Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-17
AWAIT CUBAN REPLY;
QUIET OVER ISLAND
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the advent of the military element in
the councils of the veterans will lead
TO the formation of a military party
which will in itself be a menace to
the maintenance Of peace and or
der. Elections for the presidency
are to be held IN Cuba next Deem
Der, and it is hoped the situation
may be Strengthened out, so as to |
insure order and fairness in the con-
duct Of the voting.
THREAT A WEAPON FOR GOMEZ.
There is little doubt but that Pres
ident Gomez will welcome the pres
entAtion OF the American note. with
It's implied threat OF Intervention. |
There Ii even good reason for be-
lieving that he knew beforehand
that It would be presented. The Gu
ban minister, Senior Rivero, has
been In close touch with the state
department since the political situa-
ton assumed a serious aspect and
has been aware OF it's attitude IN ev-
cry development. IL is believed here
that President Gomez will regard the
note as a weapon in his hands to be
used against the veterans and their
coagttators as a means OF suppress
ing their activities into proper
bounds.
Minister Beaupre is OF the opinion
that the note will have a salutary
effect. The state department agrees
with him in this view and it's pres
entation was decided upon with a
view to backing up Gomez in his eff
forts TO withstand the pressure
brought to bear upon him by the vet
erans.
ULTmATUM TO GOVERNMENT.
The presentation Of the note was
decided upon when Minister Beaupre
reported that IN defiance OF a decree
issued by President Gomez many Of
fcers OF the army and the rurales
attended q meeting Of the national
council OF the veterans Sunday
night, where they we're accorded a
demonstration IN conjunction with
this. Mr.. Beaupre reported that the
veterans have practically presented
an ultimatum to the government de-
manding the abrogation of the law
forbidding the participation of the
military in politics.
There is a conviction in Washing
ton that the veterans movement,
which has been closely observed
from the beginning Of the agitation,
is nothing less than a cloak for the
moves OF General Nunez toward the
presidential nomination. The veter-
ans have not yet gone so far as to
declare for any man for the presi-
dency, but General Nunez has been
thus far the most active leader in the
agitation.
His ambitions to become president
are well known, and IL is now charg-
ed that he hit upon the scheme OF
the veterans movement both tc
make trouble for President Gomez
and to create a strong organization
for his own purposes. Nunez has
always been an opponent of Presi-
dent Gomez. and he has also beer
a candidate for the presidential
nomination.
SOLDIERS AND AGTTATORs ALLIES
General Monte Agudo of the ru
rales has recently associated him
self with General Nunes in the vet
Grams agitations. 1t is this Sllianc,
of the active soldiery with the agi
tators for political preferment which
causes apprehension regarding tn,
situation.
The veterans began by demanding
the dismissal from the civil service
of all men who had been identified
in any way with the Spanish regim
during the early days of the fight 70
Cuban Independence. This despit
the fact that for nearly fourteen
years such men had been holding
various offices in the government
service without protest from an
quarter. They also demanded tina
members OF the veterans associatio,
be more freely appointed to govern
ment places.
President Gomez received thei
demands and declared that he woul
administer the government in the in
terests OF the people of Cuba an
that he would not dismiss eficien
and responsible men from the ser
vice TO please the veterans But tn
veterans persisted in their demands
finally calling for the dismissal c
two cabinet officers and members c
the Cuban bench, because these me