Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-15
CAUSE OF THE REVOLT
Why the Palma Administration
Was Overthrow.
BOLD FRAUD IN ELECTION
Wholesale Counting Out of the Liberal
Vote.
ALL THE M0DERATEs CHOSEN
Barefaced Suppression of the Expires
sion of the Popular Will More.
Than Could Be Endured.'
BOLD FRAUD IN ELECTION
ALL THE MODERATEs CHOSEN
Fly WILLIAM 7. CURTIS.

SIt'ldl ''i'N
HAVANA, March ~. 1907.
The recent revolution in Cuba which over
threw the existing government ana COM
pelIed the United States to intervene Tor the
restoration of peace was purely political.
1t was organized by politicians against poll
ticians To obtain control of the offlces. par
ticularly the treasury department. the Gus
tom houses and other sources OF revenue
1t terminated an incompetent nut hohest
government compared with those under
Spanish domination which preceded mae
pendence but that was not a matter of i'm
portance to the leaders Of the liberia! party
who. If they had succeeded in acquiring
power. would doubtless have proven more
incompetent and more corrupt than the men
they threw out of office.
Every body agrees that President rama
was an honest man and that he e1deavored
TO have an honest government. He did
everything he could to prevent grating YET
there were several big steals il his ADMINS
tration. Shortly before his overture" ms
secretary of the interior sold conSlderdpie
mart of the ground of the arsenal at the
rat of 81, a square meter to the Havana Cen
traI railroad. when land outside the walls
ON the next block was selling Tor 10
souare meter and what is worse. one of the
most valuable and convenient sites TOT pun
Uc~purposes was diminished in area, made
difficut of access, and the extension Oh us
facilities was permanently prevented
The Arsenal Grounds Deal.
The arsenal was established in 1850. The
grounds included covered an area OF l"f'ooV
square meters which is several acres
fronting upon the hay. There nave peeh re-
peated attempts To obtain it for business
purposes because il is one of the most vaiu-
able and convenient sites in the city. The
Havana Central railroad has its passenger
station and freight warehouses near by ana
needed more room fer both purposes
Through secret influences which nave gwen
rise to a great deal of scandal II was aple
In secure 2SpbJ square meters OF the ar
senal ground adjoining IT'S own iaud' lur
which il paid no money AT an NOT 'i' uoi
lar hIIt i'm exchange for the land agreed 10
nr.rt r,rtain Uharves and sheds for the use
of the government. The cost OF these naue
tr,>A price of the land So square meter Inns
trade was made 10y the railway COMMISSION
without the authority of congress. without
the auproval of the President. under q law
which gives that COMMISSION the rlShl "
condemn and assign for railway purposes
any public or private property that may De
necessary for the pub iC utility. Under TINS
extraordinary right of dominant DOMAIN the
railway commission can seize the palace OF
the governor general or any fortncalloh' OF
the HEADQUARTERS Of the city government.
ana give them II a railway company, Il
II considers il necessary 10 pfomote the
public convenience in the way OF tanspor-
tatiou privileges ..,
There have been several other similar
deals The Palma government got ria OF
a large amount of Naluahie public prop
erty aud purchased private bulIdihss ana
land at prices which were absurd and I'M
reasonable. 1t did many other th'nSS thal
We're dishonest and doubtless hNoiNtu
great deal of corruption. but as nave
said. compared with the Spanish regime
when the faVOrites of the king. the prime
minister and the minister of colonies were
sent here for the express purpose or ac-
curing fortunes at the expense OF tlle p uo-
lie. the first republican government OF Cuba
honest.
Respect for Palma.
President Palma went out of office as
poor as he came in. He had been school
teacher all his life At the village of Pleas
ant Valley. Westchcster county. y. i. he
mad for nearly a quarter of a century been
conducting a private school which was al
most exclusively patroniZed by Cubans. He
has educated thousands of Cuban youths,
and many of the most prominent dzens
Of the republic today were his pupils and
regard him with respect and affection lie
lived a very simple life in the old palace
Mrs Palma quiet, modest. rel!flnS
woman with no love for society or dmbl-
ton to shine and they entertained very
little When his resignation TO- effect
they packed their modest wardrobes and
their few belongings and removed TO an
ancestral estate near MausdniliIa, in the
province of Santiago, fIom which he was
driven into exile after one of the reVolu-
ti0ns against Spain in the seventies. He
will not return to the United states lie
will remain there His estate has been in
rtlius for many wears lie is now clearing
II up and will attempt to cultivate Es-
trada Palma has no enemies. Everybody
rrSpectS him. The worst they say Is that
he is "A weak man: but ne showed great
deal Of courage and determination in fore
ing Intervention by the United States in
order to prevent this government from
failing into the hands of reckless adven-
turCrs.
Palma Tells of His Future.
In their report to the President Secretary
Taft and Assistant Secretary Bacon tell OF
an affecting interview they had with him
when they first arrived in Havana in Sep
TENDER to take charge OF affairs. He told