The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-23
Feared Republic May
Not Survive It's Pres
ent Peril.
TREASURY EMPTY
RECEIPTS MEAGRE
Election Is Coming On, and
Gomez Party Seems Doomed
to Defeat at Polls-Both
F. Factions Are Making
Strong Bids for Vote
of Negroes.

Havana, September eat is felt
generally here that Cuba Is approach
ing a crisis in its history as re-
public. Two serious questions occupy
the public mind:
Can Cuba survive the present state
Of her finances Can she hoid an
honest and orderly election Tor ths
presidency with loyal submission o.
the defeated party to the will OF tne
majority.
That the treasury is empty; that the
last dollar Of the sls.59o.eoo speyeE
loan has been spent. while the work OF
sewering and paving Havana, the prin'
cipal purpose for which the plan was
authorized BY the United states, IL
not only not half finished but In
danger of interruption Il not OF aoan.
donmen,: that the government Is q.
it's wits END to md money to mee'
it's vas, expenditures while reeelpts
from customs and the taxes nave
reached their lowest point-aH TINS
is asserted by the enemies OF the
government. and most OF II iranA!S
admitted by all. Everywhere IL u
asked, how long can this state OF
affairs continue? Last month 'ne
government defaulted, for the nFs'
time on the account due to the sew
ering and paving contractors Tor "orA
done in July amounting to about 40,
400 The government declared that
~ had no more money. The contrac-
tors appealed to the American iega-
tion. and suficient pressure was
brought to bear to convince the gov
eminent that payment was imperA-
tive. The following day the money
" 90 Cones Realises Peril
There has been much specuta.ion
as to whether the government VIII DC
able to satisfy the claims of the con-
tractors due towards the end OF TINS
,oonth. but there are indications ina.
president Gomez. realizing fuiiy tne
oertl of another default, has mace
an extraordinary effort. and VIII DC
prepared to meet the obligation anu
thus tide over the crisis lot aho'hei
month.
The press continues to be hlled with
articles bewailing the
anancial and political perils that b.
set the republic. Careful estimates
show that the Gomez administrator
has spent during its two and a nan
wears of power at least $1io,Voe'ooo.
E.ner,s deciar. that the only hope tor
Cuba lies in cutting down her expenses
at least so per cent
The pres mt aspects OF the politicai
situation appears to justify reason
able expectations that General Mario
can carry the election. ana
as he has just formed an
alliance with the wing Of the Liberai
marty under the leadership OF Genera
Ernesto Asbert, Governor OF Havana
province. Both ConseTvaties and LID
erals are making strong bids for the
negro vote, the former endeavoring 70
sxcite the anin.osity OF the negroes
against the Liberals on account OF the
fatalities to men Of their race during
the las, Instruction IN Oriense, ana
the latter endeavorins to placats them
bv promises Of unconditional paroons
10 thousands Of negro prisoners no"
confined In jatls.
yeterans Are Split.
The Association of Veterans onoe1
III. leadership OF General Eniii"
Sunez. which has hitherto stood fast
for nonpartisan purposes OF the gov.
eminent and the sCuoantzation OF
the civil service. now seems 70 DC IN
. way Of being badly split along party
lines. but whether TO the advantage
OF one side or the other does not Se.
app.ar. The election - to De neIo
November /, and the new President
w;,I he inaueuratei May 20.