Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-03
LEADER OF LIBERALS
lose Miguel Gomez Called the
Bryan of Cuba.
HOPES TO BE PRESIDENT
In Favor Of Prompt Withdrawal by
the Americans.
URGES EARLY ISLAND ELECTION
Declares That Foreign Property is In
No Danger in Case His Party Is
Successful at the Polls.
URGES EARLY ISLAND ELECTION
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
HAVANA, March 20, 1907.
Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez has been de-
scribed as the Bryan Of Cuba. He Is the
leader Of the liberal party, although this
honor is disputed by a rival. He was the
candidate of the liberal party at the last
presidential election, and expects to be
at the next, although that honor is also
disputed by formidable rival, Alfredo
Zayas. Gen. Gomez is putting up very
active fight, however, and his prospects
of obtaining the nomination are said to
be quite as good as those of his oppo-
nent. He is himself very confident, and
expects to be the next president of Cuba.
He is not related to the late Maxine
Gomez, general-in-chief of the insurgents
during the war of independence, but is
the son of a ranchman of Santa Clara
province in the center of the island, has
followed his fathers occupation, and has
been active in three revolutions-the ten
years war, the war of independence and
the recent instruction for the overthrow
of President Palma. which resulted In
the establishment of the provincial gov
eminent
Since the war of independence he has
been governor of Santa Clara province.
and acquired almost absolute political
authority there. He belonged to the
moderate party until year or so ago.
when he fell out with Mendez Capote its
leader, and went over to the liberals,
where he took the head of the procession
and was promptly nominated for presi-
dent. His change of politics caused his
removal from the governorship of Santa
Clara, and he became manager of
large sugar estate belonging to ]. NJ.
Cebellos & Co. of New York. who recently
failed because of the defalcation of Sill
vera, the local partner. who is accused
Of having stolen million dollars from
the firm, and is now in Venezuela, fugi-
tive from justice. Gen. Gomez was in
terested with Silvera in a cattle ranch,
and is said to have suffered considerably
by the failure. He has recently returned
secure a settlement with his partner. but
according to common report. was not
successful He is now devoting himself
entirely to politics and strengthening his
organization in the liberal party in an
ticipation of the presidential election in
November.
In appearance Gen. Gomez is short
stocky, swarthy. full of nervous strength
and Of quick, positive manners. He has
a strong face. cold gray eye, stubby
mustache, and wears his hair pompadour
He does not speak English and Mr.. j.
c. Alsina, secretary of the United Havana
Railways Company, kindly acted as in
terpreter during a very interesting in
terview.
For American Withdrawal.
When 1 asked Gen. Gomez the con-
Ventional question, what he wanted the
United States to do in Cuba, he replied
very promptly and with emphasis:
Restore the republic. Give our peo-
pie chance to choose their own rulers
and allow the majority to decide as in
the United States. Give US a government
according to our constitution, and allow
a ire (',1ha &c
perfectly capable of self-government, and
If the majority is allowed to rule ac-
cording to our constitution and the ex-
ample that has been furnished us by the
United States we will demonstrate it;
We will suppress all disorder. we will
protect all interests. and we will give the
island peace and the advantages of
liberal and progressive administration
The Platt amendment has been accepted
by the liberal party, and is part of our
constitution and cannot be changed with
out the consent of the majority of our
people. We are satisfied with it, and if
the majority is allowed to rule it will
never be necessary for the government
of the United States to intervene"
1t should be said here in explanation that
Gen. Gomez and his associates organized
the revolution of last August because they
believed that ne had been cheated out OF
the presidency by fraud at the ballot boxes
there had been a fair vote and an honest
count. Nor is there any doubt as to the
truth or this contention.
Wants Complete Independence.
Continuing the interview, Gen. Gomez
said, In reply to a question: Il do not be-
lieve in the plan that has been suggested
for an adviser to the government. Cuba
would not be a republic, 1t would not be in
dependent If that plan were adopted, and
there is nothing in the constitution that
would justify or even permit it. The Platt
ton lot
Interference in our affairs, and before it
could be done there must be action by the
Congress of the United States to authorize
II, and a vote of two-thirds of the people
of Cuba to amend the constitution so as to
permit 1t. Cuba Is perfectly able to take
care of itself We appreciate the paternal
interest of the United States but prefer to
be independent in fact as well as in name
Gov. Magoon is a very good man. l am
very fond of him. He is complete man In
every respect. He Is sympathetic. He un-
derstands the Cuban people and is trying to
do impartial justice to everybody. 1 have
great admiration for him. When l was in
Panama recently l found that he was ad-
mired by everybody there, and that all the
people were sorry when he was called
away. Very naturally he has many critics.
He occupies a delicate position, and 1t
would be impossible for him to satisfy
everybody. He has to decide a great many
decision in their favor are not pleased, but
! think that Gov. Magoon has been re-
markedly just in the exercise Of his discre-
ton and accurate in his decisions"
When l asked If Magoon was granting
too many pardons. Gen. Gomez smiled sig
nifcantly. He and the other leaders Of
the liberal party have been trying to secure
a proclamation of general amnesty for
every veteran of the war of independence
who is in jail, or accused Of offenses
against the law, but Magoon will not listen
to them. They have also filed more than
4OO individual applications for pardons in
behalf of political henchmen who have be-
come entangled in the meshes of the GRIM
inal laws. and he has granted only twenty
eight. Hence the general was at first in
clined to be a little sarcastic. But he kindly
explained that 1t has been the custom Of
the country to pardon a man who had been
convicted of crime If he promises to be-
have himself in the future, just as the
priests of the holy church grant absolution
to repentant sinners. The custom was
called "indultar," and under the republic
nearly everybody convicted of petty Of
lenses had been able to obtain an '.indulto'
II he had influential friends.
I'VE have urged Gov. Magoon to pardon
a great many people who are detained in
jail and In the prisons for political and
other reasons" said Gen. Gomez but he
has refused to do so. and in every case he
insists that there shall be an investiRa.
ton by the trial Judge and other authori-