Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1906 — PALMA FIXES A LIMIT [ARTICLE]

PALMA FIXES A LIMIT

If New General Elections in Cuba Are Ordered He Will Step Down and Out. TAFT’S PARLEYS HAVE BEGUN - He Talks with the President and Also with Rebels. - Expec ;To Tie Ten Days at the Job— Conference Held Only Three Miles from the Keb Lines. Havana, Sept. 20.—The presidents of both the Moderate and the Liberal parties have submitted to Secretary of War Taft and Assistant Secretary of State Bacon, representing President Roosevelt, their respective statements of the facts leading up to the revolution and the conduct of belligerents. Each of the presidents will also present a written statement of the terms they are willing to agree to in the interest of peace. General Menocal, reprsenting the veterans, also related to Secretaries Taft and Bacon the efforts he has made in the line of peace and the difficulties he has encountered, and gave his opinion ns to what courses hold any promise of an amicable settlement. Isle of Pines Men Snubbed. A committee of citizens of the United States living on the Isle of Pines also appeared, but got little satisfaction, their attorney simply presenting a statement of their grievances, which was not taken up The hearing began at the home of Minister Morgan, in the village of Marianno, which it so happens Is only three miles from the most advanced of the Insurgent forces —that of Colonel Baldomero Acosta, which is encamped in the vicinity of Arroya Arenas. Secretary Taft informed Vice President Mendez Capote, Senntor Alfredo Zayas ai\d General Menocal that these conferences would be purely preliminary and all would be beard again. Taft Well Pleased So Par. After the hearings Secretary Taft said to the Associated Press that he had just begun his work, and that it was evident that the mission upon which lie came would require more time than he had anticipated before ltis arrival. He intimated than ten days would lie required to complete his errand. He was pleased that representatives of every faction had visited the agents of President Boosevolt, which he .considered augured well for the success of the" mission, which lie desired it to he understood was purely mediatory. PALMA HAS AN ULTIMATUM Will Resign if New General Elections Are Ordered. iMiring Secretary Taft's visit to President Palma the latter spoke freely of the situation aud the future possibilities, adding that in the contingency of a general election being ordered he would not feel that it would he consistent in him to continue in office as president in short that in that event lie would resign. No member of file government. President Palma said, would be willing to concede the proposition for a general election under any circumstances. Following lbs visit to President Palma Secretary Taft hoarded the cruiser Denver. He found there Senator Zayas awaiting him under a prenrraugement with Commander Colwell, and thus cordial relations were established both with the palace and with the revolutionists. Representative Gov in, Liberal Nationalist, after a conference with President Palma, said in part: ’’Senator Zayas asks altogether too much in expecting the release of Indicted conspirators before any agreement is reached. The Liberals ought to l*e willing to include this release as one of the bases of a peace settlement. Seuor Zayas and other Liberals who are members of <-ongress helped to pass the laws of the last session, but seemed.to discover most of their allegations only after Congressman Guerra had taken to the w oods. Gonzalez Perez, who served as congressman, has discovered that he is an American citizen now in order to l>e released from prison.” .Senor Govln said further tlmt the government was ready to grant municipal and new election laws with protection of the minority’s rights. He said also that since the rebels would not recede an inch It would l>e necessary for the United States to bock the established government, which never Avon Id concede new elections, for if that point wns conceded every South American republic would before long bo confronted with similar demands. ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE ENVOYS No Demonstrations Are Made—Some Notea of the War. The Des Moines arrived in Havana Itnrbor, bearing Secretary Taft, and party, at 7 a. m. At 8:30 the Cuban secretary df state,United States Charge d’Affalres Sleeper and an Associated Press representative boarded the Des Moines, and Secretary of State O’Farrll! had a long informal talk with Taft and, Bacon. About 10 a. m. the entire party landed and visited President Palma. As the party landed the mayor and councilmen of Havana appeared and formally welcomed Taft and Bacon to Cuba This was the only formal

welcome that was received. There were no cheers or other demonstrations. The conditions in the field are quiet, although the situation at Cienfuegos is threatening. General Rodriguez said that rural guards and miljtla are patrolling the entire outskirts and suburbs of Havana. One thousand militia from Matanzas has been removed from the Cabanas fortress to Canip Columbia. The first overt act by revolutionists in eastern Cuba was committed when fifty mounted men under Captain Vicente Costa and Lieutenant Francisco Salmon, entered the town of Firmeza, twenty miles east of Santiago, where the Juragua iron mines are located. They presented to Superintendent of Mines Whittaker a document bearing the alleged signature of General Hierezuelo demanding the delivery of two cases of dynamite and two blasting batteries. The superintendent refused to deliver the goods. The insurgents thereupon forcibly seized the explosives and the batteries, one mule and other supplies, giving their receipt therefor. It Is stated that General Asbert, one of the insurgent leaders, has sent a letter to President Roosevelt giving his reasons for the revolution, and adding that if the president docs not agree to a new general election supervised by a United States commission the revolutionists will continue the war. The letter is alleged to say that the insurgents do not fear the United States army, and that the Liberals could raise an army of 20.000 men.