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Show TUFT TAKES OVER CUBAN REPUBLIC Secretary of War Issues Proclamation Proc-lamation Declaring Himself Head of Government President Palma Expresses Relief at Shifting the Burden of Guiding the Tempestuous Republic, While the Masses are Utterly Indifferent . Havana. With far less ostcntntlon than accompanies tho accession of n government of Cuba was formally takon over on Saturday by William H. Taft, secretary of war of tho United States, who, In a proclamation clothed cloth-ed In n kindly nnd diplomatic tone, lndlcntlvo of tho policy ho would pursue, pur-sue, declared himself provisional governor of tho Island. Promptly nt noon Governor Taft, Assistant Secretary Secre-tary of Stato Uncon nnd Captain Mc-Cook, Mc-Cook, Governor Tnft's aldo-do-camp, called officially nt tho palaco nnd paid their respects to tho retiring president. presi-dent. Ignoring President Pnlma's message to congress on Friday, in which ho wrongly lntcrprotnted tho mission of tho American mcdlntors, Governor Taft spoko kindly to Senor Palmn, to whom, ho said, the peoplo of Cuba owed an unquestionable debt of gratitude. President Pnlma's brief reply was dovoted entirely to nn expression ex-pression of relief for tho opportunity of shifting tho burden of guiding tho tempestuous republic to tho representatives represen-tatives of a nation strong enough to enforco control ovor it. Tho fact that tho government has changed hands, from n position of absolute ab-solute Independence to tho restraint of a temporary protector, etc., was received re-ceived by tho masses with utter indifference. indif-ference. Most of tho refined and thoughtful Cubnns, whllo thoy feel a certain Bensatlvoncss ovor tho loss of tho Island's sovcrlgnty, nro incllnod to hope that tho United States pro-toctorato pro-toctorato will bo brief. A Cuban returning to Havana on Saturday after n brief absence would not havo recognized from tho general utltudo of tho people that tho form of government had been altored. Business Busi-ness continued tho snmo, oxcopt for the vigor oxhlbltod by tho wholcsalo merchants, manufacturers and railroads, rail-roads, to regain their former trade throughout tho Island, which hns boon nt n stnaMlBtill slnco tho beginning of tho revolution six weeks ago. |