The Detroit times., 1909-03-15
FRACTIONAL FIGHTS
ARE FORGOTTEN
BY CUbANS
PARTIES WORKING IN HARMONY
TO MAKE sELF.covERNMENr
sUccEssFuL-ooMEz TO DEAL
HARD WITH REBELS.

HAVANA. March 15.-The political
large extent. their political
animosities and are working In har-
mony 10 make successful the self-gov-
ernment that has been established In
the island after years OF supervision
by the American officials. There has
been no untoward incident TO confirm
the prediction that the experiment Of
self-government in Cuba was destined
TO speedy failure. The government OF
Gen. Gomez, ON the other hand, has
yet TO present assurances OF It's abil-
ity TO direct wisely and firmly the des-
TIMES OF the island.
Only once has there been even the
faintest rumor II an uprising. This
was three weeks ago. when three
discharged officeholders In Santiago
de Cuba were reported TO have
taken TO the woods. but the rumor
was untrue. Thus far the new con-
gress has done little. and this Is
one OF the most discouraging fea-
lures OF the situation. suggesting as
it does a repetition OF that inability
to agree in legislative matters
which produced the deadlock In the
last Cuban congress, compelled
President Palma to legislate by de-
cree in violation OF the constitu-
ten and finally precipitated the up
rising In August, 1906, which were
followed by the Intervention Of the
United States and the appointment
OF Mr.. Taft as provincial governor.
Should Gen. Gomez find himself
forced into the unhappy position Of
his predecessor. 1t Is most probable
that he will not shrink from dealing
with the malecontents with all the
severity that the occasion demands.
and nip any instruction movement
in the bud.
A discouraging feature OF the con-
lgressional session has been the multi
picity OF trivial measures introduced.
Among these were bills TO rescind
the military orders OF the first inter
vention against cockfights and bull
fights; to establish national lottery;
TO found orders OF military merit the
members OF which may wear decora-
ton In recognition OF eminent SER
vices in war;" and 10 change the name
of the revenue cutter service TO that
OF the Cuban navy.
The general amnesty bill which was
signed by Gen. Gomez few days ago
gave liberty To hundreds OF convicts
throughout the republic. all but the
perpetrators OF most atrocious crimes
being included in its provisions.
One of the most recent amend
ments, which was accepted by the
house graveiy declares that all
homicides and suicides except those
serving life sentences for second
offense, shall be included In the
amnesty. This led To the pertinent
inquiry whether Cuban suicides have
as many lives as cit.
Another bill which was the subject
OF much discussion and misunder-
sanding was that introduced by Con-
gresham Arteaga To restrain the fur-
'ther acquisition OF real estate by fore
igners. II was assumed that the pur-
pose OF the bill was TO prohibit the
Ownership by aliens not only OF real
estate but of various other kinds OF
property and to compel the foreign
owners of more than four-fifths OF the
sugar plantations OF the island to &C
cept Cuban citizenship or relinquish
their estates; but the bill served
merely to place on record the patriotic
aspirations OF a few extremists, for
/ 1t was rejected.