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Show HETION IN i OJBATODAYj Police and Troops Guard Polls to Suppress Factional Fac-tional Fights. Havnna, Nov. 1 The general election, elec-tion, on wh'ch the fate of the Cuban independence Is believed to depend, opened auspiciously. Despite tho almost al-most unanimous predictions thut the event would be marked by nationwide nation-wide disorders, tho hope Is now rls-ng rls-ng that whatever the rest-It may bo. the registering of the popular vote will be effected In exemplary order. Tho voting began at fi o'clock and will continue until sundown. Many voters awaited the openinc of the polls to oast their ballots, and these wero compelled to disperse after-1 wards by polico and troops. Throughout the city during the morning there was complete tranquility tran-quility This is Iargeh div ti the extensive military precautions tnken , and to tho realization in all quarters i that the occurrence of sorlous fnctlon-' al disorders would almost certainly , result in the downfall of the rcpub-1 He. I Another factor working for peace is the realization by both parties that j their opponents are fully armed and prepared for a fight at a moment's notice, as was shown by the battle on the Prndo a week ago. The approaches to every polling place In Havana were guarded by strong detachments of Infantry and artillery men, who stood on sentry duty with fixed bayonets, challenging challeng-ing all comers and not permitting anv-hody anv-hody except voters to pass, nnd these only singlv. All the stdeets, too, were patrolled by squads of cavalrv and Infantry, and tho main bodies of troops were hold in reserve ready to rally on the first alarm. " For tho first time in the history ot Cuba the sale of alcoholic liquors ! was prohibited, all bars and cafes be- ing closed b.v presidential decree. Another decree prohibited the car-1 rylng of arms of any kind, oeu Hip lightest walking canes being includ-1 ed. Reports from the interior show order or-der has been maintained. The total number of registered voters is 028,-ooC, 028,-ooC, of whom it Is thought probably only 70 per cent Avill go to the polls. |