The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-09
LAST ANOTHER YEAR
IND or AMERICAN OCCUPATION
 IS DISTANT.
oec1etary Taft Has Conferences wHh q Number of Representatives Of Vax1ous DiRerent Political
 Parties of Island.

Havana, April S.-The members or the committee of insurgents with whom Secretary aft and Assistant Secretary of State Bacon made ar- arrangements for peace in Cupa in sep tomber last, had a conference with the secretary today lasting from ID o'clock in the morning until 1o:so In the. afternoon.
 9ecretary Taft In spite of the re- uuests of the committee refused to rive his visitors the date of the with {irawal of the American forces from ctriya. At the close of the conference, Senors Zayas and Mcrua Delgado ana
 General Jose NJ. Gomez informed the correspondent of the Associated Press that MT. Taft had declared 10 them that 1t was impossible to hold elec- tions in Cuba until a complete census of the island had been taken, which
 vfIl occupy about four months. He added that municipal and provincial elections would probably be held some time in September.
 The committee asked that the mod crate governors in the different brown ces and the moderate mayors and city councils be replaced by liberals. but Mir. Taft declared that he would leave that entirely to Governor Magoon. He added that the administration was hixhiy satisfied with the governors conduct of Cuban affairs and he would De gfven more authority than ever. -
 The secretary met the conservatives this afternoon and discussed the fn- sular situation. He said that owing to economical conditions he consider cd . national election at an early date to be unwise and recommended that such election be postponed until the result of the municipal and prov incial elections became known. The conservative representatives expressed their willingness to leave all to the rood judgment of the United States. Secretary Taft will meet the conser- vatives again on Wednesday.
 Alter this interview representa- lives of all the leading banks of Cuba called upon Secretary Taft and asked him to give them one or two years notice before the holding of the na- tional elections, claiming that unless this was done, the effect upon commer- cial conditions in the island would be disastrous. The bankers urged the secretary not to change the present currency to American money, claim ing that to do so would increase the cost of living twelve per cent. The committee of the Chamber of Com merce spoke to the secretary in similar vein.
 Speaking to the correspondent of the Associated Press Secretary Taft said:
 srvarious committees waited on me this afternoon. It Is impossible to state just what took place. but the consensus of opinion seems to be that 1t would be wise, and even neces- sary to take a census before attempt ing to hold an election. not only un- der tfepresent provisional govern ment, but under any subsequent gov ernment. 1t would be wise. In order to test the condition of the country and the operation of the election law to hold a preliminary election, mu- nfcipal and not national.
 q have promised to confer with Governor Magoon and to consult President Roosevelt with view to further conference with the liberals and the Other matters are pendirg concerning which I can- not speak. in the first place, because nothing would be gained thereby and else. as the Spaniards say. It is not convenient
 There is a general impression gath cred by what Secretary Taft said to- day that the American occupation of