Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-02
Secretary Taft's Discoveries.

Whom Secretary Taft began his investt-
cation at Marianao week ago. he founo'
first of all, that the liberals had been
cheated out of the election by the moder-
ates who took hold of the entire election
machinery of the island by force and elect
cd a president and considerably more than
half of the senate and assembly. Another
charge which the Secretary found to be
+rpe was that, in violation of the constl-
tuition President Palma had ordered no
municipal election, and that the towns and
cities of the island were under the control
of officers appointed by him. There were
other charges in the case made out against
the Palma government by the liberals. but
these two stood out as the most fragrant
of his acts and as the two which were
chiefly responsible for bringing on the rev.
o,ution 1t was but natural that the Gu
bans should desire to elect their own num-
ipaI officers, and the refusal Of this pr1vl-
leee easily stirred them to rebel.
Having satisfied himself Of the truth OF
these charges, Secretary Taft sent for the
representatives of the moderate party to
ask them what they had to say on the sub
iect Although hitherto denying that there
had been any use of fraud in the elections,
when faced with the truth they admitted
the charge, and with bombastic eloquence
defended their action by contending that
such course was necessary IN oroer 70
retain control of the government and con-
time the prosperous condition of the island.
In defending Freyre Andrade, who. as Sec
retary of the government at the time. was
responsible for the election fraud. one OF
his friends who Is now member OF the
Palma government said to Secretary Taft:
II was afraid Freyre was OVERRIDING the
thing and cautioned him that 1t was only
necessary to elect half moderates and half
liberals and that would give us enough
votes to support us in continuing the gov
eminent But Freyre played the fool; he
thought it would be clever to elect every
moderate and keep all the liberals out. l
kneW~such O. course was reckless, and ne
realizes now that he snouIo nave oeen more
reasonable
AS soon as Secretary Taft was assured
by the liberals as well as the moderates
that President Palma was not involved
in the election frauds and did not need
the votes illegally obtained by Andrade's
methods in order to be reelected he re-
allied that he had a basis for comprO-
mise in the retention of Palma. The
liberals at that outset demanded the
resignation of the president and his cab
met, new elections under new law OF
half the members OF senate and assem-
bly,, and autonomy of the municipalities.
AS the moderates had turned themselves
over bag and baggage to Mr.. Taft and
pledged their word that they would abide
by any decision he might make, the Sec
rotary then set about to frame some ar
rangement on which both sides could
unite. He explained to them that he had
come to Cuba, not to rule on the right
and wrong of the quarrel. but to medi-
ate. and by friendly, suggestion to assist
the Cubans in making peace between
each other. After sitting the verbal
statements made to him by both sides the
Secretary suggested that. Palma be re-
tanned as president; that new elections
for half of the house and senate elected
last December be. held under a more
stringent law that the cabinet contain
members of both parties in its personnel,
and eliminate Vice President Capote and
Secretary Montalvo, to whom the liberals
were most bitterly opposed.
Palma's Personal Dignity"
AS the moderates had agreed to ae-
cept any suggestion Mr.. Taft might
make. their assent to this proposition.
which had previously been accepted by
the liberals, was naturally expected And
it is little wonder that Mr. Taft was