The Daily Independent

Constitutional
Government At
Stake In Cuba
Expect Resignation or Im
peachment of President
Within Next 24 Hours

LAWRENCE S. HAAS
United Press Staff Correspondent

Havana, Dec. 20.—(U.P.)—President Miguel Mariano Gomez,
whose supporters admit there
are enough votes in the national
chamber of representatives to
impeach him, is moving his
family's belongings from the
palace. It was learned tonight.

Havana, Dec. 20.—(U.P.) Resignation
or impeachment of President
Miguel Mariano Gomez within
24 hours was forecast tonight.

Riotous crowds marched through
streets shouting against the
executive and bearing slo-
(Continued on Page Five)
Constitutional Government At Stake In Cuba (Continued from Page One) Gangs supporting Col. Fulgencio Batista, army chief of staff, whose bill for a sugar tax to support military education is opposed by the president.

Police did not interfere with the demonstrators, who demanded that Gomez be impeached at the secret session of the national chamber of deputies which is to be held tomorrow evening, if he does not resign.

The president has refused to sign the bill on grounds that it would "militarize" Cuban youth.

Both houses of the legislature have approved the measure, which imposes a levy of nine cents per bag on sugar production to raise $2,500,000 annually to carry out Batista's program.

Large numbers of peasants, particularly sugar workers and farmers, approve Batista's socialization plan, which would detail army officers as school teachers.

Tension was somewhat eased today, but whether Gomez would resign or fight impeachment still was unknown.

Last night the lower house passed the tax bill, 106 to 43. The senate approved the bill earlier last week.

The issue brought into the open a long-time feud between Gomez and Batista.

Batista envisioned the establishment in 700 rural schools of an educational system in charge of army sergeants, thus building up his political following by at least 3,000 well-paid army men who would indoctrinate young Cubans with Batista's social and political philosophies.

The president has resisted Batista and insisted on separation of the military establishment from civil affairs. Thus during the present controversy Gomez has held secret conferences with politicians, and Batista has called in department military commanders for numerous meetings, giving rise to rumors that Batista might attempt a coup to overthrow Gomez.

The gravity to Cuba in the situation lies in the fact that Gomez is the first constitutionally-elected president of the republic since 1933, when Dictator Gerardo Machado was ousted by revolution.

Congressional leaders have been outspoken during the last week in fears that a new constitutional crisis might develop which would throw Cuba back to extra-constitutional government, thus tearing down the reconstruction of the last three years.