Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-10-31
People Of That Island Await
ing in Suspense Political
Outcome
Close Of Campaign Parties
Have Reached Rivalry That
Caused Fights

ava WV "As
awaiting in suspense the outcome OF
the great political battle to be fought
| out at the polls tomorrow. Never be-
fore in the history of the island repub-
lie have the issues at stake in a cam
paign for the presidency been SO mo-
| mentous and never before has the
feeling between the opposing parties
been so high.
The election tomorrow will be the
second to be held by the Cubans with
out American supervision. The first
| election, that of 1905, when Estrada
Palma was elected president for a Sec
ond term, was accompanied by dis
| orders, followed by threats Of revolu-
| ton, eliminating in the outbreak of
August, 1906, directed by DR.. Alfredo
| Zayas and Gen. Pine Guerra, and pre-
cipitated the second American inter-
vention. The next election was held
in 1908, under American supervision,
! and resulted in the choice of Gen.
Jose Miguel Gomez as president and
DR.. Zayas IS vice president. The cleo
| ton was marked by the absence of
any disorders. .
The question now uppermost in the
minds of all persons having the well
fare of Cuba at heart is whether or
not the republic a hold an honest
and orderly election for the presi-
dency with a loyal submission of the
defeated party to the will Of the ma
jority. Many view the future with
grave forebodings. but the more con-
servative OF all of the rival parties
and political factions express the be-
lief that the republic will sa~tisfactor-
lily sole her own problems and that
there will be no occasion for outside
intervention.
The candidate of the Liberal party
for the presidency is DR.. Alfredo Zayas
who is the present vice president.
The standard bearer of the Conserv-
alive party is Gen. Marie Menocal.
Both are able men and each has a
large following. DR.. Zayas is a journ-
alist by profession and is we'll known
as an orator. Dr.. Menocal is an en-
gineer and distinguished himself as
q military leader In the war for in
dependence. Four years ago he was
an unsuccessful candidate for presi-
dent in opposition to Gen. Gomez. For
| several years past he has acted as
manager of n Of the largest sugar
plantations of Cuba.
The Liberal party candidate for vice
president is Rafael Manduley, gov.
ernor Of Oriento province. The candi.
date Of the Conservative party for sec.
ond place is Enrique Jose Varona,
a philosophical writer, former editor
and at present a professor of the Ma
tional University of Havana.
Unprejudiced observers of the situa'
ton appear inclined to the belief that
Gen. Menocal will carry the election,
though the following of Vice Presi.
dent Zayas is still strong. The chances
Of Gen. Menocal have been consider.
ably augmented by his recent alliance
with the wing of the Liberal party
nuder the leadership Of Gen. Ernesto
Asbert. The latter was himself q
candidate for the presidency but with
drew from the contest in favor Of
Gen, Monocal. Gen. Asbert is vastly
popular with the masses, having risen
by his own efforts from q very humble
position in life to the high post he
now occupies a $ governor Of Havana
prvince.
Both Conservatives ind Liberals are
! making strong bids for the large ne
gro ote, the former trying to excite
the animosity Of the negroes against
the Liberals on account of fatalities
to mel OF their race during the las
tnsurrection in Oriente, and the lattel
seeking to placate them by promise.
OF unconditional pardon to thousands
OF negro prisoners now cnflned in jails
throughout the island.
Besides the president and vice pres
ident,j there are to be elected tomor
row thirteen Of the twentyfour senst