The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-31
wide INTEREST IN
ELECTION IN CUBA
New President VIII Be Named
At Polls November 1, #
Not Prevented.

Havana. Oct. 28.-Cuha's APPROACH
ing presidential elections, which. II
nothing develops In the meantime to
prevent them. are to take place On Mo-
vember LIST. will 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
secon time, was accompanied by dis
orders. followed by threats OF revolu-
ton. eliminating in the outbreak OF
August, 1906. directed by DR.. Alfredo
precipitated the second American in
Prevention under Governor Magoon.
During this Intervention was held an
der the supervision OF American army
officers the election of 1908. which re-
suited In the election of Genera Jose
Miguel Gomez and DR.. Zayas by a
substantial majority. The election was
other than small partisan sQuabbles.
The rival candidates for the presi-
dency and vice-presidency now are DR..
Zayas and General Eusebio Hernandez
for the Liberal party n General
Mario G.. Menocal and DR.. Enrique
party, also known as h Patriotic 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 n his
espousal Of the Conservative cause. In
the platforms Of PRINCIPLES Of both
parties there is absolutely no differ
ence.
Besides the president and the vice.
president. there are to be elected thtr-
teen of the twenty-four senator's. 40 OF
the 95 representatives who compose the
Nruya~ h1,,1@ +1 ~ tL~ rs
provinces, mayors n city councilmen
Of the 95 municipalities into which the
Island Is divided and some minor off,
Gals. The ballot gives the voter the
fullest protection OF secrecy.
Officially aloof from both the con-
tending parties 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
h 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
h 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
If he finds himself in danger of being
~defrauded OF victory. MenocaIs popu-
larity is 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
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 gravest apprehension. Much
of this fear is based on the fact that
every Cuban who can afford the price
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
able is the party spirit that this does
not appear to act as a deterrent, both
being apparently willing to face what
they term the horrors of another in
t~ervention" rather than submit to the
'ule of thei detested opponents.