Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-22
ACCEPT WITH THANKS
Cuban "InSurrect0s" Aqree to
Taft's Program.
SECURITY ON THE ISLAND
Provisions for Taking Census and
Holding Elections.
LIBERAL MAJoRITIEs CERTAIN
Few Property Holders Likely to Go to
the Polls-How the Constitution
Has Been Ignored.
LIBERAL MAJoRIT1Es CERTAIN
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Our genial Secretary OF War evidently
hypnotic the Cuban 'insurrectos, for
they have accepted with thanks the pro-
gram he has announced, although 1t is very
far from what they have been demanding
AS rule they do not shine as philosophers.
but In this case they have evidently decided
to accept half a loaf rather than get no
bread. They demanded municipal and pro-
vincial elections in September: presiden-
tfal election December 81: the Inauguration
of the new president May 20. and the evac-
uation Of Cuba by the United States army
Immediately after that date. They also de-
manded that the Secretary should order
Gov. Magoon to carry out the pact he Is
alleged to have made with them when they
laid down their arms last October. :.
There is difference of opinion as to what
that pact" was. They told me that they
have it in writing, but when I pinned them
down they admitted that 1t was not in Sec
rotary Taft's writing and was not signed
by him, but 1t was merely a memorandum
written and signed by themselves. the party
of the first part only, and contained their
joint recollection of the assurances they re-
ceived from the Secretary and Mr.. Bacon
concerning the distribution of patronage
The recent announcement of Secretary Taft.
however. wipes that all out and begins q
new deal without reference to any prom
ises. real or imaginary. in the past
Taft's Statement.
The pronunciamento is in the form Of {
graphed verbatim to President Roosevelt
and approved by him before 1t was signed
and delivered
fbo hot
made upon him by the liberal "insurrectos
and the recommendation and requests OF
the bankers. the planters associations other
representatives. Of the business interests and
the leaders of the conservative element
Secretary Taft makes the following reply:
''First-It is hardly necessary to reiterate
that the position Of President Roosevelt Is
exactly what 1t was when the first procla-
sional government under the Plat amend
ment. to wit: That Cuba must be turned
over to Cuban government fairly elected
as soon as the conditions and the tranquil
sure the stability of the government to be
established
"Second-I do not think that four months
Is sufficient time in which to take such
a census is necessary to assure a fair
basis for holding an election. 1t would be
most unwise, therefore, to fix a definite
date for the holding of preliminary cleo
ton. All that can be done, and all that
is to be taken in short a time as is con-
sistent with making the census thorough fair
and capable for electoral purposes. and to
announce that the preliminary election will
be held within such period thereafter as
may afford a reasonable time for comply
ing with sall the requirements OF the new
electoral law preceding the elections.
"Third-The municipal and provincial
elections, which are in a sense local cleo
tons. should be held at the same time. I
have already expressed the opinion that
the elections by which the present pro-
vincial authorities were put into power,
were attended with such irregularity that
their designations should be at the service
of the government, although present condi-
tons justify the maintenance Of the de
facto status of these officials SO long as they
conduct themselves properly, rather than
an indiscriminate removal of them, with the
possible excitement and controversy likely
to attend the selection OF their successors.
Still, the proper policy to pursue In respect
to the present provincial officials Is a mat
ter which is in your hands for discussion.
"Fourth-Three months may not be
sufficient time In which to test the tran
quillity Of the country and the success Of
the preliminary elections and, therefore,
our declaration should not be more limited
than that the national elections will be
held six months after the preliminary cleo
lions.
''Fifth-It is the proper course to comply
with the constitutional requirements as to
the interval Of hundred days between the
congressional and presidential elections,
and the vote OF the electoral college-the
assembling of the congress and the inaug-
uration of the new president. The govern
ment should then devolve upon the newly
elected president and congress-.
"Sixth-The carrying out Of this plan Is.
of course, strictly dependent upon the
tranquility of the island, which must con-
tinue through the two elections, and must
give assurance of the stability of the new
government. because. without this the
United States will not be discharging the
obliga lions devolving upon 1t by reason of
the intervention.
ness prosperity of the island that this
policy, if it is to be adopted, be made pub
lie.
II have submitted the substance of this
the foregoing and directs me to make this
WILLIAM H TAFT"
You will notice that this program and
everything it involves, including the cleo
tons and the inauguration of a president,
and in short, the restoration OF the re-
public, all depend upon the good behavior
Of the people and the tranquility of the
island Anybody can defeat 1t and pro-
long the provisional government by get
ting up a revolution. and that Is easily
done.
Mr. Victor Olmstead of the Agricultural
Department will have charge OF the CEN
sus. and will proceed at once to make an
enumeration with the same force Of as
sistants that was engaged In that work
under him In 1899. The election of munich
pal and provincial officials will not be
held until he has finished and returns a
full list Of citizens Of voting age, which
will be used as a basis for registration
and as a check upon frauds at the polls.
Liberal Majorities Certain.
1t is a foregone conclusion that every
one of the six provinces will return a
large liberal majority except Matanzas
where most of the people are conserva-
tives. because few of the property holders
and members of the business community
will go to the polls or take any share in
the responsibility of politics for the fol-
lowing reasons:
/. 1t is contrary to tradition. Under
Spanish domination 1t was a waste OF
time for any man to participate in politi-
cal affairs.
Q Like many of our own citizens, the
highly respectable elment prefer to avoid
contact with the d.sreputable classes who
are making politics business or recre-
alton.
g. They fear personal resentment. Poll
tics is SO acute in Cuba that a candidate
for office will never forgive neighbor for