New-York tribune., 1919-06-16
Envoy From Liberal Party
Says That as Revolution
Is Impossible Congress
Should Protect Ballot
Aid of Senators Asked
Something More Than New
Statutes Declared To Be
Needed to Prevent Fraud
By Carter ield
Ne,c York Tribuns

~ dSGtnOroN bIreCH
WASHINGTON, June Support
for his proposal to have the United
States supervise the next election in
Cuba, provided this government con-
tinues it's policy Of barring revolu-
tions in the island, has been sought
of Senators of both parties, it was
learned to-day by Orestes Ferrera,
former Speaker of the Cuban House of
Representatives.
In conferences with Senator Hitch
cock, Administration leader and rank
ing Democrat on the Foreign Relations
Committee; Senator'S McCumber and
Fall, also Of the Foreign Relations
Committee, and Senator Wadsworth,
chairman of the Military Affairs Com
mlttee, Mr.. Ferrera laid much en-
phasis Oh the idea that from the point
of view OF his party no mere change
in the election laws would ACCOMPLISH
what is desired.
He discussed this at some length
with Senator Wadsworth in connec-
ton with the recent work of Provost
Marshal General Crowder with regard
to the Cuban election laws.
Fears Theft OF Election
General Crowder could draw up
ideal election laws" Ferrera told Sem
ator Wadsworth, "but that would not
prevent the party now in power, or
for that matter my party, if it should
obtain power, from stealing an cleo
tlon by fraud. Now, if that should
happen in the United States and A
majority of the peopl- believed an
election was stolen, you would see the
people rise UP and throw the man who
had stolen the election out of office.
That is the historical right of revolu-
tlon. But that right is denied us by
the United States government, which
says there must be no revolutions in
Cuba, and which prevented a revolu-
ton after the last election, which we
assert was stolen.
We accept your mandate that there
shall be no revolutions after elections.
but we urge if you go that far
that you go further and see to it that
the elections are honest You have the
right to do that under the Platt
amendment. 1t is your duty to do it.
as we see 1t, unless you are willing to
take your hands off altogether, in
which case we would have no COM
plaint."
Ferrera told the Senators that the
people in Cuba had got the impression
that the United States was standing
squarely behind the present admins
tration.
Wants Ballot Protested
"1n asking the help of Senators with
a view to getting the United States
government to supervise the next cleo
tion," Ferrera said after his conferences
at the Capitol, 81 am representing the
Liberal party of Cuba, which party has
electsd me to the Cuban House of Rep-
resentatives for many years. We want
to know ii it, will be, any use for US
to make campaign next time We do
not expect President Menocal to run
again, IS he has had two terms, and
our constitution prohibits more than
two consecutive terms But if the
United States government does not
demonstrate in some way to the people
" CUDo tiidI IL Wallis 1dlI SleCIlON,
and has no other interest in the result.
there will be no use, in our opinion,
i"r 2 light. We can protect our
selves from our political opponents.
" can night them if we think it neces-
sary, but we cannot fight the United
States government, which is virtually
at present in the position Of saying
that no matter what happens in the
election the defeated party may not
revolt"
MIR. Ferrera told the Senators he
would be glad to have the Senate For
eign Relations Committee inquire into
the part played by this government
in the last election, if there should be
any question in their minds Of the wis
dom or justice of this country seeing
to it that the next election in Cuba is
fair. If this investigation is held,
friends of Ferrera declared, there will
be much evidence submitted with re-
gard 70 the United States Minister at
Havana, William E. Gonzalez, against
whom they have filed charges with the
State Department, as published at the
time in The Tribune.