Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07
zAyAS OUTLINES.
PLANS FOR CUBA
Proposes to Cut Army Po-
IiticaI Influence and Set =
Sugar Price.
BIZ GEORGE c. BRIGGS.


Copyright. 1890
HAVANA, November 6.-Dr. Alfredo
Zayas. lawyer, statesman. parrot. for
mer vice-presdent. and now elected
President of Cuba, and sometimes called
the William Jennings Bryan OF Cuba.
talked at length for The Star and
Daily News about vexatious. political
and economic problems that beset this
island republic and of how he will
deal with them.
DR.. Zayas apologized for his Eng
lish, saying he had learned it in Cuba
But it was excellent. This man. who
will be the next President of Cuba,
is impressive when he talks. His eyes
are black and piercing. his voice deep
and resonant
Il have had strenuous weeks" Dr.
Aayas began. MY trip through four
provinces has impressed me with the
feeling that the working people of
the country who earnestly want to
build for their own and Cuba's good
are in accord with the program OF
the national league element; that is,
the combination Of those liberals who
have not been radicals and those who
have heretofore been called conserva
tives.
Little ReA Influence.
Il have been impressed. toe. with
the discovery that we have IN Cuba
only negligible quantity Of bolshe-
vism. The few bofshevists we have
are not Cubans. either. They seem
to come mostly from the north of
Spain. 1t IS interesting to note also
that in Cuba we have no castles; there
is social equality among all classes.
1.-THE need for better transportation
facilities was borne in upon me. 1t
is in the program Of the national
league to improve and extend not
only main highways the length of the
island but to develop and maintain
with the interior and thus to de-
velop to the fullest the vast I'M
covered wealth in agricultural and
mineral resources which have not
been tapped"
DR.. Zayas said that he advocated
certain amendments to the Cuban con-
stitution to give congress greater
power to intervene in the executive
branch Of government SO the presi-
dent will be unable to WELD the lex
traordinary power" now vested in
him.
Opposes Army In Politics.
Further, he said he would strive for
greater force in the judiciary and to re-
move the army from politics or political
lnHu0OCP.
'.ro keep the army from political
influence is of utmost Importance" he
said. and, continuing the same line of
thought, added: while it is not a
part Of the party's program, it is my
opinion that We should not have a
without interruptions; that if he is
elected for second term at interval
of at least one term should inter-
vene. This would prevent opponents
OF an administration from asserting
that a president used the power of his
office to get himself reelected"
DR.. Zayas discussed the sugar situa
ton frankly in it's relation to the
financial crisis and the resultant NOR
atorium, which has led to an effort by
President Menocal- to have the United
States contract for some 81 100000
bags "a bag contains 325 pounds) re-
naming unsold of tCuba's last year
sugar crop.
Proposes Sugar Control.
"The government should and must
regulate the price Of sugar to prevent
a repetition Of this serious situation"
said DR.. Zayas. There must be SUI
pervision of this great industry The
present crisis has been brought about
by extraordinary. circumstances. Many
held sugar in the belief that the price
would go up a second time. Banks
loaned heavily to sugar planters. But
the price has not gone up and the
owner who held sugar will have to
stand a loss"
do you approve of the conduct of
Cubans who continuously complain to
the United States. about election
frauds here:' the candidate was
asked. r. -
II do not" he answered, "for it tends
to destroy the spirit of pride in our
ability to be self-governing, which is
the source and inspiration of what
ever greatness we have hope to
achieve nationally. Let me add this
thought: I was opposed. as a delegate
to the convention that drafted the Gu
ban constitution. to the Plat amend
ment (providing' for American super
vision Of Cuban laws). I feel now
that the United States should exercise
its supervision # we do not fulfill
our duty as a self-governing nation.
1t should not be supposed that the
government of the United States will
be attentive to all the small internal
troubles of Cuba. That is why criti-
else those who continually carry small
squabbles to the United States"