New-York tribune., 1909-01-24
CUB4S SECOND TRIAL,
Outlook Augurs Vel for Successful
Self-GOrFrnmcnt.

more than two years, Will resume its career as
republic. The Presidential term Of General
/ Gomez begins under especially auspicious cir
| cumstances. The Liberal President-eIect was
| elected to Office by q vote so nearly unanimous
/ that 1t is believed that there will be little sup
I port for a hostile movement against him in the
4 event that any malcontent should be inclined tg
/ attempt to organize a revolt.
| General Gomez himself is an augury Of a sue
| cessful re-establishment of the republic. He is
credited with being exceedingly patriotic and
able, and his career bears out this reputation.
He began fighting for Cuba Hbre when a boy.
| 1t lad that he entered the Ten Years
| War and as lieutenant that he emerged at it's
| close. He became a rich planter in SanCu
| Spiritus, thus obtaining an experience as a
! commercial executive in close touch with OF
/ the chief industries of the island.
When the rebellion against Spain broke out
| in 1895, he entered the field again, and
missioned a major general by the junta. He
was the division commander in Santa Clara
| province, and bore the brunt Of the fighting in
/ that province against WeyIer, OF unpleasant
memory. This service especially impor
tant, as upon him fell the duty of protecting
General Maxmo Gomez the Cuban commander
| in chief, a man who, while bearing the
family name was not related to him. He
| fought in more battles and skirmishes than any
| other in the island, and the forces under
| his command were engaged in the last two
| fights of the revolution, including the sharp
| engagement at Arroyo Blanco.
He was the Presidential candidate opposed to
President Palma in the election of 1905 but
| signed, charging fraud The estimation in
which he is held by the chief Cubans
| demonstrated when he arrested and thrown
| into jail at the beginning of the rebellion against
President Palmas government. He discaimed
any active interest in the revolt and the people
| sympathzed with his fate because they be-
| lieved him to be too much Of a patriot and too
! broadminded a man to be mixed up with tha
affair which resulted in the intervention of tht
United States When Secretary Taft and As'
sistant Secretary Bacon went to Cuba spe,
| cial envOys they invited him from his cell "a
confer with them regarding the situation. HiS
character is illustrated by the fact that he has
announced that 80 per cent of his appointments
to office will be made from the ranks of the
Conservatives although their vote in the last
election was small
General Gomez has declared for laws wticT
will encourage the pcasantry Of Spain and italy
to migrate TO the uncutivated rural sections ot
the island. the establishment of agricultural
banks radical labor legislation and the maine
tenancc of proper highways
The ncumbency of the Presidential chair b1
General Gomez will doubtless contribute to the
social life of Havana. for his family includes
/ several daughters. two of whom have come 20
maturity. besides son. The Presfdent-elect is
ffty-five years old.
Cuba's life has been tcmpestuous cra
! Throughout the first three centuries of its hiss
tory ii in constant danger of invasion by
the French. Dutch, English and pirates Spain
promulgated laws exceedingly disastrous to the
prosperity Of the island. At last in the nine
teenth century. owing to the oppressive meas
ures OF the Captains-rcueral. a feeling of ami
and revolutions broke out from time TO time.
At last the United States intervencd. and Cuba
was freed from the yoke of Spain.
For four years after the United States turned
the control of the island over to the Cuhans
peace reigncd At the beginning OF the second
administration Of President Palma disturbances
broke out which the Executive seemed pasNer-
less TO put down. This apparently had grown
out of the condition caused by the failure - tha
members Of the Cuban Congress to perform
their duty in passing laws required by the con-
stituton. For months prior to tho outbreak il
had been impossible to obtain quorum owing
to the Indifference Of the members. This made
necessary government by decree, and the cry
was raised that President Palma assuming
the role of a dictator. Governor Magoon. after
the intervention TO prevent a recurrence of this