The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-13
CUBA TOLD TO
COME ACROSS
State Department Demands
Prompt Payment Of Debt
AMERICAN BUILT wATeRwORks

Provision In sto,ooo,ooo Loan Made
BY speysr erothsrs Provided For
fAyment Of $4,000 Due ReiI'sy
Firm, but President Gomez Now
Says Treasury 10 Empty - Bull
Moose Candidate Enters Field For
Presidency.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE state
department has called upon Presi.
dent Gomez to make an early settle.
ment Of claims that have been pend.
Ing against Cuba for last two years,
amounting to over 100000. growing
out Of the Reilley contracts for the
waterworks plant and sanitation OF
the city Of Cienfuegos.
This latest demand promptly fol-
lowed the receipt Of communication
from the Cuban president that the
government 10 without funds to make
the payment and an act OF congress
will be necessary for the appropria.
ton Of the amount. This statement
while somewhat startling to the
Washington authorities. was not
wholly surprising In the face Of ru
mors that have reached here for
some time that the government ma
chinery of Cuba has been honey
combed with graft. Provision for
payment Of contracts for Cienfuegos
and other public work was made In
the loan of over $l0.000,000 which
Cuba made from Speyer Brothers Oi
New York, with the approval OF the
United States, under article Ave ol
the treaty.
The fact that the money obtained
on the Speyer loan for this purpose
has either been expended In Other
directions or is being withheld, to
gether with numerous complaints thai
have been reaching the washington
authorities from time to time, al
lesing mismanagement Of the govern
mont funds. has caused 4 marked
lack Of confidence In the Gomez ad
ministration. While the state depart
mont assumes the position Of hands
on In the political affairs Of Cubs, se
far 40 . national or local election II
concerned. It 10 certain that Come
will be without the moral supper
which he would no doubt much dc
sire In his efforts towards reelection
MlsmsnaOsmsnt Alleged.
The recent racial insurrection II
Cuba proved trying crisis for tn
administration. The situation wa
closely watched by the Washington
authorities, as have been other con
ditions Of political unrest during thu
last two or three years. but 1t ha,
been declared that at no time wa
there any intention Of Intervention
on the part Of the American govern
ment. The visit Of Secretary Kno,
to Cuba in May was thought to b.
timely. A number OF important ques
tiOns were discussed In person be
tween MIR. Knox and President Go
mez, and II was thought that tn
] Reilley claims would shortly be Sci
tied.
The political situation in Cuba |
being watched with the closest inte'
est. Recently Il appeared that &C
mez might withdraw from his cor
test for reelection. hut the appeal
ance In this country OF Senior Fel
rarra, speaker OF the Cuban, house q
representatives, has led to the belle
that he is working In the interest c
Gomez. In the meantime. Vice Pre-,
ident Zayas and Senor Menocal, VIII
has been leading political factor |
recent years, are each making
strong fight for the Office. A new IA
tor. however. is bull moose" car
didate. Senor Asbert, a leading bus
ness man Of Havana. who is appea
ins 10 the cOuimon people 10 ele,
him to the office and thus RID th