THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1907. CUBA AND AMERICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8408, 24 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1907. CUBA AND AMERICA.

According to a leading American paper, there is a strong probability that the rich island of Cuba, now for the second time under American government, will become a permanent possession of the United States within the next twelve months. This is despite the fact that new elections are to take place at the beginning of June for an independent and fully equipped Government, managed by Cubans alone, and that President Roosevelt has personally pledged himself to see that so soon as it is firmly established the United States will withdraw from the island as completely as it did after the war with Spain. Since that war Cuba has been a source of considerable trouble to the States, and it might be thought that the inability of the Cuban people to maintain a settled Government of their own had been sufficiently proved. Every opportunity will now be given them, it is said, to demonstrate the contrary, but members of Congress and others who know most about the affairs of Cuba tiro stated to have little confidence that the experiment will prove successful. The elections for the new Government will be supervised by the United States to ensure that they are fairly conducted, and that everyone shall have a ehafcce to register his vote. Then, when a Cuban Government is formed, which should be possible by the first days of July, the American troops will be withdrawn, and the island left to its own devices. But should foreign trouble or internal bloodshed be precipitated by the new Cuban powers, it will be considered that sufficient justification has been afforded for the country's uneomli-

tional annexation, once for all. With the violent animosities between parties that exist in Cuba, it is thought that the necessity for this step will in all probability very soon arise. A large number of the Cubans themselves, it is said, would welcome permanent American government for the peace and development of industries which it would bring. The possible limits of that development are not easy to foresee. The island is enormously rich to-day, [ and might be made much more so under a stable Government.

TO-DAY'S ELECTIONS,

The number of votes recorded at the polling booths in connection with the Municipal elections, which are to be held to-day, will be some criterion of the interest taken in civic affairs by the burgesses of Masterton. We trust that the polling will be heavy, and thus demonstrate that the apparent apathy of Masterton citizens as to the welfare of the town is not so real as there is some reason to fear is the case. The recording of their votes is a duty which the burgesses should discharge; it is a duty that I they owe to their fellow citizens, to themselves and to the town generally. The importance of Municipal . elections is, of course, very consider- J able, for the decision of the electors commits them to entrusting, practically, all questions appertaining to the welfare of the town to a handful of men for a period of two years, with the exception, of course, of the Mayoral seat. A very great deal of beneficial work may be accomplished by a Borough -Council composed of progressive members within a period of two years, and, on the other hand, the progress of the town may be much impeded, if not injured, by a body of men who do not appreciate their responsibilities and opportunities at their true value. Thus it is very clear that the burgess, who casts his or her vote, should not allow personal motives or sympathy to weigh in the act, but that vote shoul'j be cast a3 it is thought will be to the best advantage of the whole community. T 0 make individual comparisons between the candidates, who are offering themselves for election, at this late hour, would be invidious and unfair, but we may say, without prejudicing the claim of any particular candidate, that there are business meq in this town whose private interests demand a great deal of ability and attention, and who are yet sufficiently patriotic to the community in which they live to devote a large amount of time, and to put themselves to inconvenience, and possibly personal loss, in order to give the burgesses the benefit of their services. Such men are to be respected and admired. In the past they have shown their zeal and ability, and the burgesses who do not vote for them to-day are both short-sighted and ungrateful.