THE CUBA REVIEW 



the rectification of the census and modifica- 

 tion of the electoral law, for the purification 

 of our political procedures. 



"It is absolutely necessary for our national 

 stabiUty that we pass the Maza y Artola 

 bill, which offers guarantees to the electors. 

 And if that is not enough, before the country 

 shall fall and be lost — by which road we 

 would all be losers — it is necessary to resort 

 to all possible means, however lamentable 

 they may be. Before the coming of an 

 American intervention provoked by such a 

 state of affiairs, I am sure that there are 

 here a sufficient number of Cubans, respect- 

 able in every way, who are decided and I 

 with them, to address the American Govern- 

 ment, asking that it pass on the elections. It 

 is sad, very sad, to have to reach this con- 

 clusion, but it is sadder stiU to see fraud 

 converted into a triumphal electoral arm in 

 Cuba, after so many sacrifices have been 

 made on the fields of battle to win our politi- 

 cal liberty." 



HAVANA STRIKE 



The Confederated Harbor Unions of 

 Havana, comprising stevedores, firemen, 

 sailors, launch operators warehouse em- 

 ployes, and all dock workers, went on a strike 

 Monday, November 4th, in an effort to en- 



force demands for increased wages, recogni- 

 tion of their union, and a half hoUday on 

 Saturdays. The strike of the harbor unions 

 completely tied up shipping in Havana 

 harbor for more than a week, and hghtering 

 and stevedoring was effected by convicts 

 guarded by soldiers. The leaders of the 

 strike were placed under arrest on the charge 

 of preventing men from returning to work 

 by coercion. The labor leaders, nine in 

 number, were sentenced to 80 days in prison. 

 This action brought about a general sympathe- 

 tic strike, which virtually paralyzed the city's 

 industries and traffic. President Menocal, 

 on November 13th, pardoned these leaders 

 and the release of the men removed the cause 

 of the sympathetic strike which was at 

 once called off. President Menocal acted 

 as mediator in the matter of difficulties be- 

 tween the Harbor Workers and the Shipping 

 Interests. Through the efforts of the Ar- 

 bitration Commission, a settlement was 

 reached on November 17th, which granted 

 recognition of the union through delegates 

 under rules to be arranged within fifteen 

 days. The agreement grants 20 per cent, 

 increase in wages to day workers, except 

 on Saturdays, when double time will be paid 

 after 11 o'clock, and 10 per cent, extra for 

 night work. The eight hour day continues 

 as before the srike. 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



October 17th, 1918. 



Congress.— -In our last letter we mentioned that it was reported a call would be issued 

 for an extra session of Congress soon, to vote on an appropriation understood to be of $2,000,000, 

 in connection with the expenses of bringing immigrants to Cuba to work during the coming 

 sugar crop. This extra session, however, has never been consimimated and this question is still 

 being held in abeyance, some of the newspapers expressing the opinion that the subject will 

 never come up for a vote. 



Spanish Influenza.— -Cuba is undergoing an epidemic of Spanish Influenza, dating 

 from early in September, when a Spanish steamer arrived with many cases on board. In 

 Camaguey the disease has been quite mahgnant, the number of cases running up into the 

 thousands and with a large number of deaths. In Havana, however, the influenza is of a very 

 mild form and comparatively few fataUties have been reported. 



Tenth of October Celebration.— October 10th marked the fiftieth anniversary of 

 what is known as the "Grito de Yara" which inaugurated what is called the Ten Years' War, 

 being one of the various wars of independence waged by the Cubans against the Spaniards. 

 Heretofore, the parades on Cuba national holidays have been composed entirely of Cuban ele- 

 ments, but this year, as Cuba is one of the Allies, it was decided to have representatives in the 

 parade from as many of the other allied nations as possible and it was so arranged. The Ameri- 

 can and British colonies in Havana naturally were the most heavily represented of the Allies. 

 Representatives of other nations participating were France, Italy, Belgium, China, Japan, 

 Syria, etc. 



