THE CUBA REVIEW 9 
HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 
March 26, 1921. 
PRESIDENT MENOCAL TO TAKE VACATION: Rumor has it that President Meno- 
cal, upon his retirement from the Presidency of Cuba, will take an extended vacation 
in Europe, visiting first the United States, where he will pass several months, and 
proceeding from there to France and Italy. It will be remembered that President 
Menocal has been in control of Government affairs in Cuba during eight years of 
very trying times and a long rest of the nature outlined above is necessary for him 
to recuperate from the strains of the many complications which arose during his 
administration. 
BY-ELECTIONS HELD ON MARCH IDTH: On March 15th the partial elections 
which were scheduled for March 10th took place and an overwhelming majority of 
the votes were cast in favor of Dr. Alfredo Zayas, who was the candidate of the 
National League for the Presidency. There are yet to be held partial elections in 
Oriente Province, but it is generally conceded that no matter which way these elec- 
tions might go it will not materially affect the ultimate outcome, since Dr. Zayas has 
a sufficient margin to afford to lose completely these coming partial elections and yet 
remain the popular choice of the Cuban people for the Presidency. 
Much was said prior to these last elections concerning possible disorders while 
they were being held, but no outbreaks or reports were heard of any disorders any- 
where on the Island. The Liberals, who were opposed to Dr. Zayas and the Nationzal 
League party, issued a proclamation several days prior to March 15th, calling on 
the Liberal voters to remain away from the polls on election day as a demonstration 
against what they deemed to be unfair measures which were to be adopted by Presi- 
dent Menocal regarding the elections. The results of the elections would indicate 
that this proclamation was strictly adhered to, since a very small Liberal vote was 
east. Subsequent to the elections, rumor had it that the Liberal members of the 
Senate and House of Representatives would refuse to meet prior to May 20th to 
declare a new President of the Republic elected, but this resistance seems to have 
lessened and it is now generally understood that a reconciliation between the two 
parties is about to be effected. That Dr. Alfredo Zayas has been legally elected is 
beyond doubt and that he will serve the next four years is assured. 
SUGAR: The price of sugar, under the administration of the Sugar Commission, 
has recovered somewhat and those interested in its production have hopes that this 
year will yet prove slightly profitable and not show the tremendous loss that it was 
estimated would be shown for the 1920-1921 crop. 
There are today about 95 per cent. of the centrals on the Island grinding, but 
the production of sugars to date is only about one-half what it was at this time 
last year. This same proportion holds for the amount of sugars exported, some 
653,629 tons, whereas last year at this time there had been taken from the Island 
about 1,280,000 tons. 
Quite out of the season also, it would appear, are the rains that have retarded 
the grinding season this year. In the Guantanamo Valley, where the yield has 
usualiy been very good, we find that the twelve centrals located in this rich district 
have a production this year of about 50 per cent. of last year’s crop and the sugar 
content of the cane is considerably lower, due, we understand, to the excess of rain 
this year as against other grinding seasons. 
Strange as it may seem, it is a fact that large numbers of Spanish laborers are 
returning to Spain now and at the same time the Eastern Provinces of the Island 
are complaining about the scarcity of labor. ‘The reason seems te be in the price 
offered for labor this year as against that offered last. Then, too, many of the 
laborers have been intimidated about engaging themselves to the centrals on the 
Hastern end of the Island, by persistent rumors of the prevalence of typhoid fever 
