A report of an interview which a representative of the Associated
Press had with President Menocal, as published in the Diario de la Marina of October 28th and
English translation thereof appearing in the Havana Post of the same date, are enclosed
herewith.48
[Enclosure—Translation49]
Statement Issued by President Menocal to the Cuban People, October 28, 1920
To the People of
Cuba:
As November first approaches, which is the date set by the
Electoral Code for the general elections to take place through
the free vote of the citizens for the most important posts of
the public administration in the Republic, I deem it my duty to
make a new address to all those who are to exercise this
important duty, upon the conscientious fulfillment of which
depends, perhaps, the future of our country.
In my address of August 29 last, I pointed out how ably and
effectively the new Code assures broad guarantees to the voter,
it being the work of commissions formed by Congressmen of the
two great national parties, efficiently advised by the noted
American lawyer who also worked on the previous Code of
1908.
I took special care to call attention to the fact that the new
Code has exempted the Government from all intervention in the
elections. “To the Electoral Boards and Supreme Courts of
Justice,” I said in the above-mentioned address, “belongs then,
exclusively, without any restrictions whatsoever, the control
and direction of the elections. I should, however, like to call
the attention of the Cuban people to those dispositions of the
new Code, so that all citizens may thoroughly comprehend, if
they have not understood it already, their obligation to
exercise with vigor, integrity, and devotion the duties and
recourses the Code affords, surrounding them with such valuable
guarantees of efficiency and independence. With the attributes
and rights go the corresponding duties and responsibilities. It
is not prudent or dignified to accuse others of faults to which
in many cases you yourself may be subject. The citizen who
possesses the full resources established by our Code to guard
and defend his rights, and does not make use of them, shows that
he does not know how to appreciate them, or does not deserve
them.”
These considerations were not overlooked. Very seldom have
electoral groups, and still less the political organizations
that aim to direct them, shown more activity, discipline and
devotion during the preparatory period that now comes to an end.
There has been some cause for complaint, harsh words and threats
have been uttered, but the fact is indisputable that the
opposition parties have competed with the governmental forces in
the work of propaganda and of organization all over the country,
making their preparation methodically. They are all pleased with
this work, and feel so sure
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that they will not be cheated of the fruits
of their labors, that with keen expectation they see the laurels
of victory. Whatever the result is, such activity shows that all
are far from considering themselves victims of offense,
injustice or arbitrariness, as is sometimes claimed by publicity
agents who figure that by such means they can better excite the
feelings of their followers or win the favor and even the
cooperation of foreign protection, to whose intermeddling no
conscientious citizen should look forward if he is aware of his
sacred duties.
Political passion has reached lamentable extremes, only in fewer
cases than in previous campaigns, and it can be safely assured
that most of the citizens are to be commended on the orderly way
in which they have gone about the preparatory propaganda work as
outlined by the legislators. It has not been necessary, as it
has been unjustly claimed, to appoint military supervisors for
certain places in larger numbers than on other occasions, and
those supervisors have acted, almost without exception, with all
due prudence and justice, as was expected from them without
cause for legitimate complaints, no matter how hard some might
try to make them. Military supervisors have always been needed
where the local police force has been too small or notoriously
partial, and therefore insufficient to lend the citizens the
needed protection for their tranquillity and public protection.
The party now in power has not created such supervisors; the law
authorizes them, and previous governments have appealed to them
whenever they were deemed necessary. I can guarantee that the
supervisors in care of such delicate duties will protect all
alike, and will respect everybody’s rights in the maintenance of
public order.
Now comes the deciding period in which the elections are to be
performed. The polls have been organized by the Electoral Boards
with all the minor precautions ordered by the Electoral Code;
the polls have been designated, as well as the places in which
they will be located, with all the personnel and material
required. All these details have been duly advertised so that
everyone may be informed as to where and how they may vote, and
it is now up to them to perform their duties as their conscience
dictates without any hesitation and with firmness. It should be
noticed that the Code had fully explained all acts to be
performed by voters, offering them full guarantees for their
safety and independence and for the secrecy of the vote.
The public forces will be near enough to protect the voter if
asked to do so by the presiding member of the poll, and also far
enough
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to make any
coercion of a voter impossible. Each voter will have the member
designated by his own party or by the law to watch for the exact
fulfillment of the legal mandate. And in the improbable instance
that through omission, bad faith or carelessness, such mandate
should not be protected, chapter 13 of the Code—perhaps the most
important innovation of the Code—provides quick ways, unused so
far, authorizing the national courts to adjust all complaints,
conferring full power to investigate and decide them and even to
declare void the elections in any college, or colleges, without
need of further proof when such complaints are properly backed
or justified through documents or by means of sworn statements
to show fraud or infractions, as shown by article 242 of the
same Code, which comprises every case that may arise.
The voters should see that all duties are performed as prescribed
by the law, such as the calling out of the number of votes
recorded every two hours by the president of the poll, and this
can be enforced by the overseers of each contending party; and
the voter should also see to it that voting is called off at 3
o’clock in order to give ample time for counting to be finished
by 6 o’clock in the smaller places and before midnight in the
larger ones, and the voter should also watch the strict
observance of the dispositions that order the issuing of
certificates and the publicity of the counts.
The Central Electoral Board, as well as the provincial and
municipal ones, are devoted to maintain a careful watch that the
execution of all the dispositions of the Code are carried out to
the letter. Voters can and should call on them for anything
concerning the exercise of their rights and the correct
application of the Code.
The Government has other duties to fulfill, and I will see to it
that it acts with all exactness and impartiality. I have given
out instructions to have the mail, telegraph and telephone
services render the most efficient service, so as to make use of
them all for information, news, complaints and any other data
that may be needed by the authorities, electoral boards,
parties, candidates or individuals. The Army is at the
disposition of the Central Electoral Board, and, as ordered by
the Code, will tender equal protection. I impose upon myself the
duty of assuring all citizens, making no exceptions of persons
or parties, the necessary guarantees to make the coming
elections, as far as possible, the true expression of the
national will.
President’s
Palace, Habana, October 28,
1920.
M. G.
Menocal
