El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-19
To Vote
WITHOUT AID
Of OTHERS
Heated Political Campaign
Is On For Presidential
Honors on Island.
TROUBLE EXPECTED
IN NOVEMBER CONTEST

Havana, Cuba, Oct. 19.-Cuba,s an
preaching presidential elections which
II nothing develops in the meantime to
prevent mem are to take place on No
Fember i viii be the second to be
perviSiOn.
The first election, that of 1905. which
resulted IN placing Estrada Palma. in
the presidential chair for the second
time was accompanied by disorders
IonoWed by threats Of revolution, cuI-
HdnaJlng IN the outbreak of August
1906, directed by DR.. Alfredo Zavas
ana Cen Pine Guerra and precfpftated
the second American Intervention un-
Qer governor MagOn. During this in
Prevention was held under the s1Der-
vision Of American army officers the
election Of 1908, which resulted in the
eIect5on OF Cen Jose Miguel Gomez and
NJ NJ. ASlyds Dy a substantial majority.
The election was marked by the alb
sence OF any disorders other than small
partisan squabbles.
The Rival Candidates.
The rival candidates for the Dresi-
dency and vice presidency now are Or
Aayas and Gen. EusebfO Hernandez
Tor the Liberal party and Gen Mario
G. MenOcal and DR.. Enrique Varona
Suarez for the COnservat tive party, also
known as the Patriotic Alliance and
as the fusion party, in allusiOn to the
recent detection Of Gen. Asbert, gov
ernor OF Havana province, from the
Liberal ranks and his espousaI of the
Conservative cause. In the platforms
OF principles Of both parties there is
absolutely no difference.
Besides the president and the vice
president there are to be elected IS
of the q senator's, 49 Of the 95 repre-
sentatiTes who compose the lower
house. the governors of the six prov
1nceSs mayors and city councilmen OF
the 95 municipalities into which the
Island Is divided and some minor Of
ficials. The ballot gives the voter the
fullest protection Of secrecy.
Gomez Sfaudq AIooF
Officially alOof from both the con-
Lendlng parueS stands president Jose
Miguel Gomez, who has from time to
time given abundant assurances that he
had no desire to succeed himself as
ruler of the republic, and that between
the rival candidates he would stand in
an attitude of absolute impartiality and
would devote all his power to preserv-
ing the peace and 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-
nlzed head Of that wing of the Liberal
party known as 'Historicos," Gen.
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 Gen. MenOcal has openly
told the president that he will not hest
tate to have recourse to force if he
finds himself in danger Of being de-
trauded Of victory. MenocaIs popular
1ty IS beyond question great, probably
greater than that Of any other Cuban.
On the other hand, the followers of
Zayas charge the president with favor
itism Of the Conservatives.
Trouble Is Promised.
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 Ha-
vana at Guanajay, at Camajuani 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 re
Volver carries one and would as soon
think Of going out without his hat as
without his weapon The government
has been considering the property OF
canCeling All licenses to carry arms,
but such q decree would be ineffective,
especially in view of the fact that not
one in a hundred is the holder Of a IL
cense.
Both parties realize fully that a re-
course to arms will almost inevitably