Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
Rumored Change in Colon
bian Government.
THE MAGNETIC MAN"
HE has GREAT ELEMENTS OF Po-
LITICAL STRENGTH.
Has Not Believed in Marroquin's Ad-
ministration and Has Lived in
MeEico-ERect ON Canal Treaty.

The announcement that President Mario
quin OF Colombia has retired from office
and that his place will be filed by Gen.
Raphael Reyes. second vice president. Is
regarded with the greatest possible interest
by every one concerned in the building OF
the Panama canal. This information COM
ing in the form Of report from Panama
Is accepted. however, with good deal OF
misgiving by many people who fear that IN
this case 1.-The wish may be father to tho
thought" Until the report is confirmed
beyond all question of doubt those who
wish to see the building of the Panama
canal will feel great anxiety over the stu
alton In Colombia.
In order to fully appreciate the signih-
canoe of the return Of General Reyes to
Colombia the place he occupies In the esu-
nation of the Colombians must be under
stood, as we'll as the character of the man
Reyes occupies the place of the magnetic
man" In the estimation Of the Colombians:
He has elements Of political strength that
are universally regarded by those VINO
know his people as far beyond that OF any
Of his countrymen. For years he has been
looked to as the man who would play an
important part in the political drama OF
Colombia as soon as the opportune time
should arrive.
Marroquin's Presidency.
Colombia was In very unsettled condi-
ton when President San Clemento retired
from his Office as head of the government
and went to his country estate to end his
days. Marroquin, the first vice president
took his place. The occasion Of this change
in the head of the government gave rise to
further difficulties. The process by which
Marroquin was brought into Office was
questioned by many of the Colombians. and
from that day to the present the entire
country has been in state Of political fer
ment, with the revolutionists continually
active and at times almost in control of the
country. The reports that have come here
during the past month indicate that Mario
quin has found 1t Impossible to control the
congress Of Colombia, SO that under his
rule little hope has been felt recently that
he could secure the ratification OF the canal
treaty which he negotiated with the United
States. It Is in this emergency that the re-
port Of his retirement has been sent out
Among the men who were known to dis
approve of the action Of Marroquin in as
Stunning the presidency Of Colombia was
General Reyes the second vice president.
In fact he was known to feel so strongly
in opposition to the course of Marroquin
that when the revolution assumed alarming
proportions shortly after Marroquins In
duction in Office many of the Colombians
expected to see General Reyes in the ranks
Of the revolutionists and in supreme con-
troll of the movement to depose the presi-
prestige both as military leader and as
tactful politician. together with his popu-
larity among all classes of the people they
would have been victorious But In that
emergency he quietly retired from the coun-
try and went to Mexico. He became
neutral in the political affairs of his coun-
try. He could not stay there and uphold
Marroduin and he did not wish to become
the head of a., revolutionary movement. His
role as neutral was In some respects ex-
ceptfonal in the fact that he lost no pres
tige among either the government forces or
the revolutionists. - b..
Reyes Retained the Vice Presidency.
While in Mexico General Reyes was from
time to time designated to represent the
government Of Colombia. He did not
jeopardize during this period his standing
as the second vice president of Colombia.
His desire to retain the position that would
make him president in case of the retire
ment of Marroquin was generally regarded
as the important influence that caused him
to become and remain a neutral. When he
left Colombia he told his friends that he
believed an emergency would arrive when
1t would be opportune for him to return to
Colombia, but until that time came he pro-
pose Of General Reyes to return to Co
lombia at a time of emergency has given
rise to rumors of his return on several
occasions before. The fact of these rumors
In the past causes men acquainted with
affairs there to be very skeptical concern
ing the present report, which comes from
Panama.
While in Mexico General Reyes has been
Of affairs In Colombia. He Is man Of
broad education, having travelled extern
sively in Europe and in the United States.
Those who depend upon him to use his in
h..ltl "a
canal fully realize that he will take
broad view of that question. Representa-
tfves of the Panama Canal Company and
Of Colombia, at the time the Spooner
later when the treaty was being discussed,
who were in this city, spoke favorably Of
Reyes and regarded him as man who
could be relied upon to forward any project
which looked to the building or the canal
by the United States.
His Importance In This Emergency.
It Is quite confidently believed here that
Reyes will be wise enough not to leopard
ize the interests of Colombia by allowing
any failure Of plans to have the United
States interested in that work. His i'm
portance In this emergency lies In the fact
that he is regarded as the only man Of
Colombia who, because Of his official po-
sttion and his popularity with men Of all
factions in the affairs Of that country. has
the ability to absolutely control the CO.
lombian congress and to secure II he so
desires a ratification by congress Of the
canal treaty. In view of the fact that the
provisions Of the spoonep amendment make axe
United states, after reasonable time
has been allowed for securing satisfae,
proceed to acquire rights in Nicaragua, 1t
is believed that Gederaf. Reyes will be anx-
a.. ~ nrovAnt action that will ALLEVIATE
the United States from the Panama prof.
ect.
which influence will be strong in the con-
gress that. II is said, will assemble June
81 to consider the treaty and either ratify
or reject t.ias SUPPOSED to favor the re-
The concessiOn of the Panama company to
expire .the government viii be placed in
property, and will be able to negotiate for
its dispositions a year and half hence,
and receive all the money they can get for
IT. It is believed here that this course
would veryis likely ALLEVIATE the United
States from the project, and cause the be-
ginning of work on the Nicaragua canal