The New York herald., 1922-03-05
TYRANNY OF SUGAR
HOLDS CUBA in GRIP
Islands Distress Laid to
Fact 1t Is 'One-Indus-
try Country
SOLVENCY DISCERNIBLE
F. M. Steinhart, Havana FL
nancier, Gives Views
to The Herald
POLITICS BIG PROBLEM
Task That Gen. CrowdcrFound
and How He Is Accom-
plishing 1t.
POLITICS BIG PROBLEM

Special Correspondence TO THE New. YORK
| HERALD.
| Copyright, 1922, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
HAVANA, Cuba, March ALI that has
! been said and written of Cuba's fall
from the skies of prosperity to the
uttermost pit of insolvent despair was
collected into one easily comprehended
sentence last week by Frank M. Stein
| hart, head of the Havana Street Rail-
ways and probably the leading finan-
| cier of Cuba. He said to the corre-
spondent OF THE NEW YORK HERALD:
when Cuba ceases to be q one in
dustry country, when she has cmanci-
pated herself from the tyranny of
sugar, she will have reached an eco
nomc position whereon she may build
for permanent solvency."
Naturally there is no way Of antici-
pating the final and comprehensive re-
port that Washington will receive from
Gen. Enoch III. Crowder when he has
completed his job OF dragging Cuba
out OF the aforesaid pit and making
her capable of standing upright with
out crutches. But the chances are
! good that at least the spirit Of Mr..
Steinharts statement will be seen
rambling through the Generals type
written pages.
1t will be some time before such re-
port will be made. The nearest ap-
proach Cuba has made toward con-
sciousness has been the tremors of an
eyelid now and then when Gen. Crow
der's financial experts have announced
the reorganization OF a bank or the
discovery OF a way out of another
banks difficulties. But, to be quite
candid. these signs of life have been
nothing more than tremors. Resusci-
tation is a long way Off. And this,
your correspondent is assured, despite
the optimism Of such capable and in
formed men as Charles T.. Mitchell,
president OF the National City Bank
of New York
Inasmuch as Gen. Crowder's work Is
turn to Eere is summary of why
Washington sent him. what he found
and what he has done. The tale is
romantic. The political side of the
situation vas most remarkable. In
asmuch IS the economic landslide. due
to the break in tLe sugar market is
more or less familiar subject. let us
consider Cuban politics about the time
Gen. Crowder arrived in Havana.
Lead Two Revolutions.
Back in 1920 the Conservatives
nominated Gen. Rafael Montalvo for
the Presidency. The Liberals desig-
mated former President Jose Miguel
Gomez. II was as certain as the pres
ence of the sun that Montalvo would
he beaten by Gomez and President
Menocal let 1t be known that he was
ready to make any political sacrifice
rather than be succeeded by Gomez.
twice revolutionary leader and the
idol of a large part OF TIE Cuban
population. Menocal was the real
leader Of the Conservatives.
Cuba never has adopted the Mexi-
can method OF removing embarrass-
ing political rivals. Menocal was barred
from leading the Conservative ticket
forbids any one TO serve three con-
secut.ve terms in the Palace. Now
for n bit of neat maneuvering.
Gomez lad defeated Alfredo Zayas
for tho Liberal nomination. Why not,
reasoned Menocal. place Zayas ut the
head of a coalition ticket? Zayas had
been the leader of the Liberal party
for twenty years. Down here they
call him the William Jennings Bryan
OF Cuban politics because of his peren-
NAL candidacy for the Presidency. He
agreed to lead TIE combine against
Gomez and In America his succession
to Montalvo as a candidate may be
understood by considering that the
Republicans in 1916 had chosen Mr..
Bryan to defeat Woodrow Wilson.
The election came on and when the
riot was over both sides claimed vic
tory. Gen. Crowder arrived in Havana
two months after the election. There
were thousands of electoral contests
pending. The courts were imperative.
The Liberals were insisting upon new
elections. threatening revolution as an
/ alternative. The country was pros
/ trate beneath the moratorium declared
4 BY Menocal. Congress had struck. re-
! fusing to convene, and Menocal was
4 threatening not to extend the mora
torium and telling the inactive Con-
gress that upon its head would be the
responsibility of the chaos should he
cling TO his threat.
U. =. Supervision Sought.
/ Gomez demanded that Gen. Crowdef
declare the elections null and void
and that the United States supervise
new ones. Gen. Crowder told all Cuba
that this was the time for the coun-
try TO prove its ability TO govern it,
self Tnis nnd certain practical urg-
ings moved the courts to action. New
elections in contested districts were
ordered. but the Liberals under Gomez
boycottsd the polls except IN those
districts where they knew their ma.
ioritics would be overwhelming.
Despite Gomez the new elections
were held and Zayas was declared
elected. ~ revenge the Migueistas
tho Gomez Libcrals) threatened tht
continuation OF the legislative boy.
colt. No Mlguelista would occupy his