The sun., 1909-01-31
TIE NDW RULERS OF ca
GOMEZ AND ZAYAS ARE norm
PICTURESQUE FIGURES.

sptraoies With q Strong Hand -ao,h
Have Been Active In Revolution, .
xayss's Experience In Spanish .I,l,,
HAvAsA, Jan. 27.--Gen. jose Mispa
oomsE, the new Cuban President, ana
DR.. Alfredo Zayas, the new Woe Presi.
dent, are two OF the most picture.ous
figures In land full Of persons with bi..
tories and dark or brilliant pasts. O,
the two Zayas has probably had the NOR.
varied and tempestuous career, for no,
only has he been active In revolutionar,
way against Spain and later against N.
Moderate Government OF the republic
but he has also passed several years /,
Spanish prisons In the Mediterranean and
In Africa
jose Miguel Comes 10 o strong LOOKING
man, and with him rests the responsibility
for the life Of the new Cuban republic
He himself says that had Palma in lss
hanged few Of the oonspirators he would
never have been ovsrthrown. This |,
probably true, and might have been dem.
onstratsd had Palma included Josl
Miguel Gomez in the list OF the frst oo,.
demned to die for treason.
Gomez's opinion on the subject ind.
oates the course no will follow in the
event OF conspiracy against his ruls
and II he does follow such q course Cub.
10 pretty sure to have peaoe while Cones
sits in the Presidential chair.
There were probably never two more
bitter political enemies than Cones ana
Zayas In their campaign against eseh
other last summer. They fought hard
and long under the party names Of
Aiguelistas and Zayistss.
Zayas was worsted in the municipal and
provincial elections OF August 1. Shortly
afterwsrd the two factions united on 40.
count Of the success Of the Conservative
10 that election. dus entirely to tbs divi.
sion Of votes between the two liberal
factions.
The fight between Comes and Zavss
arose from the nomination Of the two FOR
the places they now hold by the Liberal
party In 1905. In that year the Libenls
did not 60 to the polls and the Modsratss
took everything. The election was unfair
and IL brought about the SUCCESSFUL revolt
Of 1909 and the intervention and establish
H1tnI Of tUc TTONl1lOuni OVNSfnm8uI.
As the Intervention went on Zaya
began TO work for the Presidency. aons,
vigorously objected. He declared that
the ticket OF ie05 should remain intact
despite the intervening events zsyas
said that any one who could get II was
entitled to the Liberal nomination. This
brought the break and both started In
upon a fierce political battle.
When the elections Of August showsd
that II the Liberals wished 10 elect q
President they must combine against
the growing strength Of the oonserva-
tives a compromise was reached. Zayas.
whose following was shown TO be not hall
as great as that Of Gomez. Joined forces
with the understanding that four yean
from now Gomez will retire from the
Presidency in favor Of Zsyas.
Gen. Gomez is rather short in stature
hut OF heavy build. He is dark and hb
hair and large but closely cropped mus
tache are stresked with gray. n appear.
ances count he viii be able TO deal With
his subjects, for subjects he must make
them II he wishes to keep the pesce.
He was born in Saneti Spiitus In the
province OF Santa Clara. He was in the
ten years war and made q good rscord.
In the revolution OF iss5-ee he disttn.
guished himself in the defence Of Arroyo
Blsnco. near Sancti Spiritus. against the
Spanish forces.
He was a delegate to the oonstitu.
tional convention and was for several
years Governor Of Sancti spiritus. In
1909 he was one OF the oonspirators against
President Palma.
He was selected 10 lead all Of the revo-
mtionary forces. but before doing any.
thing he was captured by the Government
brought TO Havana and placed In the
edresi. Later he was sent 70 the peni.
tentiary. His followers were astounded
and ohagrined because he permitted him
self to be captured.
The new head OF the Cuban republic
70 fond OF hunting and fishing. He haa
made several trips OF that nature ~
Gently. both for the pleasure Of the sport
and TO get away from Havana and The
crowd Of ofiioeseeking politicians He's
fond OF oooknxhtins too. and In ises.
about the revolutionary time. he va
arrested and taken to the station houss
for attending an illegal 90 between tho
game birds
zayas 10 not nearly a. progressing -
Gomez. but he II considered far more
clever and IL looked upon a. tbs shrswdsA
and sharpest politician In the island. Bs
10 white in blood. although his faos
rather yellow. He used to wear beard.
but in 1909. for purposes Of disguise. hs
shaved II OF and heihas never permitted
Il to grow out again.
He was born In Havana In 1881. bh
father was the director Of Salvadoe Cos-
lege. and young Alfredo received thor.
ough education. He speaks English and
to-day owns one Of the finest libraries n
the island. He has distinguished himsen
a. q journalist a. well a. O lawyer.
During former revolutions against Spain
he was an agent for the revolutionsV
junta. He operated In Havana until ds-
covered by the Spaniards and placed IN
prison. He was later taken to SPAN
and then sent 20 the prison Of the Chaien'
mas islands In the Mediterranean. Aref.
ward at Ceuta he underwent all sorts Of
privations and hardships In prison.
When finally released he went to A"
West. where he was an agent for the revo
junta in New York. OF when
Estrada Palma was president. When 'n
Spanish war was over he returned 70
Cuba. He was identified with the ooy
government Of Havana under Gen iA'd'
low and was a delegate to the const'u'
tional convention.
In the revolution OF 1908 he was real