The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-28
Graft" Is Great Issue
Tn the Politics of Cuba

This is the day when Cubans honor
the memory of Jose Marti, the Apos-
tie of Cuba Lbre, and it also marks
the seventh anniversary of the end
of the second American Intervention
and the founding of the second Cuban
republic. 1t was on January %, 1909,
that Uncle Sam, after a benevolent
occupation of a little more than two
years, withdrew his forces and left
the islanders to work out their own
destinies. The subsequent period has
been one of great prosperity for Cuba
but it is yet too early to say that
Cuba is politically tout OF the woods.''
For several months the islanders
have been engrossed in politics and
the numerous political factions have
kept the country in a, turmoil. The
presidential bee, has, within the last
year, buzzed about the bonnets of not
less than a dozen of Cuba's leading
statesmen.
Disguised as it is under various
Understanding Spanish names, graft
is yet the principal issue in Cuban
politics. A large and substantial
part of the Cuban population demands
the preservation and extension of the
spoils system In the opinion of
these QUEENSLAND they are not with
out Influential spokesman on the
stump and in the press-the govern
ment should be a. cow to be MIXED,
or, to change the figure, a melon
for by the. distribution of public
money in the form of salaries and
government contracts. The victor
must his political enemies by giving
them appointments which involve a
maximum of pay with a minimum of
vulgar toll There must be no inter
ference with the liberties of the peo-
pie and they must be left. free to en-
joy themselves as they wish
These are the political principles of
many prominent Cubans, as express
ed in some of the most widely circu-
mand for this sort of government is
the yelled threat Of revolution.
The defenders of this system, are
not to be found exclusively in any
one party. Their Influence is mani
tested in the councils of the Conser-
vatives as well as of the Liberals,
and in all the minor political parties
and factions. Their idea is, to re-
peat, that the government is a COW.
To the victor belongs the cream, but
the vanquished must be permitted to
share in the distribution of the skim
med milk.
Cubans do not express this idea so
badly or frankly, but that is what
they mean. 1t is not Implied that
this is the political ideal Of the great
ties, among the leaders, and the rank
and file, there are men of unswery-
ing honest and undoubted patriotism
who oppose with every means in their
power the survival and the extension
of the graft system.
AS for that, the defenders of graft
claim to be animated by the patrio-
tic motive Of the preservation of the
republic. It is their contention that
3 certain amount of milking of the |
government cow is necessary in or
der to quiet the ruthless politicians
who would otherwise involve the |
country in a revolution. That, they |
insist, would mean another interven- |
ton, and perhaps permanent one
1t is a curious system, but not
without precedent in the history of
other and more powerful republics.
The Cuban defender of this political |
plan may answer protests with a |
shrug of the shoulders and quota I
ton referring to the indavisabi1ity of
stone throwing by those whose doni- |
Giles are Of glass