Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-20

HAVANA. May 2O.-With the inaugu-
ration today of Gen. Mario G. Menoca
as president in succession to President
Jose Miguel Gomez, and of Dr. Enrique
Jose Verona as vice president, the Gu
ban republic enters on a new phase OF
its existence In a spirit of high hopes
for the preservation OF peace and the
establishment Of the prosperity of the Is
land.
President Menocal on taking Office con-
tents himself with the declaration that
he will devote all his energies to CIV
ing the country a clean business admin
istration which will foster the industries
Of the island and develop its splendid re-
sources which will welcome foreign cap
ital and immigration and maintain friend
ly relations with all nations, especially
with the United States. to which Cuba is
so closely linked by bonds of mutual af-
fection and interest.
Educated in This City.
Gen. Menocal was born i'm 1866 atxJag-
uey Grande, Matanzas province. His
family soon removed to the United
States and he was educated i'm the mill
tary college of Washington and then at
Cornell university. He graduated from
Cornell as "a civil engineer. Upon leav-
ing Ithaca he went with his uncle. Ami
'ceto G.. Menocal. chief of the engineering
staff which made the survey of the Mic
araguan canal. and worked with him.
He returned to Cuba as an engineer for
French company.
At Santa Cruz he Joined the revolu-
tionary forces as private and rose
rapidly until he became general of divi-
sion.
Brilliant Military Record.
His military record was brilliant he
rendered great service to the Americans
at the time OF the Spanish evacuation,
and Gen. Ludlow, civil governor of Ha-
vana province. appointed him chief Of po-
lice of Havana, a position requiring at
that time great tact and ability. He later
managed the chappara sugar estate up
TO few weeks before his inauguration
Vice President Varona was born in
Camasuey. April IL. 1919. was graduated
from the University of Havana and is
professor of philosophy and ethics in
that institution. He was deputy to the
Spanish cortes from Camaguey province
shortly after the ten years war (1S6S-7S)
Under GeN Wood $ adminfstra ton he was
secretary OF public instruction. He is
an author and newspaper man and pres
ident OF the conservative party, which
won the recent elections.
Members of Cabinet.
Cosme de la Torriente secretary of
state, is the vice president of the con-
servatlve party. At the time of the Sec
ond american intervention he was Cuban
minister 10 Spain. a position he resigned
Cristobal de la Guardia. secretary ot
justice. is the only member of the cabi
net who has no war record In 1898 he
made an unsuccessful effort to organize
a labor party. As a senator he made a
strong fight against the lottery. chicken
fighting and Jai-ala1. His selection fol
the portfolio of justice Is considered ar
excellent one.
Col Aurelio Pevia. secretary of the
interior. was one of Gen. Calixto Garcia's
expedition which embarked on the Haw-
kins for Cuba, and when that vessel sanl
off the Jersey coast he narrowly es
capped with his life. During the first In
tervention he was assistant secretary oi
state. Since 1906 he has practiced as &
lawyer.
Leopoldo Cancio. secretary of the treas
ury. has been cabinet minister severa
times. He assisted in the preparation
of the reciprocity treaty with the Unitet
States in 1903.
Built First Dynamite Gun.
Jose Ramon Villalon. secretary of pub
lie works. was graduated in 1889 fron
Lehigh University. where he obtained hi
degree of civil engineer. While in tn
United States prior to joining Gen. Mace
he built the first dynamite gun eve
used IN the world, and employed Ii in tn
operations in Cuba. He is professor O
mathematics Njn the University of Ha
vana and a member of the America
Society of Engineers and the American
Institute OF Mining Engineers.
Gen. Emilio Nunez. secretary of agri
culture. commerce and labor. has bee
president Of the National Council of Vet
I Grams for two terms After the treat
| OF Zanion--1S7S-he Went to the Unite
i States residing in Philadelphia for years
! Five of his six children We're born in tn
states
i Ezequiel Garcia. the secretary of pub
i lie instruction, is professor Of l!teratur
| in the University OF Havana.
/ Enrique NuneZ secretary of publ
/ health, was graduated from the Uni
versity of Havana in 1856. and as a sur