General elections for president

senatorial electors, representatives, and provincial governors and counsellors were held Dec. 31, 1901, and a president, vice-president, and the senators were duly elected Feb. 24, 1902, Thomas Estrada Palma becoming the first president. On May 20, 1902, when the republic of Cuba formally came into existence, the territory was turned over to President Palma by Governor-General 2 Wood, the Cuban fiag raised and saluted, and the American army withdrawn from the island. After much opposition a treaty was arranged between the United States and Cuba giving the products of each preferential advantages. The island apparently entered on an era of prosperity, but in 1906 an insurrection against President Palma’s government forced the United States to intervene under the provisions of the Platt amendment, and establish a provisional government under Chas.