Jose Miguel Gomez became President and Alfredo Zayas became Vice-President of the Republic of Cuba on January 28, 1909. With a substantial majority in Congress ready to do his will, and with the immeasurable prestige of success, first over the Palma Administration and later in the contest at the polls, the President was almost all-powerful to adopt and to execute whatever designs he had, either for the assumed welfare of Cuba or for the strengthening of his own political position. He selected a Cabinet of his own supporters, as follows: Secretary of State, Senor Garcia Velez. Secretary of Justice, Senor Divino. Secretary of Government, Senor Lopez Leiva. Secretary of the Treasury, Senor Diaz de Villegas. Secretary of Public Works, Senor Chalons. Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, Senor Foyo. Secretary of Public Instruction and Arts, Senor Meza. Secretary of Sanitation and Charity, Senor Duque. Secretary to the President, Senor Damaso Pasalodos. Not many of these men had hitherto been conspicuous in the affairs of the island, in either peace or war, and their capacity for service was untried. It cannot be said that they were regarded with any large degree of enthusiastic confidence by the nation at large. Yet there was indubitably a general purpose, even among the most resolute Conservatives, to give them a fair trial and to wish them success. Men who had the welfare of Cuba at heart cherished that welfare far above any mere personal or partisan ambitions. [Illustration: JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ]