The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-20
CUBAN LEADERS HEARD
 BY TAFT AND BACON
PRESIDENTS OF MODERATE Axn LIBERAL PARTIES sUBMIp
 THEIR STATEMENTS.

meetins Held at Home of Minister Nror-
 gan--Taft Says Mission Uiu ua.
 more Time Than Was Anticiuat.d.
 Cuban Government Absolutely on-
 posed to Any New EIectiOp-Ynsnr
 gents Seize Supplies at Firmcza N...
 Santiago.
 havana, Sept 1s.-The presidents of both the Moderate and the Liberal nar. 'ies this afternoon submitted to secre- tary of War Taft and Assistant secre- tary of State Bacon, representing p,as- ident Roosevelt their respective state- ments of the facts leading up to tbe 1 Nupan revolution, and the conduct of the belligerents. Each of the nrnsi- uehts Tomorrow will present a written statement of the terms they arg willjne Lo agree to in the interest of naace General Menocal, representing the va+- erans, also related to Messrs. Taft and Bacon the efforts he has mada touord peace and the difficulties he has encoun- tefeo' and gave his opinion as to what courses hold out any promise of an anlcaple settlement. A committee of lsle or Fines Americans also appeared put obtained little satisfaction. their attorney simply presenting a statement or their grievances, which was not tak. en up.
 lo-days hearing began at the beau t1ul nome of Minister Morgan in the village of Marainao, which, if han. pens, is only three miles from thA n,ost advanced of the insurgent forces. that of Col Baldomogo, which is encamned in the vicinity of Arroye Arenas
 The proceedings were conducted very quietly. The hearings were held pri- yately in room adjoining the library. NO one was in the house except those dlrectly interested and newspaper men. Messrs. Taft and Bacon informed Vice President Mendez Capote, Senator AL fredo zayas and Gen. Menocal that IA days conferences would be- purely pre- nmlnary and that all would be heard agaln Vive-President Mendez Capota I was goven an appointment for to-n1or row morning and Senator zaMas for ] the afternoon
 After the hearings Secretary Taft said to the Associated Press that ha had just begun his work, and that 1t was evident that the mission upon which he came would require more time than heshad anticipated before His sr- rlVal. He intimated that ten days IWould be required to complete his er- rand, but he could not say whether or not it would be necessary to visit in- surgent camps or other cities T A contingent of three hundred rural guards has been sent to Marianao, which hitherto has not been especially protected
 After his interview with Messrs. Taft and Bacon, Vice-President Mendez Ca pote said the government was abso- lutely opposed to any plan which in- wolves new elections He added that he was preparing written statement of the terms which the Moderates will accept in settlement of the difficulty. Senator Sayan asserted that he had been urged to use his influence in all possible ways to stop fighting. He feared he would be unable to reachlt7is- tant insurgent camps in time, and pointde out that the attack by gov ernnent force on insurgents at Sancti Spiritus on Tuesday was violation of the governments armistice He rela- ted to Secretary Taft his efforts for the relief of liberals arrested as conspira- tors. and MT. Taft Informed him that Pesident Palma had stated that the prisoners under indictment would be eleased to-day under bail. Up to to- night, however they had not been re- leased.
 Senor Zayas said it was imperative that Jose Migual Gomez and others of the prisoners should assist il1 the peace negotiations. MT. Taft was careful not to commit himself to either faction, but encouraged all to talk freely. During Secretary Tafts visit to Pres ident Palma earlier in the day the lat ter spoke freely of the situation and the future possibilities, adding that in the contingency of a general election being
 ordered he would not feel that it would be consistent in him to continue in of flee as president No member of the government, President Palma said, , would be willing to concede to the proposition of a general election under any circumstances.
 Santiago, Cuba. Sept. 19.-The first , overt act by revolutionists in eastern
 Cuba was committed yesterday, Fifty armed and mounted men, un- der Captain Vicente Costa and L.ieuten- ant Francisco Salmon, entered the town 5 of Firmeza, twenty miles east of here, where the Jaruga iron mines are lo-
 cated. They presented to Superintend- , ent of Mines Whitaker a document l bearing the alleged signature of Gen. eral Hieresielo demanding the delivery of two cases of dynamite and two
 blasting batteries. The superintendent refused to deliver the Goods. The in- [ surgents thereupon forcibly seized the 2 explosives and batteries, one mule, and ) other supplies, giving their receipt
 therefor. They promised not to mo- lest further If the companys railroad
 was not used to transport government troops. The mines are now without protection from the rural guards. The governor to-day ordered that 4all explosives be stored at Powder Island. whence daily supplies are issued. A fine new building owned by Fred erick Pfelffer, an American stockman, in the Palrnss Soriano district. was