The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-31
WIDE INTEREST IN
ELECTION IN CUBA
Kew President VIII Be Named
AT Polls November !, II
Not Prevented.

Havana, Oct. 28-Cuba's approach
ing presidential elections. which. II
nothing develops In the meantime to
prevent them, are to take place on No
vember LIST, win be the second to be
held by Cubans without American SUI
pervision. The first election, that OF
1906, which resulted in placing Estrada
Palma In the presidential chair for the
second time, was accompanied by dis
orders, followed by threats OF revolu-
ton, eliminating in the outbreak OF
August, 1906, directed by DR.. Alfredo
Zayas and General Pine Guerra. and
precipitated the second American in
PREVENTION under Governor Magoon,
During this Intervention was held UNI
der the supervision of American army
officers the election of 1908. which re-
suited In h election OF General Jose
Miguel Gomez and DIR. Zayas by q
substantial majority. The election was
marked by the absence OF any disorders
other than small partisan squabbles.
The rival candidates for the presi-
dency and vice-presidency now are DIR.
Zayas and General Eusebio Hernandez
for the Liberal party land General
Mario g. Menocal and DIR. Enrique
Varona Suarez for the Conservative
party AlSO huO"h 10 luG Al
lance and as the Fusion party, In allu"
sion to- the recent detection OF General
Asbert. governor of Havana province.
from the Liberal ranks and his
espousal Of the Conservative cause. In
the platforms of PRINCIPLES of both
parties there is absolutely no differ
encn.
Besides the president and the vice
president, there are to be elected thir-
teen Of the twenty-four senators, 40 OF
the 96 representatives who compose the
lower house, the governors Of the six
provinces, mayors and city counctlmen
OF the s5 municipalities into which the
island Is divided and some minor OFF,
Gals. The ballot gives the voter the
fullest protection of secrecy.
Oficially aloof from both the con-
tending parties stands President Jose
Miguel. Gomez, who a from time to
time given abundant assurances that
he had no desire to succeed himself as
ruler of the republic, and thai between
the rival candidates he would stand In
an attitude of absolute impartiality and
would devote all his power to preserv-
ing the peace n giving the country
an election so perfectly fair that there
would be no excuse for cavil whatever
the result might be.
Both as president and as the recog-
nized head Of that wing of the Liberal
party known as "Historicos,"' General
Gomez Yields enormous power. The
| Conservatives now complain bitterly
that the president Is throwing. this
| power into the scale on the side of the
Zayistas, and General Menocal has
| openly told the president that he will
not hesitate to have recourse to force
IL he finds himself In danger Of, being
defrauded Of victory. Menocafs popu-
larity 10 beyond question great, prob
ably greater than that Of any other
| Cuban.
On the other hand, the followers OF
Zayas charge the president with favor
itism of the Conservatives. @
The prospects Of a peaceful election
are dwindling In proportion to the rise
of party passions. Already there have
been pistol fights in the suburbs of
Havana, at Guana1ay, at CamajuanL.
at Sagua La Grande and other places
where lives have been lost.
The high officers of the National po-
lice, who are in the best position to
know what is going on. view the future
with the grayest apprehension. Much
OF this fear is based On the fact that
every Cuban who can afford the price
Of a revolver carries one and would as
soon think of going out without his hat
as without his weapon. The govern
ment has been considering the pro-
priety of canceling all licenses to carry
arms, but such a decree would be in
| effective, especially In view of the fact
that not one in, a hundred Is the holder
| OF a license.
Both parties realize fully that a re-
course to arms will almost inevitably
precipitate intervention; but so implac-
able Is the party spirit hat this does
not appear to act as a deterrent, both
being apparently willing to face what
they term the horrors OF another In
PREVENTION" rather than submit to the
rule Of their detested opponents.