New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
Fear Is Expressed That
Island Was Given Its
independence Too Soon
and Chaos Is Imminent
People Would Like
To Have Wood Back
Election Tangle Still Is
Unsettled and Finances
Are in Om;nous State
By Wilbur Forrest
Spccial Cable to The Ta.bNne


copyrig.;. 1920. New York Tribune Inc
HAvA>.A. Dec. 25. With the repub-
lies hnarc ces in a deplorable state and
the Presidential elections Of November
/ still mudd'ed beyond all immediate
hope Of decision, there is considerable
doubtful sentiment in Cuba to-day as to
whether the island did not wander from
under the adm n strative wing of
Uncle Sam far too young for mature
political judgment and stable govern
ment.
lam informed from numerous sources
both from Cubans themselves and
disinterested foreign observers of long
residence in the island-that it may be
cent of the intelligent non political
Cubans are ready again to accept
absolute American supervision of their
governmental affairs, and that nearly
100 per cent would welcome this if
Leonard Wood were the man appointed
to take the helm.
Wood the Idol of Cuba
Wood is the idol of Cuba. Every
where the election embroglio or finan
cial muddle is talked of the opinion. is
openly ard frankly expressed that
Cuba's present embarrassment could
not have been possib e under Leonard
Wood. The fairness and honesty with
which ha rulnd .N,,ho ro, - ~..-
are lauded in contrast to the tradi-
tional faults of tropic politics. which
have brought TO Cuba seething po-
litical intrigue. financial irresponsi
bility, pecu'ation, inflated values and
political and economic chaos
Cuba has two political PARTIES Con-
servatives and Liberals. The fire
works started last spring when bosh
parties Dsgan to figure on Presiden5ia
tim er.. The Conservatives nominated
General Montalvo and the Liberals
doomed forth with two Candidates
DR. Alfred Zayas. a scholarly LAWYER
Of the wilson type, and General Jose
Miguel Gomez. a rough and ready mi i
fary gen leman who had served one
term as President. The Cons rvatives
became panicky ard decided Montalvo
could not win: They requested his
Latin american fashion.
In the mean inc DR.. Zayas resirned
ms Liberal candidacy, leaving Gomez
tne Liberal standard bearer. Unable to
I'D themselves cf Montalvo II r
wise, the Conservatives abandoned
snelr party and formed a coalition
which they cal ed the Ligia Rationale
layas then stepped in as candidate Of
the coalition. backed by the Conserva-
yves and the national administration
OF President Menocal. Menoca : back
ing meant that Zayas was hanked bv
1ne 'uban army AMI the Rural Guard
military bodies sasd to have been ex-
tfemeiy efficient at least as part OF the
governments election machinery.
lne po!itical campaign throughout
lcund 70 marked efervescencc on the
part OF the Cuban popu ace. There
were studied efforts on both sides to
create hectic partisanship, but the
pubic did not respond. Perhaps the
greatest test was d demonstration by
5000 armed horsemen, all Iioeral ad
herents OF Gomez. rarading in Hovana.
tne stronghold Of Menocal end Zavas
Norma y political demonstration Of
this character in 'he opposition mans
town would have stirred up bloodshed,
put the acreage uavanan controlled
MS political passions and the incident
passed quietly. Other demonstrati ms
oy one side or the other in hostile
territory failed to get rise.
Election Day Qrict
Election Day in the six Cuban prov
,nces, or states, stretching the full
length OF the island from Santiaco TO
anavana was comparatively blood es 9.
sone Killings were reported That
mere were not more was perhaps. due
70 me very effective system Of terror
Ha'ion carried out by the Menocal
ss;ry and iural Guard and the hire
nngs Of Zayas. The Liberal adherents
~ 'ne way 70 cas-. the votes for
tC-n.lngsd on pzse sis)