The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-22
Political Activity in Cuba.

what alarming statement Of the po-
litical situation In the island. The
election IA still far away, hut as FAR
as political leaders and aspirants for
office are concerned. the campaign Is
alreadya whirlwind. It's consequences
r beyond prediction. la Lucha de-
clares that mo pleading picture tper-
spectiva halaguena1 AN he given Of
the dangerous reality IN which we
are involved. Everything seems 10
have gone to pieces. Ruin menaces
all. The confusion that now reigns
throughout the national territory Is as
q frost Of pesrmism on tho flower Of
all II hopes"
AZ stated in Mr.. GopoY's article IN
THE SuN Of November "A. Cuba's
political organizations are split into
conflicting and contesting factions
Regarding this Ia LNcha says: THE
absurd atoms to which our political
parties have been reduced by inter
ests created by their own atmosphere
and by the irreconcilable ambitions Of
their leaders present to the country
only a future full Of painful disillu-
Cons. 1t Is useless to underestimate
the malign influence Of our deplor.
able political practiceA Neither the
Liberal party o the Conservative
party merits any confidence what
ever. Both are divided ana sub.di-
vided BY interests contradictory and
!rreconc!lable. Of a personal charrc-
ter IN all cases" The article proceeds
with the assertion. correct beyond
question. that all Of these many
groups subordinate the general wei
fare OF the community to the salts
faction Of their ambitious de-
sires, and adds: "The situation. then.
IL very serious. and the circumstances
Of the coming general elections give
to II the character Of a real crisis"
AZ applied to these groups, the term
party IL almost farc!cal. A polit-
cal party Is an organization having
OF 'IdfilIhS w htNc Iofi'I"s NINA MINE
distinguishing IL from other political
organizations. There Is no such dts
tinctlon in Cuba's parties" The per
sonal element dominates. For years
the numerically dominant Liberals
have been split into Zayistas. follow
ers Of ALFREDO ZAYAs. and Miguelis
tas. Of JosE MIGuEL GoMEz.
Now there are within their ranks,
all parading as Liberals, half a dozen
other 'istas." GoMrz and Z,YAs were
the defeated candidates for the Prrsi-
dency and Vice-Presidency IN 1903,
the successful candidates for those
offices in 1905. and again the defeated
candidates in 1910. Several years {
they Quarrelled. At present they have
every appearance of being bitter ana
relentless enemies. each prepared TO
co 10 any length to defeat the amhi-
tons Of the other. Both arr dis
tinctly professional politicians. Their
administration, January 2s, 1909. 10
May 20, 1913, was an orgy OF graft,
II the stories Of the press and the talk
Of the public are 10 he accepted rs
evidence. II loaded the country with
the National Lottery, ana granted con-
cesSons utterly without standing IN
law or IN morals.
The Menocnl Administration has
been clean nj least. GOMEZ and HAyAs
ere sill IN the ring. fighting each
ago GoMyz. A leader in the deplornhl"
revolution ~ 1909. virtually threat
ened TO repeat that experience in m"
event II the defeat Of his party. what
ever that Is, in the election next year.
MrSocAL has repeatedly declared that
he will not, under any circumstances
accept denomination. In that event
NrNrz. an excellent man. o IN the
Menocal Cabinet, seems tho most prob
able candidate Of the Conservatives.
At present all IS political confusion
and personal animoSty. II - not I'm
possible that the country will he saved
from a worse condition by the ever
present fear OF these self. seeking poll
tic,ans that a third and fnal interven.
ton by the United States would he
precipiFted by n more serious dis
turbance. These pestiferous politi-
clans, each seeking his personal nd
vancement and the qualification of his
personal ambitions. with lltile or 10
regard for the highest welfare of the
people. are to-day tho hane of til"
island and a grave menace 10 its IN
turc. There Is some rea son 10 beliey"
that the people are slowly hut steadily
coming to a realization of the dan
gers inherent in such a situation.
The article in In JUchd ana others
that have appeared IN that and In
other publications ara Il hopeful sign
of such an awakening. The %orgaui2a-
ton Of n "reclcctionlsta" party, not
withs'anding MESOCAL's refusal 10
run. Is another good sign, So IA a
proposal to organize a real party OF
the people, with candidates that would
include none NJ the now quarrelline
leaders Of parties and "istas." The
case IL not at MI hopeless, hut It's
present and prospective gravity must
be admitted.