Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-03-25


1t was proposed that he should form
bipartisan cabinet from leading
members OF both political parties and
call a new election for msmbers Of
congress. The final and chief cause
OF the rebellion was the manner in
which the recent election had been
conducted. By methods which need
not be described, the moderate had
elected a house OF representatives
composed entirely Of members Of that
party. Not a single liberal candidate
in any province was successful
Frauds we're SO open that nobody took
the trouble to deny them.
The members Of the moderate party.
however, refused to accept the COM
promise. President Palma rejected 1t
because, he said, at was mere
patched up affair which simply post
poned the evil day. and II entered into
would not last for a month"
A crisis was then created by the
| unconditional resignation OF President
Palma and Vice President Capote. and
by the refusal Of the moderates to
attend session Of congress called to
elect their SUCCESSORS. This left the
body without quorum. and Cuba
| without a government.
Secretary Taft says. in his report
to the president: "The strong desire
Of the moderates was to secure our
Intervention, but they were most anx-
ious to do It without incurring the
! criticism as a party which they knew
would be directed against them II they
we're plainly and directly responsible
for bringing Intervention about"
| On the 2sth OF September President
Palma addressed a letter to Mr.. Taft
and Mr.. Bacon advising them OF his
resignation and asking them to take
charge OF the government and the
sum OF $13,625.539.65. which he said
they would find in the treasury Sec
retary Taft Immediately placed the
treasury under guard of marines and
issued a proclamation announcing him
self provisional governor. He said
that "The provisional government
hereby established by the direction OF
and in the name OF the president oi
the United States will be maintained
only long enough to restore order
peace and public confidence, and then
| to hold such elections as may be nee
essary TO determine those persons
upon whom the permanent govern
ment OF the republic should be de-
| volved. In SO far as is consistent
this will be a Cuban government, con-
| forming to the constitution OF Cuba.
| All the executive departments and the
| provincial and municipal governments
| will continue to be administered as
under the Cuban republic. The courts
| will continue to administer justice
and all laws not In their nature In
| applicable by reason OF the temporary
emergent character OF the government
will be enforced"
| The proclamation was submitted to
| President Palma before 1t was issued
He expressed himself as very much
pleased with 1t and thought 1t was the
| only possible solution OF the difficulty.
The same day eight generals in COM
mand Of the insurgents, all Of them
members OF the liberal party, volun-
tarily surrendered to Secretary Taft.
provided a general amnesty was
granted them and their followers. and
| they were allowed to return to their
| homes.
This was Saturday. President
| Palma remained in the palace until
the following Tuesday packing up his
effects, and then departed to a small
estate which he owns by inheritance
In the province OF Matanzas. He has
since been living there quietly and has
settled down into the habits OF a
planter.
The insurgent forces Immediately
promptly submitted to disarmament; !;
they surrendered their horses and all
other propety. and within few days
hau uiSpciSeu W tueil nOHeS. 0cuoTdi
amnesty for political offenses was pro
claimed, and ON the 18th OF October,
after a reign OF fourteen days. secre-
tary Taft announced his retirement
and the appointment Of Charles E.
Magoon of Nebraska as provisional
governor until further notice.
During the war with Spain Mr.. Ma
COON was connected with the war de
partment in the capacity of legal
advisor. He assisted Secretary Root
in framing form of government for
the Philippines and Porto Rico, and
became a sort OF solicitor general for
the war department to solve the many
perplexing problems that suddenly
grew out OF the addition Of new ter
ritory to the responsibilities of our
government. He had proved himself
to be possessed of great ability, rare
discretion. judicial temperament, un-
usual tact and facility for citation.
After the independence OF Panama
he was sent there as governor Of the
canal zone, where his peculiar quail