Page:EB1922 - Volume 30.djvu/827

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CUMMINGS—CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM
779


tions in Havana, which had many branches throughout the island. In order to prevent the collapse of this bank, and the extension of the panic to others, a moratorium was declared on Oct. 10 to last for 50 days. On Dec. 1 it was extended until Dec. 31, and again until the end of Jan. 1921. Just before the last date, a Congressional Act provided for the gradual lifting of the moratorium, requiring partial payments running through 105 days for ordinary commercial obligations, and 135 days for banking obligations. A law was simultaneously promulgated providing for the liquidation of insolvent banks under Government supervision ; and provision was also made for a reform in banking laws with a view to preventing a recurrence of such a condition.

Political Conditions.—The administration of President José Miguel Gómez and Vice-President Alfredo Zayas of the Liberal party continued from Jan. 28 1909 (at which time the administration of the American Provisional Government ceased) until May 20 1913. During this period there were internal troubles which threatened to assume a revolutionary character. A serious revolt of negroes in May 1912 was followed shortly afterwards by the concentration of a U.S. fleet of battleships at Key West. President Taft assured the Cuban Government that this was not due to a purpose of intervention, but to a desire to act promptly in case it became necessary to protect American life and property. By the middle of the summer the rebellion was suppressed. On Nov. 1 1912, Gen. Mario G. Menocal and Enrique Jose Varona, Conservative candidates, were elected president and vice-president, respectively, and were inaugurated on May 20 1913. The administration proved to be efficient. The Govern- ment's progressive policy was evidenced by the attention given to educational affairs, by the enactment of comprehensive health laws and by large expenditures for the development of the resources of the country and for public works. During 1015 there was considerable political activity looking toward the elections of Nov. i 1916, the Conservatives supporting Menocal for re-election while the Liberals, under the leadership of Alfredo Zayas, a former vice-president under Gomez, were trying to secure control. Menocal's reelection was declared Nov. 5, but was contested, and not until May 7 1917 was it finally proclaimed by the Cuban Congress. This contesting of the election occasioned a revolt by the Liberals under the leadership of ex-President Gomez, which assumed serious proportions; but by May 20 the revolt had subsided and Gen. Menocal took the oath of office for a second term. On April 7 1917, Cuba declared war on Germany. The president of the republic was authorized to dispose of the land and naval forces and the economic resources of the nation in whatever manner necessity required. Several revenue measures were announced, including normal and extraordinary war taxes on sugar, and taxes on net profits of mining and insurance companies. A bond issue of $13,000,000 was authorized for a war loan beginning July i. In 1918 an obligatory military service law was put in force and a Food Administration with extensive powers was established. Diplomatic relations with Germany were renewed on Oct. 27 1920. A new electoral law was passed in Aug. 1919. This new code was compiled with the assistance of Maj.-Gen. Enoch H. Crowder of the U.S. army. It was he who, while serving with the American army of occupation in Cuba, had formulated the existing laws and had supervised the first presidential election. The new law provided for recognition of all political parties and for public counting of ballots. This new law was put to the test on Nov. 1 1920, which marked the end of the most bitter political campaign since Cuban independence. Jose Miguel Gomez (1856–1921) was the Liberal candidate, and Dr. Alfredo Zayas was the candidate of the National League or Coalition party, the latter having broken away from the Liberal party and, backed by the Menocal administration, parted company with Gomez. The result of the election was doubtful. Charges of unfair practices made investigations necessary. Incorrect interpretations placed upon the new election laws brought about a complete deadlock. Early in Jan. 1921 Gen. Crowder was sent to Cuba as the personal representative of President Wilson. As a result of his interpretation, means were found for facilitating the procedure of the courts in the contested election cases, and supplementary elections were held in March. (W. R. MA.)


CUMMINGS, WILLIAM HAYMAN (1831–1915), English musician, was born at Sidbury, Devon., Aug. 22 1831, the eldest son of Edward Manley Cummings. He became a chorister at St. Paul’s cathedral and the Temple church, and was subsequently appointed organist of Waltham Abbey. Later he was appointed tenor at Westminster Abbey, the Temple church and the chapels royal, being well known for many years as an oratorio singer. From 1879 to 1896 he was professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music, and from 1896 to 1910 principal of the Guildhall School of Music. In 1900 he received the degree of Mus. Doc. from Dublin University. Cummings was the author of many works on music, including Lives of Purcell (1881) and Handel (1904), and The Origin and History ofGod Save the King” (1902). He was also an authority on ancient music, and left a fine collection of old MSS. and early editions. He died at Dulwich June 6 1915.

CUMMINS, ALBERT BAIRD (1850–), American politician, was born at Carmichaels, Pa., Feb. 15 1850. After leaving Waynesburg (Pa.) College he studied surveying and became assistant chief engineer for a railway. He next studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and for three years practised in Chicago. In 1878 he went to Des Moines and ten years later was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives. He was chairman of the Republican State Committee (1802, 1896), candidate for the U.S. Senate (1894, 1900), member of the Republican National Committee (1896, 1900), and a delegate to the Republican National Convention on four occasions. He was elected governor of Iowa in 1902 and reelected for two succeeding terms. He filled the unexpired term of Senator Allison in 1908, and was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 1909 and 1915. He opposed the nomination of Mr. Taft in 1912, but did not bolt his party. He was specially identified with measures concerning trusts and railways, and had a leading part in drafting the so-called Esch-Cummins bill under which the Government in 1920 handed back to private control the railways of the United States.

CUNLIFFE, WALTER, 1st Baron (1855–1920), English banker, was born in London Dec. 4 1855, the son of Roger Cunliffe, a banker of the City of London. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and entered upon his banking career in the City in 1880, establishing ten years later the merchant banking business of Cunliffe Bros. He became a director of the Bank of England in 1895, was elected deputy-governor in 1911 and governor in 1913. He was, therefore, in office as governor when the World War broke out, and, after being raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Cunliffe of Headley in Dec. 1914, he was continued as such by successive re-elections until 1918, a longer period than had ever been served before. During the whole of this period the deputy-governor was Mr. Brien Cokayne, who was knighted in 1917, and who, after succeeding Lord Cunliffe as governor, was created Lord Cullen of Ashbourne on his retirement in 1920. Lord Cunliffe was associated with the working out of all the chief financial problems during the war, and in 1917 accompanied Mr. Balfour on his financial mission to the United States. He died suddenly at Epsom Jan. 6 1920.

CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM (1849–1919), English economist (see 7.633), died at Cambridge June 10 1919.

CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM, ROBERT BONTINE (1852–), British author and traveller, was born in 1852, the son of William Cunninghame-Graham Bontine of Ardoch and Gartmore, and was educated at Harrow. He sat in the House of Commons for North Lanarkshire from 1886 to 1892, and during this period became known as an extreme Socialist, taking part with H. M. Hyndman and others in Socialist meetings and processions in London to demand work for the unemployed. He travelled much in North Africa, Mexico and South America, and wrote a number of short stories and vivid studies of life in those regions. Among his books may be mentioned Mogreb-el-Acksa: a Journey in Morocco (1898); The Ipane (1899); A Vanished Arcadia (1901); Faith (1909); Hope (1910); Charity (1912); A Life of Bernal Diaz del Castillo (1915); A Brazilian