Omaha daily bee., 1907-11-18
CUBANS ARE FAR FROM AGREED
NO Two of the Four Parties of Same
Mind Rs TO a Date for the
Elections.

WASHINGTON, Nov. IL - Coincident
with the receipt Of news from Havana Of
the comp!etoin OF the Cuban census, has
arisen a demand from many sources that a
time be fixed at once for the holding Of
municipal and national elections in the
island Ohlcials Of the War and State de-
partments agree that the problem is not
solved by the termination Of the census
enumeration and the tabulation OF the re-
turns to form electoral registration lists
| The provisional government is greatly dis
turbed over the recommendation it must
make concerning the time Of holding the
elections and It appears It cannot expect
aid from the various political parties in
asmuch as the headers hold as widely vary
| ing views as at the time the census was
ordered.
The taking OF the census in Cuba by
American methods is recognized on every
side as a great and needed work, but in
the present instance there is no Disgusting
| the fact that It was used as a means Of
| legitimately delaying the time when the
| United States again must surrender the
reins Of government to the Cubans. 1t
was hoped that by the time the enumeration
had been completed an agreement could be
reached by the political leaders as to the
time OF holding the elections and that the
| United States would be spared the neces-
sity of mourning the enmity of any Of
the parties. II had been hoped, too, that
time would have healed much Of the sore
ness engendered by the revolution against
the Palma government and that all parties
would become imbued with a desire to hold
peaceable and fair election. While these
hopes have not been fulfilled, It is true
that the United States now occupies
fax In ha bay
It did a year ago.
| At the present time, there are four
political parties in Cuba, Two OF these are
| factions of the liberal party and are of
| about equal strength. though the faction
| headed by Jose Miguel Gomez claims to
| control the political situation and Is de-
manding that the municipal and national
! elections be held simultaneously, not later
| than February next. Jose Miguel is popu-
| lar with the masses and especially with a
! large part OF those who participated in
| the revolution against Palma. He was a
| leader Of the liberal party and was the
candidate against Pima.
The other wing of the liberls is dominated
| by Alfredo Zayas, president of the liberal
| narty, and of the revolutionary committee
| Ever since the resignation of President
| Palma, Zayas has been a candidate for
! the presidency and II was the rival ambi-
! tions of Jose Miguel and Zayas that
caused the split of the liberal party. The
recognized leader of the Independent
party is General Mario Menocal. manager
Of the Chaparra sugar estate, said to be
| the largest In the world. The party has
! not united on a candidate, but those most
| prominently spoken of are General Memo
cal and Manuel sanguilly OF Matanzas and
| Senor Quesada, the Cuban minister to the
] United States.
The fourth party Is composed mainly OF
the old moderates or Palma party. 1t in
cludes many prominent and able Cubans,
but as yet none has been brought for
| ward as a candidate.
All except the Jose Miguel Gomez party
are now willing TO have the elections fixed
! FOR year hen 3 ana are opposed TO an
election In February nexe. In other words.
three OF the parties prefer that the Ameri-
! cans shall continue the provisional govern
-nent than take chances on the election OF
| lose Miguel Gomez. II conditions should
| change. a new alignment might be looked
| for. as the present arrangement is second
choice with the leaders of each Of the
| parties.