Arizona republican., 1902-02-24

l reSaruS Sen-ROVern1nenI T THE on the part of the peo- CHILEAN pie. A member of the l"REPUBLIC." Chilean congress showed Il in a speech in that body
 a short time ago that the affairs of the republic are absolutely in the hands of
 an oligarchy composed of six families.
 The people generally have no voice | whatever in their government.
 l The names of the families that con-
 trol the political affairs of Chile are in
 the order of their importance. Errazu-
 rig, Montt, Vicuna, Walker, Aldunate
 and Solar. These families monopolize ! all the chief official plices in Chile. They
 find this an easy matter to accomplish
 by combining at critical times against
 the rest of the population.
 To the family of Errazuriz the pres ent president. German Riesco. belongs. Upon his election he succeeded Erraz-
 uriZ Zanartu, a near relative of his.
 who after the death of President Fred
 erick ErrazuriZ rose to the presidency. In a quarter of a century this family
 has held the presidential office fifteen years.
 At the recent presidential elections. aside from the financial question the most important issue was that con- nected with the rule of the six families. While Pedro Montt and German Riesco. I the two most prominent candidates. made the financial question their main issue Lazcano made the oligarchio fam . fly combine the main topic of his can vass. He promised the people that if he were elected other persons than members of the dominant families would have a chance to hold office. It was very we'll known that the cor Fservative candidate. Pedro Montt. and the coalitionist. German 'Riesco. were working simply for the six families and therefore LaZcano became the favorIte of the people. But just before the first decisive election German Riesco made public pledges that he would do as much as Lazcano to disrupt family rule if placed in power. The result was that Riesco was elected.
 For some time after his accession to the presidency German Riesco did noth- ing to indicate what his course of action toward the six families would be. His first opportunity to show his policy was after the death of the Chilean minister at Washington, Senor Vicuna.
 This post at Washington is one very much coveted by Chileans. It is in fact the most important diplomatic office in the gift of Chile and Is believed by the six families to be one to which only their members should be appointed. It was. therefore. expected that in making the appointment to fill the vacant office President Riesco would indicate his at titude toward the six families
 President Riesco did not leave people in doubt. He appointed as minister to Washington a member of the Walker. or Martinez, family, which is the most extreme of the conservative families of Chile and is more determined than any of the others to sustain family power. It Is. true that the appointee was a liberal, but he is the only liberal In the Walker family and it was in order to support Riesco that he first announced himself a liberal. There was no doubt in the minds of Chileans that the appointment was made in order to confirm the power of the fam flies.
 Chileans who hoped that President Riesco would yet prove true to his promises. even after the appointment of the minister to Washington. were soon disillusioned. Shortly after that ap- pointment it became President Riesco's duty to appoint delegates to the Pan American congress. and it was hoped that the six families would be ignored in this But the very first delegate ap- pointed was the leading member of the Walker, or Martinez. family. the most 1 violent conservative of Chile, Carlos | Walker Martinez.
 After this the appointment Of the first families to the chief offices of the | republic came easy to the president. | Members of the families stood in line l for promotion whenever a vacancy oc- | cured In the army. navy diplomatic | and consular services. the departments | of postoffices. railways and public works and other important branches of | the government the favored families found themselves more secure than | ever before.
 One of the charges of Lazcano is that | the government has increased the mili- tary forces of the nation to provide for 1 political favorites and esta blish in Chile the same conditions which prevailed in ancient Rome when power passed into the hands of a few families Lazcano shows conclusively that every import ant post is now in the hands of the six families.