New-York tribune., 1908-11-09
THE CUBAN ELECTIONS
CLOSE TOTE EXPECTED.
zmerican Governments Steps to
Guard ToterS' Rights

radrd J. OfeTS hf9HtS-
Havana. Nov. Son Saturday next elections
~IH be held throughout the island for president
vice-President. Senators and Representatives,
20 whom. according 10 the present programmes
viii he committed the fate Of the restored Cuban
aRepublic or the termination Of the government
szf intervention. January @S 1909
The 1roops OF the United States VIII be WITH
s5rsU-r on that date. which is three days In ad-
vance Of the date originally set In order tha1
.heir departure may mark the anniversary OF
The birth OF Jose Marti the Cuban patriot, ano
she great body Of Cubans have striven IN the
last few months toward d selection Of canoI-
ss,es Who wiz best realize their desire for self
government
Preparations for the elections are now com
-,,e+e AL election officers have been appointed.
.the electoral boards organized and the last bal
lots distributed, and The whole island is ao-
sorhed in the outcome Of the struggle for su-
prenacy The Conservatives are headed by
General Mario Menocal and Dr.. Rafael Montoro
SShe Presidential and Tice-Presidential candi-
Sde7es, respectively. while General Jose Miguel
Gomez and his former bitter rival in the party
LEADERSHIP Alfredo Zayas, are the nominees Of
the Liberal party, the NigUests and zsyisfa
t1sctions of which finally united forces in sup
port OF General Gomez on the understanding
shat he would not be nominated Tor q second
Kern
There IS no doubt that absolute fairness VIII
Jcharscterize the elections about which every
-safeguard has been cast by the provisional gov
ernE1ent in accordance with an elaborate cleo
ZION law framed bv the Advisory Commission. Of
which Colonel Crowder IS chairman. The ballot
lSng viii ne conducted with all the regard To law
and order which marked the provincial cleo
lions last August. Both Of the political leaders
=hsve given assurances that they viii accept 10y
silly the result OF the popular verdict.
There is practically no difference in the plat
forms OF the two parties. both having as their
chief plauks the preservation OF the republic.
equal rights Tor all citizens the encouragem
q agriculture and commerce and tie mainte-
nance Of friendly relations with the United
States The struggle is. frankly. for the pos
session ef -he government and the control Of
z5sublic patronage.
Both General Come and General Nenocal are
veterans Of the revolution and have z large fol-
lowing in virtue Of their distinguished services
in the field D-. 1Jontoro Is the foremost orator
in Cuba and was nominated IN the expectation
q his being able TO control the large Spanish
vote but he is unpopular with many Cubans on
account of his attitude during the revolution
when he held Office in the autonomous govern
-nent IN the last days OF Spanish rule.
Sefor Zayas is the idol Of q large section o.
3she Liberals. He was the leader Of the last up
rising against President Tomas Estrada Palma,
but his followers are suspected Of giving luke
candidacy
Gomez. between whom and Sanor Zayas there
was an inplacable feud until il was apparent
That the very existence Of the Liberal party was
oependent on Z compromise. whereby Senior
zsyas withdrew his preteusions 10 the Presi-
o@ncy- The two factions however. did not actu-
ally fuse. but Zayes accepted nomination for
me Tice-Presidency. and the Zayistas promised
20 aid IN The election OF the coalition candidates
The business interests and the large property
elements are strongly In favor Of General Men
ocal. but the result OF the Presidential election
viii probably be very close Until recently the
Conservatives apparently had the better chance.
based on confident expectations of the defections
from the Liberal party OF Juan GuaIberto Co
.rnez. the editor OF Ia 1,ucha." and B-igadier
General sErnesto Ashe-t. who . short time ago
YVES elected Governor of Havana These ex-
lgectations have not been realized. and II IS now
--Unored that Seno- Gomez wiI receive an i'm
iDortant diplomatic appointment in return for
his loyalty 10 the Liberals.
The result of the elections viii perhaps not
he known for several DAYS despite The elaborate
arrangements for the prompt forwarding Of the
returns from 1895 polling places The Electoral
college Is composed OF l07 members. the various
provinces being represented as follows. Finar
ldel Rio. 4. Havana, IS, Natanzas. Il. Santa
>-iara- p; Canaguey. Q: Orienre. 90 The polls
VIII be open at q N. and close al 2. IL
1@ach province IS elil-ieQ 10 SIX senators ano 2
ETroPortloEate number 90 the eightv-t three Rep
E-esents1ives according 20 population.
As final p-ecaution against even a suspicion
~ Intimidation AZ the polls Governor Nagoon
has appointed IN command n the rural guards
-ou election dag The American officers who have
served as provincial governors.
The announcement that General Estenoz the
s'sadsr IF the Independent negro party. VIII not
supper General Gomez has given encourage
.-1ent 70 the Conservatives who are confident
-hey can carry Oriente ana Pinar del Rio prov
s3nces The liberals are sure Of Havana, while
she other provinces ere doubtful