El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-08

in November. It would be a hundred
times more daring to risk prophecy
concerning the Cuban elections tnal "a, az z
l. be held about the same time " NJ
IL Is true that in Cuba tnere are 49,
TWO big political parties the inter IA
cine warfare in one is so bitter anu
there are so many nonpaIJy sue
sues affecting both. that there IS NJ
basis upon which 10 build an OIu0'i'
or logical forecast 49,,
II IS not so DIFFICULT to feel out the
sense OF the public with respect ~
that candidate generally neLu 70 70
the best fitted to succeed 10 the pr - -
dency in the present situation IN u
Ian affairs. The nominee OF the I'm
serVative party is general mario AeLlO
cal He is the manager OF the Cneye@
"a suear estate the largest sugar plan
tatfOn in the world The fact that TINS
estate is owned by American inter sts'
and that il has a capacity or mar d
million bags of sugar q year may ileLe =
something to do with the tact lndl
Americans so readily discover ia
AIenocal is so nearly an ideal man TOT
the president General Ae il-l,, -. - q
veteran of the war OF lndepehueI
and stands so well among his country =
men that Americans in cuba are lOIu
of saying that even the Liberals a.
nit that he is an honest man Inc
foreign element in Cuba agrees JnaI ne
is the best example Of good Citizenship
that the Cuban people nave 10 otLtr
He certainly would not be opposed oS
the American sugar trust. Whlca mas
a large interest in the course Of CUBAN
politics.
Yet Gen. MenOcal has the misfortune
of being the leader of the weaker OF
the two parties I'm Cuba Ine Con
servative party. under normal conul-
tons stands but little chance of polling
a majority OF the votes Of the country
for president II. by any chance, Cen
Menccal should be elected 1t Will not
I be because his party is stronger. out
simply through votes Whlch may come
ell q.
Highest SaIaried Man in Cuba.
Gen. Menocal is, perhaps, the highest
salaried man in Cuba 1t is said that
his income from his management or
the sugar estate under his control
amounts to 100000 year HIS en-
plOyers are said TO have opposed MS
accepting the nomination and tried 70
exact a promise from MIN thaL ne
would not accept the leadership Of his
party 1t is also said that his wife has
aspirations to be the first lady or the
land in Cuba. and in reality was the
power which led him 20 agree TO cap
tain the Conservative hosts II II shall
develop that he can command the ma
jOrity Of the votes OF the association
of War of independence veterans, he
may be able to win out There is also
a possibility that the negro voters, VINO
hold the balance OF power, but VINO
normally vote with the Liberals. may
: become so disguised with the treat
ment they have received from the LID
erals. that they will either nominate
candidates OF their own, or vote with
the Conservatives, as a rebuke TO their
former political associates
How the Liberal party situation VIII
come out is the principal enigma OF
I Cuban politics at the present writing.
So much bitterness has developed WITH
! in the party. as viii be explained in a
succeeding article, that there seems TO
be a rather small prospect of healing
the breach. one wing OF the party nom
mated the present vice president as the
head of the Liberal ticket for the cam
paign now on. Dr. ZayaS has been
promised the support Of President Co
mez. yet Gomez was so bitter after the
nomination OF Zayas that he refused
even 10 recognize the salute OF DE-
Zayas as he left the convention hall
Likewise. governor Asbert. OF the
province of Havana, who was the prin-
cipal candidate In opposition, has re-
, fused to recognize the nomination OF
Zayas, and has been inclined to head
third party in the field Efforts are
now being put forth to bring about
harmony between the COntendtng FAC
tIOns- There are some who believe
behind the candidacy Of Zayas. There
are others who say he will carry his
fight to the polls. and that. even II AZ
third party Is put in the field, there
viii be such a knitting Of the LayaS
( ticket that his chances FOR election viii
Z be small
Gomez Is a Puzzle.
Perhaps the principal element OF
]
! dent Gomez viii now pursue Ihere
have been abundant evidences that ne
had hoped that a situation might arise
where his services would pc demanded
for a second term. That they were not
seems to have been a bitter disappOlnt-
ment to him. and his disilluslon mas
served to embitter him against Dotn
factions Of his own party WneLneI ne
will throw the weight of his influence
to MenOcal or not is question FER
sOnally he likes MenOcal better tnan
~ h.
hand. il is said that he fears that the
election of MenOcal might mean a deep
/ investigation of his administration he
/ is said to share the general beIleI tnat
if MenOcal were TO become president,
he would give to the Cuban people an
honest and efficient administration.
Such an administration certainly would
throw out many hundreds OF the hencn-
men of Come and would wipe out
many species OF graft now eNlsIlnS- II
/ Gomez could feel that Menocal would
let the dead past bury its dead. there
Is little question as 10 W4ere the
weight Of his influence would so
Similar to American Campaigns
Presidential campaigns start much
earlier IN Cuba than IN the United
States. Both Of their conventions were
over by the middle Of April Inc Con-
servatives just now are somewhat I'M
patient because their candidate, Cen
MenOcaI. who has had a busy winter Of
it has announced his intention OF tax
ing a short vacation in Europe before
I going into the thick of the fight They
/ feel that this is a sort Of running
away from the fray at a time when he
/ ought to be right out on the firing
line They have been trying to induce
their candidate TO make a tour OF all
the provinces. meeting the people. ex-
planning to them the Conservative doc
/ trines. and telling them Just where he
| stands on all political issues. As a
| matter of fact. II Would be rather a diff
I ficult proposition TO ascertain exactly
what are the real dOctrinal differences
1 between the two parties. There is no
problem like the tariff, or rate legisla-
J ton. or shin subsidy, TO fight over The
I issue is simply one of a government
hefffcfentlv administered. Each party
I declares itself the most capable helms
man for the ship of state 1t is actual
I ~ ms VS.. outs
MeuocaI FavOrite of Americans
The election OF Gen. Henocal wOufd
probably be welcomed by the govern
ment al Washington Being a man Of
l high ideals. a man who has been asso-
1 cfste5 with Americans in business for
I The hest years OF his life, he is ruIIv
nersuaded that the purposes Of the
/ T-Dffed states government towards
I t,uba are honorable. and he would
I probablv be more amenable TO sugges-
! lions frOr1 Washington than his on
.,.,.D+ Vet there is a rather e-sDs--,1