El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-02

N negro problem is largely TO
blame for the revolutionary de-
velopments which have conferred at
tention on the rich little island re-
public.
There is no color line in Cuban suf-
frage laws. There is not even denial
| Of the right to vote by such legal
subterfuges as are common in our
south
And il is common observation in
Cuba that tho negro goes TO the polls
more regularly than MS white COM
. patriot The negro IS proud 10 vote.
Z while the white is often too proud 10
vote The latter is Indifferent and
often lets election day go by without
exercising his right of suffrage
The negro goes 10 the polls and
votes-but whether his vote counts is
another matter.
cuban election methods are hope
iessly corrupt-at least, eighteen years
o. freedom have not been sufficient TO
put them on anything approaching the
plane Of the United States and the
great nations of Europe
Cheated Ont Of Election.
Through these methods, the Liberals
IN sympathy with the revolt say. their
party was cheated out OF the recent
election
The Liberals constitute the party OF
the masses, especially the negroes It
is generally admitted they have a ma
jcrity Of the voting population In
fact, RaOul E. DeSvernlne. counsel to
the Cuban legation at Washington
said a few days ago with 4 certain
amount of cynicism:
It is perfectly true as he CDr
Orestes Ferraral says. that 50 percent
Of Cuba's population belongs TO the
Liberal party. but IL is equally true,
although he does not say so, that the
so percent is composed largely OF the
peon class and that the brains and
breeding OF Cuba are affiliated with ,
the Conservative party
To an American. accustomed to the !
idea that the majority has the right !
10 elect the government IN republic, !
this attitude of senior Desvernine is I
astounding
In fact. senior Desvernine in so many !
words admitted just what the. Liberals 4
assert in their justification OF the pres
ent revOlt-that Cuba is ruled by an 1
aristocratic and commercial clique. |
which is now seeking to perpetuate /
itself by the use of the army and the \
government machinery first. to fall
sify the election returns. and. second,
to put down the armed revolt
Negroes Fought for Freedom.
Negroes formed . large share Of the
army of Independence These veterans
of the war with Spain do not allow
any man to take precedence Of them
simply because he is a white man
Il is also to be remember that there
s not the distinct color line drawn F
2 Havana and other Cuban towns
which We take for granted in the
United States. Many negroes have
leld high offices in the government
Their social position is often one of
which few American negroes would
yer dream.
If the present revolutionary spirit
s quelled with the help Of American
roops IL is bound 10 break forth
in fG Hn mi Of he
lere best acquainted with conditions
4 Cuba The germs of unrest, feed
ng on 2 feeling of injustice, cannot {
asily be destroyed
The negroes in the last few years {
ave increased so in power and in
realth that they now demand the I
omplete enjoyment OF their cOnsti-
utional rights and they are forcing
he issue.
Want American Election Judges. II
Santa Clara and Oriente, two prov
ices that are traditional Liberal
-rongholds are the centers of the j
ONE OF Gen Gomez and of Gen. Guz- {
ian. the Liberal leader who has been 5
lamoring for American supervision Of [
he new elections.
Oriente occupies the extreme eastern I .
nd of the island. II has been a hot
ed of disturbance for years. The ! (
opulation IS about half negro Y
In this eastern part OF Cuba the re- \
-4Aioi SUI ~ Us greatest lullltl sue :
IS. when Mai Rigoberto Fernandez / r
Hillary commander Of an insurgent :
'rce. seized Santiago and notified the 4
nited States he had mined the harbor
II was this notable blow in the in
Urgent cause which stirred Washing 1
IN into action.
Twice the American army has in
-ryened IN Cuba since the war Of
The Cuban regular army is now
'nsldered an efficient force il con- i
sts OF 1000 men. CARRIED almost ex-
lily like American troops
Part Of the Army DiSIoynI
\ thlted states army officer has 1
en- detailed by request to train the ]
man forces They are well equipped | -