The San Francisco call., 1897-09-20
TWO MEN COME
AS REF UGBES
Will Wait Here Until
Guatemala'S Revolution
Is Ended.
One a Minister Of Agriculture,
the Other a Congress-
man Rebel,
The First Safe With Either Leader,
the Other Dependent Upon
Revolution.

Two interesting early products of the
present Guatemala revolution arrived
here yesterday in the steamship Colon
from Central America.
They have come to San Francisco that
they may discreetIy await developments
without imperiling their chances with
whichever leader may finally establish
himsel: at the head of the Government.
One of these diplomatic refugees is
Manuel Morales-Tobal, Minister of Agri-
culture under the administration now in
power, and cousin of Prospiro Morales, the
recently avowed leader OF the revolution.
He SAYS he left his ministerial Office on a
leave of absence, granted when he had re-
ouested to be retired because of illness.
His present position is a peculiar one.
But he is evidently determined to re-
main apparently neutral until he sees
whether his declared personal friend,
President Barios, or his esteemed cousin,
Revolutionist Morales, is TO be in control
of the warning republic.
IlThe other refu gee is Francisco z. Toledo,
lawyer, deposed Congressman, released
political prisoner. enthusiastic patriot and
eager revolutionist. He found 1t expedi-
ent to leave. Then the revolution was
expected, but no leader had come forward.
Since his departure, however, Prospiro
Morales, lawyer and ex-Congressman,h has
assumed the leadership and taken the
field at the head of the revolutionary
forces, which, Toledo says, include about
all the military commanders.
The history of events leading up to the
revolution was given last night by both
these men in separate interviews obtained
with them in their apartments at the Oc-
cidental Hotel.
haA
its regular March and April sessions into
May in order to complete business con-
templated by it. Even with the final and
extra month, permitted by law. it was not
able, because OF repeated delays, to COM
pete its work. So, on May 81, Congress
voluntarily disbanded.
President Barrios Immediately after
ward, on the same day, declared himself
dictator. He called for an election of
Congressman. His plan was 10 secure a
majority favorable to him SO that the
ConBtitution might be amended to extend
his term of office four years beyond the
regular six years which, IN his case, would
end March 15, 1898.
The new Congress convened on August
10. Finally, by vote of AZ to 20, the
amendment passed. Toledo, who had
been a member of the powerful minority
in the previous Congress, was one of the
twenty to oppose extension of rule. He
had been reelected to Congress by popu-
lar vote from Momostenango, about fifty
miles from the capital city of Guatemala.
On August IL Toledo and Emilio de
Lion, ex-Minisler from Guatemala to
Mexico, were by order of President Bar
rios imprisoned in the penitentiary in
the city of Guatemala. They were kept
there three days. The eighteen other
members of the minority were escorted,
under military guard, to Puerto Barrios
on the Atlantic coast.
According to the law of the country a
Congressman cannot be tried by civil
Judge. He can be tried only by Congress.
1t was foregone conclusion what the re-
suit would be with the eighteen of the
minority. The President then did the
diplomatic thing He prevented the trial
that would have been conducted by his
majority, for on August 90 he dissolved
the new Congress.
Just why he did this, Toledo is at loss
to explain, unless it was he feared the dis
senting twenty might be able TO win
enough over to their side to weaken his
Congressional support.
Speaking for himself Toledo said:
Il am a patriotic Guatemalan. l donot
wish 10 be placed in false position. My
sympathies are with the revolution, no
matter who the leader may be.
'If Barrios would have retired when his
term expired the people would have par
doned all his many faults in order that
the country might be in peace.
81 am not there taking part in the
revolution, because, when 1 LETT the
revolution had not yet started | was
not in sympathy with any one OF the
three candidates for the Presidency,
and / was so persecuted by Barrios that
I thought that l would get away and
take rest. l left of my own free will,
because 1 did not agree with Barrios or
his policy.
"By law the next Presidential election
would be on January 15. Three candi-
dates were running-Prospiro Morales,
Jose Lion Castillo and Daniel Fuentes
Barrios. This Ba1rios is brother-in-Iaw
of the President and is supposed TO be
with him. Morales represents the west
and Castillo the east Both are now
wsEkink for the revolution.