Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-09
CUBA IN TURMOIL, ;
HEARS j. s. MAY
ACT IN ELECTIONS
Parties Said to Intimidate
Voters in Presidential
Contest.
BY GEORGE c. BRIGGS.

| Is! Iaoie 10 Ihe Star and Chicago Daily News
| Copyright 1920.
| HAVANA. Cuba. October 9.-Elec-
ton time approaches, and Cuba is in a
ferment. AS in every other pre-
election period in the islands history
as republic the atmosphere is sur
charged with talk of plot and coun-
terplot. of insurrection that must in
evitably follow if the forces of the
government are used to prevent the
voters from exercising franchise
rights and of possible Intervention by
the United States if the election goes
this way or that Already there are
reports that American marines are
being smuggled into the island and
distributed where they would do the
ling.
Americans here generally pooh-pooh
the idea that any considerable body
of American soldiers has been landed.
They point out that except at Cana
guey and Oriente, where there are
rlnes, no armed American force ex-
lists in Cuba. The Camaguey barracks
ordinarily hold battalion. The
strength there at present is not more
than regiment, they say
Complaints have been received at
rival political interests are commit
ting depredations to intimidate the
voters in the cane-raising districts.
Protection of American interests has
been asked, according to persistent
reports. by Americans whose property
is SAID to be menaced. Although ad-
mission is not forthcoming from the
legation, whispering persists that the
attaches of the Office have discussed
the situation formally with the Cuban
departments of state and the interior.
With the election set for November
this early by the followers of Gen.
Jose Miguel Gomez, the liberal candi-
date, against the activities of the SOL
diers, the rural guard and other agen-
cies of the government calculated to
discourage meetings of liberal voters.
President Menocal, who is openly sup
porting Gen. Gomez's opponent. the
national league candidate, DR.. Alfredo
Zayas. has caused to be publicly is
sued orders for troops to guard all
foreign places and prevent any inter-
ference with voters or with the work
of officials at the voting places.
Crowder Commission Law.
One Of the regulations devised by
the Crowder commission in 1917 to
prevent election frauds in Cuba is a
law forbidding soldiers from ap-
preaching closer than the corner OF
a block in which a polling booth is
situated. unless disorders develop
with which the police are unable to
cope. .-,s----4sa-, = .s....z.. -, ~.
1t must be remembered that in every
presidential election in which, the lib
erals have been defeated. whether by
fair means or foul, the cry has been
set up beforehand that corruption and
manifestations Of government activ-
ity,. that the United States would sure
ly have to step in or there would be
a revolution which would necessitate
American intervention, and, sure
enough, there have been revolutions
be borne in mind also that, except for
the election in which Gen. Gomez and
DR.. Zayar were elected. respectively,
President and Vice President of Cuba
these two have always been the primo e
movers in spreading dissension and
fomenting anti-conservative insur-
gency over election returns, with re-
sultant interference from the United
States.
Soldiers Intimidate Women.
Now from Camaguey and Oriente.
provinces which are claimed as liber-
al strongholds, complaints are coming
to Gen. Gomez that soldiers are
visiting the homes while the men are
out in the plantations. The soldiers
recall to the wife or mother of the
absent voter that a certain foe of the
government was shot and killed in the
neighborhood lately for the sufficient
reason that he opposed the "Lfga Mac
cional," which is the new name of
the conservative party. The same
the woman is told. according to these
stories. and it behooves her to have
her loved one correct his policy or
stay away from the polls. To make
such an argument effective, the liber-
ais charge, an active liberal is pre-
viously shot to death, and the cir
cumstance is well advertised in the
vicinity.
Complaints of that sort are being
relayed to the American legation and,
while the legation will not comment,
it is believed the situation is con-
sidered so serious that details of these
and other indications of approaching
disorder are being forwarded TO
Washington.
A startling manifestation of the
conditions in the eastern end of the
island has not yet been made public,
but came to the writer indirectly
from Santiago. A liberal party cleo
tion officer. Judge Valdes, recently
quarreled with three army officers
whom he named-Maj. Arsendio Or
tiz, Mai Sando and Col. Rosales. Judge
Valdes made specific charge at the
American consulate several days ago
| according to the story, accusing the
three army men of threatening to kill
him. Yesterday Valdes was haled
! into court as the result of the quar-
rel, and was released on bail AS he
was leaving the courtroom Col
Rosales confronted Valdes, and a
pistol duel ensued. Both were
wounded. and are said to be in a
critical condition.
Some Political Methods.
! One of. the interesting methods de-
| vised by astute politicians in Cuba
| to disqualify voters of the opposition
party is simple and effective. 1t works
/ like this:
| A man representing himself to pos
sess the authority of army or rural
guard, or perhaps the police, visits
the haciendas, and through threats
and subterfuge obtains possession OF
the electoral planters cards without
which no Cuban can vote. When elec-
tion approaches the planter makes ap-
plication for his card. 1t has been
lost. He must make application for a
new one. He does. Two weeks more
and perhaps the card is received in the
mail Then he discovers an error in