The New York herald., 1921-01-14
DANGER TO CUBA
SEEN BY CROWDER
Failure Of Electoral Board and
Courts to Function the
CanSe.
FEARS TOTAL PARALYSIS
Crisis Due Next April Unless
Contested Elections Are Set
tied Quickly and Fairly.

HAVANA, Jan. 13.--Major- Gen. Enoch
H. Crowder. special representative Of
President Wilson for investigating con-
ditions in Cuba. in a statement given out
tonight, after referring to the failure
of the electoral board and courts to
function within the prescribed limit, de-
clared:
IF these agencies continue to fail.
Cuba in due course of time will be con-
fronted with ad interim provincial and
national administration, and. after the
first Monday in April next with total
paralysis of the legislative power"
Gen. Crowder until tonight has main
tanned absolute silence ever since his
arrival here on the cruiser Minnesota
week ago. His statement, which sets
forth what has been accomplished thus
Tar. at the instance OF the President"
said:
'aThe electoral boards have functioned
and posted their provisional returns.
What Is lacking Is the action OF the
Cuban judiciary on the contested cleo
tion cases. of which there are great
number. involving practically all OF the
colleges OF Oriente and Matanzas and
Clara. including whole municipal dis
tricts, and a smaller number of colleges
in other provinces.
What has been accomplished thus
far at the instance of the President Is
the patriotic cooperation of the Supreme
Court and Central Electoral Board In
the issue of proper instructions and regu-
lations. and the patriotic cooperation Of
political parties in the waving of GER
tain provisions of the legal procedure
of Cuba, all of which means a most ex-
peditious procedure for the courts in de-
Gliding these numerous appealed cases
THE electoral code of Cuba makes a
special appeal to the judiciary of Cuba
in such a situation as now exists. II
should be the attitude of every one to
assume that the Cuban courts will meet
that situation and discharge their full
, responsibility. They have the manda-
tory duty of decreeing the nulity of the
elections In any college or colleges for
any of the causes mentioned in Article
242 of said code, and the authority to
invalidate elections for other causes
where 1t shall be established by proper
proof that there has been suppression of
the vote or a failure of the scrutiny and
canvass through intimidation, force or
fraud. or other causes.
to remind all the contestants that the
law as drawn gives them an ample
remedy. and to express my belief that
the courts will be courageous and fair
In the application of the law to the
several appeals which have been taken.
and, OF course. this means courage to
grant an appeal, and as we'll the cour-
age to deny one; in other words, fair
ness to both parties.
"The courts will not be at all OBJ
structed by technicalities. Under ex-
press provision of law defects of form
no longer operate to exclude from the
consideration of the courts relevant facts
which are offered for their considera-
ton. The evidence Is to be admitted
and It's probative value left to the de-
termination of the courts
Having taken this distinct step for
ward, we must now await the results
before the six audlencias and the Su-
preme Court Meanwhile 1 shall give
my attention to other matters connected
with my mission to Cuba"