afternoon on accoun of the expectations that the prisoner ana the rebels leaders would gathe | tbere Streets Wer ecrowded. but or for was maintained by the local police On the announcement being made tha l the prisoners had refused to accept con ditional release. the crowd withdrew quietly. but reassembled again Uni evening and followed the outer evi dence of proceedings with avidity.
 The impression tonight is that tn
 suggestions of the commissioners VII include the retention of President Pal
 ma and perhaps Senor Font y Sterling Secretary of the Treasury, with Man uel Despaigne the administrator of tn
 customs. iy his present position or il the Cabinet The suggestion of tn
 commissioners probably also will in
 clude new general elections, although ! there may he only an arrangement 10
 electine members of the Cabinet, tn
 present Congress to continue until mex
 years Congressional election.
 This morning SeCTeldfleS Adil dil' 1 Bacon, accompanied by Consul Genera Steinhart and Captain Mccoy came il an automobile from Marianao to tn
 palace where they were in close con
 ference with President Palma obtain
 ing from him his Ideas as to what h. was willing should be done under thu ! circumstances
 Upon leaving the palace Assistan
 Secretary Bacon sad that the lorna
 matters of the controversy had no
 been discussed. The visit. however lasted thirty five minutes. Upon leav
 ing the palace Messrs. Taft and Bacoi
 returned the call of the officers of tn
 fleet in the harbor. which now mum
 bers nine vessels
 Negroes Against Intervention.
 In general the public discussion O
 the entire matter is assuming nor, and more the nature of a controver
 sy between the blacks and the whites
 The whites and they include ever.
 foreigner. welcomed the arrival of tn
 United States warships. On the othe
 hand the negroes give vent to expres
 sions of hatred and disappointment a
 each new vessel appears. The negroe