The Washington herald., 1920-12-22
" i OF.
Visitors in
Capital
Interviews with Guests
From All Parts of
The United States.

leader. registered at the Washington
Hotel.
Ortiz. who Is speaker OF the Gu
ban House Of Representatives. as
well as professor. of constitutional
law in the University. of havana. is
an authority. on Cuban conditions.
The political and economic situa-
tion which now prevails in our Is
land neighbor as result of the Con-
servative victory in the presidential
election of November 1 would make
Shakespeare's "still vexed Bernu-
das' haven by comparison. accord
ing to Ortiz.
Intimidation. fraud and even vio-
lence were resorted to by the gov
ernment In order to re-elect Gen.
Mario sMenocal and perpetuate the
Conservative regime" Ortiz de-
clared. The progress Of the cleo
tion was followed closely by Ameri-
can observers detailed to cover the
ground by the State Department,
and 1 am sure that the evidence col
lected by these gentlemen must
convince the American government
that in the recent election the peo-
pie of Cuba had little opportunity to
express their true wishes in the
election of their president.
SEES NEED OF U. s.
INTERVENTION AT ONCE.
The result of this election shows
clearly" Ortiz pointed out. "the ne
cessity for q strictcr surveillance
Of Cuban affairs by the government
OF the United States The evidence
collected by these observers must
demonstrate TO the American STATE
Department the futility of solicitous
observation. Cuban affairs demand
more than that. There should be
actual supervision OF elections on
the part OF the American govern
ment"
New elections will be held In many
precincts. Ortiz said, as result of
the appeals made by the Liberal
party to the Cuban courts. These
should be actively supervised by the
American government. in his opin-
ion.
There Is no question OF the right
OF the American government to In
teryene in Cuban affairs, accordins
TO Ortiz. The Republic of Cuba was
born May 20. 1902. undar the pro-
tectorate OF the United States. As
provided by Article III Of the Ap-
pendix to the Constitution OF Cuba.
generally known as the Platt
amendment. the government of Cuba
grants to the United States the right
OF intervention for the preservation
OF Cuban Independence. for the
maintenance OF a government which
VIII adequately protect life, indf-
Vioual liberty and property, and for
discharging the obligations imposed
upon the government of the United
states by the treaty OF Paris.
Ihe nrst practical application OF
this right to intervene was in 1906,
according to Ortiz. As a conse-
quence OF American intervention to
check the revolutionary. moyement
against the government of Estrada
rama, the republic remained for
more than two years under the pro-
visional administration of the
united states government. LegisIa-
i've reforms were introduced and
zen. Gomez was elected to the presi-
dency. He was followed by Cen,
Menocal. elected November / 1912
During his first term. Ortiz saws
1eneraf MenocalNgoverned with tho
cooperation of both parties, but bo-
came unpopular because of his nj :
,egeu iailure to keep promises made
oetore election. Charles Herman
dez, intimate friend of President
Menocal, at that time Postmaster
General. Is charged by Ortiz with
being the ringleader in a systematic
falsihcation Of the election returns
which resulted in the defeat of the
the
|, GEN. CROwDER REVISEs
ISLAND ELECTORAL CODE
Intervention by the United States
occurred again in February, 1917.
following the hiSh-handed methods
used by MenocaI in bringing about
his reelection. A proclamation TO
the Cuban people by the U. s. Min
lister in Havana stated that the Gov
ernment Of the United States was
opposed to revolutionary methods
and that no government established
by such methods would have recog-
milton by the U. S. State Depart
ment. This proclamation ended the
revolutions instigated by the Liber-
ais against President MenocaI.
From this point. Ortiz declared.
began the dictatorship of Mario
Menocal. Taking advantage of the
paternal protection of the American n
Government he Instituted a highly
centralized authority which became
more arbitrary, during the World
War with the exercise of emergency
measures.
The sufferings OF the Cubans un-
der Gen. Menocal eliminated ac-
cording to Ortiz, in the formulation
OF new electoral code for the
Island. 1t was prepared by Gen.
Enoch H Crowder, u. S. A.. at the
instance of the State Department.
Just before the last election the
political parties were reorganized
pursuant to the provisions of the
Crowder code, but notwithstanding
the expectations OF the State De-
partment that the election would be
conducted fairly and impartially
Ortiz declares that the election was
once more won by the Conserva-
tives by the same illegal means. as
were employed in 1917.
Ortiz declares that 1t is impera-
tive that the United States maintain
free and democratic form of
government in Cuba, not only for
the sake of Cuban American rela-
tions, but for the promotion of her
prestige throughout all South and
Central America.
Limbs of the Forest.
Contours of milady's stocking.
Why ara you so very shocking
In the city