Evening star., 1902-03-17
GILLIAN 0LIGARCHY
THE REPUBLIC STILL IN THE
POWER OF SIX FAMILIES.
President Riesco Accused of Violating
Ante-Election Pledges to Cur
tail Their Privileges.
From the New York Sun,

From the New York Sun.
In the Chilean congress Fernando Laz-
cano has just delivered notable speech
attacking the Chilean government. 1t was
directed especially against the six great
families that practically form the oligar-
chy ruling Chile. and 1t accused President
German Riesco Of violating his campaign
pledges to take away from the six families
many Of their privileges.
The names OF the families that control
the political affairs Of Chile are in the or
der Of their Importance, Errazuriz, Montt.
Vicuna, Walker Aldunate and Solar. These
families monopolize all the chief official
places in Chile They find this an easy
ical times against the rest of the popula
ton.
The President.
To the family of Errazuriz the present
president. German Riesco, belongs. Upon
his election he succeeded Errazuriz lamar
tu, a near relative of his, who after the
death OF President Frederick Errazuriz
rose to the presidency. In quarter OF a
century this family has held the presiden-
tial office fifteen years.
At the recent presidential elections, aside
from the financial question, the most i'm
portant issue was that connected with the
rule of the six families. While Pedro Montt
and German Riesco, the two most prom1-
nent candidates, made the financial ques-
oligarchic family combine the main topic
of his canvass. He promised the people
that II he were elected other persons than
members OF the dominant families would
have chance to hold Office.
Ante-Election Promises.
It was very we'll known that the con-
seryative 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 much as LaZcana 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 nothing to
indicate what his course of action toward
the six families would be. His first oppor-
tunty to show his policy was after the
death of the Chilean minister at Washing
ton, Senior Vicuna.
Minister to United States.
This post at Washington Is one very
much coveted by Chileans. 1t 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 men,
bers should be appointed. 1t was, there
fore. expected that in making the appoint
ment to fill the vacant office President
Riesco would indicate his attitude toward
the six families.
President Riesco did not leave people in
doubt. He appointed as minister to Wash
ington member Of the Walker. or Marti-
neZ 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 1t
was In order to support Riesco that he
first announced himself as a liberal There
was no doubt In the minds of Chileans
that the appointment was made in order
to confirm the power of the families