| Show declaration of independence pen dence has been s issued isea york vox 15 A cable dispatch from havana says hat the residents of isle of alnea have issued a declaration 0 their independence from cuba and organized a now government as a united states territory A delegate to congress will toe sent to washington in order to have questions affecting the future of the island als before the bouse of representatives ignoring cuban authority mass meetings were held under the name of territorial conventions and official were appointed to fill all positions except those that must be named by the president under the constitution of the united states the first officers of the new territory are T B anderson secretary of state james SI steere treasurer ed C ryan delegate to congress A T arlese chief justice david D wall the convention divided the island into live districts abid ordered elections to be held tuesday to select members 0 the legislature which Is to convene boxt boek tax assessors and collectors lec tors one ticket WAS named in each district the only political question being to keep tho island under th stars and stripes the election Is proceeding in an orderly manner ua der the forms of law the men on abo different tickets announcing that they will take office immediately without regard to chobo serving under the cuban government first official notice of the affair is contained in this letter nueva gerona isle of pines nov 11 1305 mr theodore roosevelt president washington dear sir the people of this island having purchased homes under the treaty of paris believing it was united states territory and having waited three years for recognition of their rights as american citizens fearing a continuation of conditions and feeling alarm at the condition of cuba during the coming election have taken preliminary steps for the establish ment of a territorial government under 1 the constitution of tho united stales believing this the proper step tor us to take and he most effective way to re belvo justice and equity from our national lawmaking law making body also relying upon ou our president for a square deal ve trust our will your approval yours respectfully signed T n anderson chairman territorial convention at tho meeting there WAS only one voice raised against the action taken that was by a man who expressed fear of the results asserting that all are liable to punishment under cuban laws fully oue thard of those now living ou tho island aro american citizens about half abo natives alvo in tho little town of nueva gerona their inclination cli is said to bo to have the island belong to tho united states this movement to sever relations ath cuba was fomented by the american club sixty members ot the club met last week declared themselves a territorial convention and took steps to organise org anise a government A recess was taken until saturday more than two hundred persons gath cred at aneva gerona united states secretary of state ellam root general leonard wood and others concerned in having the cuban banner raised were denounced it was decided to have a legislature of eleven men two from each district and one delegate at W dr Ranil dall to nomination for that of ce fit waa like an old style southern mass meeting all enthusiasm said S H pearcy to yesterday mr pearcy is vice president of the isle of pines company which controls acres out ot a total of about on tha island we are fighting for justice bo continued wood sold us out lock stock and barrel for two coaling stations after he had been assured tho island would be retained by the united states cubas only interest in the island Is 0 o afford snug berths for a few officials there are about twelve on the ill by car pet as no native has one the cuban government has spent nothing and collects col lecta the taxes personally I 1 hava just loat as flour and other merchandise which I 1 brought from mobile has passed through a warehouse without i booti and 1 protect the goods from rain they have refused to repair the dock or roads we claim rights which were guaranteed us we haye set up an american territory and purpose to maintain that status any person who has in bis blood any of the displayed by those in the boston tea party will sympathize with us in our effort for freedom |
