The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-01

Natives Will Be Governed
Much as the Cubans Were
During Period Of Rehabilita-
ton, Until Able to Conduct
Their Affairs Themselves.
Washington, Dec, 1-Secretary o,
Ethe Navy Daniels issued yesterday
f4his announcements: 3*
Capt. H. s. Knapp, in COM
mand Of the United States forces
in Santo Domingo, reports that in
compliance with instructions re-
ceived. military government was
proclaimed by him in Santo Do
mingo at p. m. Nov. 20. An or
der regarding carrying arms or
having them in possession has
been put In effect. Payment of
salaries Of government officials
will be resumed Immediately. The
proclamation was we'll received.
Conditions are reported as being
normal, and the great majority
Of the people regard the procla-
nation with favor. -
The Only Thing to Do
Under the treaty with Santo Do
iningo the United States has clear
right to step in and enforce order
when conditions demand. it, It was
on this authority that the Navy De-
partment acted, after consultation
with State Department officials, Min
lister w. w. Russell and Capt. Knapp,
who, as a member of the Neutrality
Board, is a recognized expert on in
ternational law and treaties.
Capt. Knapp arrived in Santo Do
mingo a week ago. After having
made personal inspection Of condi-
tions he advised the Navy Depart
ment that the only thing to do was
to establish a military government
there and maintain 1t until the people
who have the interests Of the coun-
try at heart have an opportunity to
get control and put the machinery OF
government in operation.
This step was made necessary be-
cause Governmental functions in San
to Domingo were at a standstill and
had been for some time. Conditions
got into such a tangle because Of the
Vaccinations Of Arias (who has been
the great political disturber Of the
republic for many years and who is
the man behind President Henriquez)
that the American General Receiver
refused to make any further pay
ments. This deprived the Dominican
government employees Of their sal
aries. but at the same time put a stop
to brazen graft.
Election in January.
An election will be held in January
to choose another Congress, which
will elect successor to Henriquez
The election will be supervised, but
only to make certain it is free from
intimid ation, and will result in the
choice OF a new Congress that can be
depended upon to elect a President
who will conserve the country and
develop it along constructive lines.
Under the military government
payment Of salaries will begin day
after tomorrow Of this week. The
United States naval authorities will
not interfere with local government
The courts will continue to transact
business as usual. But Capt. Knapr
and his associates will disarm the reb-
AcNo
and will eliminate him from Domini-
can politics. The liberation Of the
people of Santo Domingo will be IN
no way abridged, the chief function
OF the military government being te
maintain order.
2,7OO Marines Available.
There are 1900 marines in Sante
Domingo and 800 in Hayti who car
be called upon if occasion requires
Secretary Daniels is confident he has
an ample force there to handle the
situation.
Arias was Minister OF War and Ma
rine in the Cabinet of President jim
anez, who resigned last May. Arias
had promised to eliminate himself
from Dominican politics In order that
q stable government might be estab-
1ished Things went from bad to
worse, Jiminez quit and Congress
elected Henriquez for term Of five
months, presumably on the theory
that he would work along construc-
ton lines. Late advices indicate that
instead of doing so he went over to
Arias.
The Jtminez government had agreed
to negotiate a treaty with the United
States similar to that with Hayti,
where conditions are excellent and
much constructive work is being done.
The treaty was not negotiated. When
Henriquez was made president condi-
tons rapidly grew worse. He posi-
lively refused to negotiate the treaty
and. with Arias, schemed to bring
things to point where the force of
the United States marines might bc
thrown out. Recently an outbreak
resulted in the death of an American
naval officer and several Of his men.
"A marine guard now has control of
all of the larger cities Of Santo Do
mingo.
The United States will not make
any further step toward negotiating
a treaty like the one now working so
successfully in Hayti until the new
President takes office. Then the
United States will insist on negotiat-
ing this treaty in the interest of the
country and in fulf1llment Of It's obli-
cation under the existing treaty.
Much the Same as In Cuba.
Under the military government
conditions will be much the same as
those which obtained in Cuba while
the machinery OF an independent
government was being evolved. A
constabulary will be organized, off,
cered by American marines, the per-
sonnet ofw hich will be largely ma
tive. As the natives develop the
necessary stability and control they
will bep romoted, gradually supplant-
ing American OH7rcrS opd xcor