New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-27
GOMEZ'S STRONG HAND
Il STABLE RULE IN CUBA.
Press Forced to Cease attacks
Arms Contract Scandal.

Havana Sept 2O-After q long and haTassing
period OF uncertainty and peril, beginning VIII.
the Inauguration OF President Gomez and marAeu
by at least one tentative insurrection. many gov
eminent blunders charges OF corruption, scahoais
In connection with the purchase OF arms reslsn
tion OF Cabinet members and rumOrs OF an nm
pending third intervention, the restored hepuOl'c
Of Cuba appears 90 have entered zone OF uA"-
GUILTY., with reasonable prospects OF fair weather
ahead This gratifying change began on the re-
turn from his summer vacation at Cayo CflslO %
the President. who since then has given many
evidences that he is the strong man of affairs
which hts friends have always maintained nc
would prove 90 be.
The preliminary step. which briefly preceded the
Presidents return. was the reorganization OF the
Cabinet by the elimination OF three members VINO
had shown themselves 10 be qualified for ONCE
and whose appointments are said TO nave peen
made by the President in response 10 pohucaI
exigencies. The members Of the CABINET
Lopez Leiva, Secretary OF the Interior; Colohei
ChaIons Secretary OF Public Works and senior
PasalOdos. secretary to the Presdent-have entered
on the discharge of their duties with energy
The decisive stroke. however, TO which may Dc
mainly ATTRIBUTED the changed aspect OF affairs
was reserved for the Presidents return TO the
capifal. Immediately arriving General Gomez
made an address from the balcony of the palace.
Although brief il breathed decision in every word
He announced that he had returned TO devote nm
self heart and soul to the welfare OF the repuohc
ana closed with yelled but unmistakabie ihtlnla-
ton that he prepared 70 chastse not "iiS
such officials might be receanl 10 lhel1 uNS'
but all persons who might persist IN attempts 10
emhsrrass the government. This latter reference
was aimed at the local press. many members OF
which had been persistently attacking the govern
ment on every possible occasion, without MAKING
direct charges but sparing no effort 70 create
"a. irnpressiou that the government OF General
Gomez was an absolute failure. that there was
no hope for the republic and that events were
moving RAPIDLY toward third Intervention ana
the final extinction OF Cuban independence in al
ee6r oTlElV
cuIation rumors defsmstory TO the government and
the individual members thereof. many OF when
were Of such an eXtravagant character as 10 oeis
belief but all tending 20 weaken commence IN me
government and make its task more olfhcuI'-
PACIFTcATIoN OF THE PRESS
President Gomez took in hand personally what
is now faoetiously termed the Specification OF the
press" and accomplished it promptly Precisely
what methods were employed by the President nave
not been revealed. but their success was conveyed
20 the foreign correspondents by Secretary Pasao-
dos in the statement that General Gomez had had
q series Of conferences with the proprietors OF g.
number of the newspapers OF Havana, and tn every
instance had reached a very complete and cordial
understandings" The result Of these interviews has
been a complete cessation Of the press attacks on
tho government and simultaneously came a cessa-
ton Of the manufacture Of sensational rumors
What Is stiu cause OF much concern to the gov
eminent is the continued deferring Of the negotia-
lions for the amalgamation Of the two wings of the
Liberal party respectively by the President and
vice-President Zayas At least three times the an
nouncement has been made that the fusion had
been accomplished, but this has every time proved
10 be premature and. further than the appointment
If national committee Of both factions to adjust
all differences, little has been actually accom-
plished The question Of the distribution of Offices
IS practically the only point at issue.
The organization Of the army goes slowly,
she force being still short OF its quota by battal-
SON Of fve hundred infantryuen in addition TO de
Hciencies caused by desertions.
What Is said the best authority 10 be the real
reason for the cancellation Of the contract for arms
for all the armed forces has just been revealed
II seems that samples Of rifles purporting TO be
Aausers Of the model Of 1909 recently brought
Havana from Germany. They were tested al
the rife range at Camp Columbia, and gave in
different results. Still, they would in all proba-
biIity have been accepted had not sharp eyed
oficer noticed something odd about the place on
the barrel on which the date of manufacture IS
stamped. Applying magnifying glass he made
the discovery that the original date of 1902 had
been almost obliteTated by grinding down the metal
and the date 1903 supeTinposed on hearing this
President Gomez declared the eoptract for these
arms cancelled. and later he authorized General
Pho Guerra to take a commission Of officers abroad
To select the best rife for the service It is IN
likely that General Guerra will start his mission
until the affairs OF the army On a more salts.
factory state.