During the Cuban War of Independence, Masó became the elected president of the House of Representatives, run by the revolutionaries.  As a civilian, his power was limited, especially compared to the revolutionary generals.

In October of 1895 the military command under Gómez decided to begin fighting in the west and close to Cienfuegos.  This meant that the Cubans would have to begin to fight more conventionally.  Masó opposed breaking with the guerilla war strategy, but it happened anyway and proved to be successful.

Masó was elected President in September of 1897.  Most of the Cuban Government was uninvolved in the revolutionary struggle and hoped to get the United States to intervene against Spain.

As President, Masó announced that the U.S. and Cuba should be together in the war against Spain.  Not all the rebels supported this opinion, but he made the statement anyway.

When the fighting between the U.S. and Spain began, the Cuban Government had very little power.  It was not involved in the negotiations and not in contact with the U.S., supposedly fighting on its side.