The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-21
KING ALFONSO
GETTING POPULAR
His Democratic Visits to His
People.
THEY LIKE HIS MANNER
Is Unafraid, Courteous and
Easy With Everybody.

Madrid, Sept. 2o.-When the young King
of spain expressed his desire TO break
the monotony OF the summer season at
san-sebastian b. visits to the northern
provinces of his kingdom. senior sogasta
and his colleagues thought that this would
be a good occasion 70 put the sover=igr
into contact with his people. IL was
agreed that Alfonso XIII should be ac-
companied Al each stage OF his tour by a
Cabinet Minister. The principal part IT,
representation Of the Cove nment was
played By the Minister Of War. General
Weyler. He it was who took Alfonso
XIII. to inspect The Government arms
manufactures and foundries. where Spain
is casting heavy guns for the defense
OF her coasts and for her new navy. In
the same districts the King was shown
over mines and factories. that contains
thousands OF workmen very much t'nteG
with socialist. anarchist and republic
an propagandas
He went about amons these turbulent
clements with the local authorit.es OF
with the engineers and foremen Of tile
works. declining all escorts and precau-
tons His quiet fearl IS. easy-going WY
md his kind youthful curiosity. his sharp
repartees. now and then. his merry boy
.sh laugh, won the hearts of the working
Classes as much as they surprised md
pleased the thousands of peasants and
mountaineers. who locked Gown from
the distant villages and hamlets 80 see
8 rf
these simDle-miEded 1olA confessed that
their iege nds and traditions re lee thenl
to expect quite a different display of roy
atty and its pomp than this tail good
looking prince. wearing his undress uni
form of captain-g general often covered
with dust and stepping forward gameiy
up and down hill with fe~ officers ANA
very acknowledging atterdan;>.
What frequently interested aaI amused
his subjects with ;he iiiy crate habit that
his Majesty has OF carrying his kodak.
with which he takes a snapshot Of every
thing or anybody that attracts his atten-
ton from d popular shrine. a monument.
10 group of lovely peasant girls in their
picturesque provincial costumes. once
Don Alfonso gave orders Tor his train
to be pulled ZIP at place where he had
been told that the Alpine scenery was
worth notice. and he took several views
on another occasion the young monarch.
having observed that a bishop was try
ing to induce the representatives, of illus
tlated papers to refrain from photograph
ing inside a church. he good-humoredly
came up and quietly said -Senoras. I
also have left my kodak inside
The royal traveller startled his atten-
dsnts by the anxiety he showed TO hear
from the peasants. the miners. and the
workmen themselves, the tale Of their
grievances. their necessities. their aspira-
tons TIE had kind word and a pleas
ant smile for the few that dared 70
present him written petitions which he
rut into his pocket and We are told
glanced over. before he handed them to
his ministers
Gen. Weyler does not seem to have OBJ
jected 20 this direct contact NJ the King
with the masses and much less with
their Mayors and popular councils. Iii
some places as many as two hundred and
FIFTY Mayors approached royalty. 4 few
of these village magistrates kissed their
King s hand. others knelt before him and
he raised them most encourasipeIy. Even
the most rahid adversaries of the mos
archy cannot deny that Alfonso Kill
thus made himself 1erv popular
Unfortunately. there were around him
faithful and devoted royalIsts. bred and
trained I'm The stately etiqaette Of The
bourbon court who did not III all Dke