New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-09
NO PROMISE TO CUBANS.
CENSUS BEFORE BALLOT.
Taft Says National Election May
Be Held in December.


Havana. April S-The members Of the COM
mittee OF insurgents. with whom Secretary
Taft and Mr.. Bacon. Assistant Secretary OF
State. made arrangements for peace in Cuba In
September last. had a conference with the sec
retary to-day lasting from 10 o'clock in the
morning until 1:3O in the afternoon. Secretary
Taft, in spite of the demand of the committee
refused to give his visitors the date of the with
drawal of the American forces from Cuba
At the close Of the conference. Senators Eayas
and Morua Delgado and General jose Miguel
Gomez said that Mr.. Taft had informed them
that it impossible TO hold elections in Cuba
until complete census of the island had been
taken. This would occupy about four months
He added that municipal and provincial cleo
tions would probably he held some time in Sep
tember.
Secretary Taft again conferred with the MEM
bers OF the committee of insurgents until late
hour tonight. The subjects discussed this
morning We're gone over a second time. The
committee insists upon the holding of provincial
elections at the same time municipal cleo
tons. but this is opposed by the Conservatives,
as the provincial councils elect part of the
Senator's.
General Loynas del Castillo called attention to
the existence in some quarters of a campaign
for the establishment of an American protector
ate over Cuba. Secretary Taft replied that he
aware of this movement, but he assured his
hearers it would not affect President ROOsevelts
views. who was determined to restore the Cuban
republic as soon as possible He said he prob
ably would recommend to President Roosevelt
the holding of Presidential elections in Decem-
ber and that the Cubans take possession one
hundred days later, as prescribed in the consti-
tuition.
hat he MIA m
crease the rural guards be not carried out. and
Secretary Taft promised to confer at length with
General Barry on this subject.
The Liberals left the conference tonight eX-
pressing great satisfaction with the outcome
Secretary Taft paid high compliment TO Gov
ernor Magoon He said the Governor had COM
plete power of which he had made moderate use,
and that the administration would. support all
his acts
The committee asked that the Moderate gov
ernors in the different provinces and the Mod
crate mayors and city councils be- replaced by
Liberals. but Mr.. Taft said that he would leave
that entirely to Governor Magoon.
The Secretary had busy afternoon, At
o'clock ne met the Conservatives and discussed
the insular situation. He said that. owing 70
economical conditions. he considered national
election at an early date To be unwise. and
recommended that such election be postponed
until the outcome of the municipal and pro-
vinciaI elections were known. The Conservative
representatives expressed their Willingness TO
leave ali 10 the good Judgment OF the United
States. Secretary Taft desires to the Con-
servsniveJ aslin bcsors ne departs. and prob
ably will meet them Wednesday.
After this interview representatives Of all the
leading banks of Cuba called on Secretary TAFT
and asked him to give them one two years
win
that unless this were done the effect on COM
merclal conditions in the island would be dis
astrous The bankers urged the Secretary not
to change tho present currency TO American
money. holding that such order would In
crease the cost OF living by Il per cent. The
committee OF the Chamber Of Commerce spoke
to the Secretary in a similar vein.
Secretary Taft told the bankers that he under
stood that they preferred permanent American
control I'm Cuba but that this could not be.
eve have obligations to the American people as
well as to the Cubans. and the matter must be
considered in its political well as its eco
nomical aspects" The Secretary said after the
conferences:
Various committees waited on me this after
noon. It is impossible To state just what took
place, but the consensus of opinion seems to he
that II would be wise. and even necessary, to
take census before attempting 10 hold an
election, not only under the present provisional
government but under any subsequent govern
ment. 1t would be wise. in order TO test the
condition of the country and the operation Of
the election law. TO hold preliminary election.
municipal and not national, and the national
election should be delayed until the results OF
the preliminary elections are seen l have prom
ised to confer with Governor MagoOn and 10
consult President Roosevelt, with view TO fur
ther conferences with the Liberals and Con-
servatives.
other matters are pending concerning which l
cannot speak, in the first place because moth
ing would be gained thereby. and also. as the
Spaniards say, 1T is not convenient"
While Secretary Taft was on the Isthmus of
Panama representatives of the bosses time
keepers and laborers called him and de-
manded a material increase in wages. The Sec
retary consulted with the delegates for nearly
three hours. and promised to take up the mat
ter with President Roosevelt.