The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-15
Returns from Elections Indicate That Gomez Is Elected
 By Big Majority
HEAVY VOTE IS CAST IN
 EVERY PART OF ISLAND
General MenocaI Does Not Yet Admit Defeat, But the Returns Are Suf- ficient to Show That Gomez
 Has Been Elected.

Havana, November 14--At the close of an election which was conducted with great enthusiasm and complete absence of disorder, 1t appears practically certain to- night that Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez and Alfredo Zayas have been chosen president and vice president respectively of the new Cuban republic, with strong liberal major ities in the senate and house. Ii is im- probable that the result will be official ly established tonight as the returns doubtless will be very slow in conlig in.
 General Gomez, just before the closing of the polls, announced that he had re- ceived sdvices showing that he had car rled every province on the island, which is not improbable. Havana and oriente provinces with IS electoral votes. which lacks only eight of a majority, are surely liberal.
 Governor Magoon said tonight:
 T cannot express too highly my appre- citation of the enthusiasm and prudent re- gard for order with which the Cuban peo- pie have conducted this most important contest. am absolutely certain that they will loyalty abide by the result, and am
 
 complete fitness to be trusted with their own government"
 Throughout the day numerous reports were received at the palace from the American super ,isors of the rural guard in all the provinces and from the mayors of various towns stating that there had been no infraction of law and order. Their only exception was Cardenas, where q slight affray took place in which two men were injured.
 An extraordinarily heavy vote was cast vastly in excess of that in the August election, when 1S2O0O failed to vote ill a total registration of 450,000.
 In Havana city the vote will probably reach 66 per cent of the registration against 49 per cent in August. The city probably will give the liberals very strong majority.
 Matanzas reports indicate a great in crease in the vote in that province cast by property who were apathetc at the last election.
 General Gomez has been the recipient of hundreds of telegrams of congratulation since his victory became probable. Gen. Mario Menocal the conservative nominee, said tonight that he conceded Havana to the liberals, but still was confident that he had boiled sufficient votes in the other provinces to secure his election.
 The slowness of the returns IS attributed partly to the heavy vote and partly to scratched ballots. Complete returns will not be received before Sunday night or Monday Early estimates give the island to Gomez by from 25.oo0 to 30000 votes.
 Tonight the streets were thronged with rejoicing liberal crowds. One party, com posed mostly of negroes, while passing the cafe of the Hotel Inglatorra, which Is a traditionally conservative resort, elashed with a group Of conservatives on the side walk. Knives and pistols were drawn and several shots were fired. some of them striking the doors of the cafe and caus- ing q panic among those seated within
 Lieutenant McReynolds of the marine corps ran out of the cafe and interposed himself between the combatants. He made a speech in Spanish and succeeded in inducing the men to stop lighting. The shooting, however, attracted great crowd and the situation eventually be- came threatening. Major Foltz, super visor of the post, summoned the reserves and cleared the square. Two men are re- ported injured, but no arrests were made.