New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09
Gomez Snufed Out

was his personal ambition. lie certainly
would have turned its success 10 his own
nersonal advantage. He would have be-
come the military dictator of Cuba II the
extremists of the Liberal party had sue
ceeded in their plot, for, although the IN
sprrection started nominally as a protest
AGAINST tho counting out Of the Liberal
candidate for President, Alfredo Zayas, 1t
soon became evident that Gomez, not
Zavas. was to be the beneficiary Of sue
cessful attempt TO overthrow the Menocal
government.
Gomez has been for years the most sin
lister figure in Cuban politics. His mach
nations in 1906 led up to President Pal
mas forced resignation, followed by the
American intervention. Claiming that the
Palma government was vitiating the Con-
gress elections by force and fraud (and
there was a very substantial foundation
for that claim, he and his Liberal fol-
lowers abstained from voting and set up
an armed opposition. They terrorized
Palma into quitting the Presidency. Palma
also helped their game along by invoking
the assistance Of the United States.
In 1908. after order had been restored
and the election laws had been amended,
Gomez himself ran for President and was
elected. He used the Office as a means of
personal and partisan ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. lie
acted strictly on the principle that to the
victors belong the spoils. His administra-
ton was involved in many scandals. II
was continually in hot water in Washing
ton. It antagonized the substantial and
progressive elements in Cuba. And
though the Liberal party included ma
iority of the Cuban voters and had control
of all the machinery of government, the
country turned strongly against it in 1912,
rejecting Zayas, Gomez's candidate, and
electing the Conservative nominee, Gen
eral Mario Menocal.
Last year Gomez again put forward
Zayas as the Liberal Presidential nominee.
The election was exceedingly close. Frauds
were undoubtedly committed by both sides
Foreseeing Menocals reelection on the
supplementary balloting ordered by the
Cuban Supreme Court, Gomez again re-
sorted to the tactics which he had en-
ploved so successfully in 1906 against the
tinrid and incapable Palma.
He started revolution in his own be-
half, intending, no doubt, to force another
American Intervention and a new election,
in which he should be the Liberal nominee.
But he found in the Presidential palace
this time a very different man from Palma.
The army, though tempered with, re-
NAMED, on the whole loyal to the govern
ment. 1t was intelhgently and skilfully
used, and now by capturing Gomez, the
heart and brains Of the revolt, it has freed
Cuba from the menace of civil war in
furious 10 her political prestige and de-
structive OF her material wealth.
The United States has guaranteed stable
government in Cuba. We should have been
drawn in as an agent of pacifcation if
i
provinces and establish himself there. Our
interest is therefore served by President
Menocals crushing victory. His inaugura-
ton for second term is now assured, and
that means four years more Of peaceful
progress and sound development in Cuba.
The bane of the Latn-American states
is the sort of partisan intrigue which
quickly degenerates into sedition and revo-
luton. Gomez has been an arch intriguer
and trouble maker, always ready 10 sacri-
fee the islands interests 10 his own sell
fish aspirations The elimination Of such
leader is a great gain for peace and
decency. Cuba will be saved permanently
from the curse Of interruptions and mill
tant factionaism if she can only produce
more Menocals and rid herself Of her
greater and lesser Gomezes.
Undoubtedly, the Cuban election laws
can be greatly improved. There is much
fraudulent voting under the present sys-
TEN. But real respect for majority rule
can be built up only very slowly in coun-
tries long accustomed 20 the idea that It
IL lust az legitimate 20 attain power by
force a. 10 attain IL by popular consent
Cuba can never become altogether a prey
30 revolution and violence, because the
United States is pledged 20 intervene 10
check lawesgness. But the Cubans can
themselves do a great deal % discourage
The spirit Of factionaiism and revolution
bv making their elections fairer and more
commemorative Of the popular viii. We
hone that the second Iienocal admInistra-
ton Will zee 70 Il that no excuse Is given