Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-06
GRAVE
TROUBLE
FEARED
General Reyes May Not Be
Allowed to Take His
Seat as President

washington, IL. u, Aug. TIN on
cial circles here authentic news fron
Bogota is awaited with keen interes
as private information received latel
indicates that the affairs of that re
public may reach critical stage with
in the next few days.
Tomorrow is the date set for tn,
Inauguration of General Rafeal Reyes
as president of Colombia Affairs are
in such shape, however, that the new
president may not be allowed to take
office without grave trouble ensuing.
When General Reyes was sent to
Washington in the hope of affecting
a change In the policy of the United
States and securing the restoration of
Panama he was the choice of the gov
ernment party for president. OF
course his mission failed. Thereupon
the influence of President Marroquin
and his administration seemed to be
thrown for Joaquin Velez, the aged
revolutionary governor of the depart
ment Of Bolivar, who had done so
much to defeat the canal 1t was
even announced that Velez had a
majority secured through the support
of the administration. But Marroquin
shifted around to Reyes, and the result
was in doubt.
General Reyes knew that If he went
back to Bogota after his failure here
there would be no show whatever for
his becoming president. So he re.
NAMED in New York while, and then
sailed for Paris. Meanwhile, he was
doing what he could for Colombia to
save something out of the wreck of
its control in Panama. He did not
succeed because the blunderr in Bogo.
ia made It impossible.
General Reyes remained in Paris
for several months. Then he sailed,
not for Colombia but for Venezuela.
The strained relations of Colombia
and Venezuela for the last few years
have been well understood. That the
two countries didn't go to war was
because each had on hand revolutions !
At home, and each accused the other
Of fomenting those domestic brawls.
General Castro, the president of Ven.
ezuela, was credited with the deter.
mination to annex some Colombian
territory under the pretext of war,
and at the same time settle old scores.
Before he left Paris General Reyes
knew that he would be well received
n Venezuela. While in Caracas he
rave utterance to some interesting
opinions which were supposed to be
lirected chiefly against the United
states. His advice was for a general
Inion OF the Latin-American races 10
'uard against the aggression both OF
he Yankees and the Europeans. The !
.atin-American union which he sue
ested was not the outgrowth OF
'anama nor was It really conceived
hostility to the United States. Gen.
raj Reyes had long been an advocate
the doctrine that the Latin race
I'LL has a mission.
Good results undoubtedly came from
eneral Reyes visit to Venezuela
eneral Castro opened some of the
lstoms ports on the Colombian front.
r that nad been closed and gave
Encouragement to the re-establish.
ent OF commerce between the two
'untries, Probably the better under.
anding secured with Venezuela
'lped General Reyes after his return
Colombia. II is clear that the
arroQuin administration felt little
Dre free In haniling domestic sub.
IT'S The real question to be de-
mined was whether Reyes could be
aceably inaugurated even after a
'lorlty OF the electoral college mad
'lared him the choice. During the
i few weeks every mail has brought
rd OF htrIgues and plots against
yes Army commanders aud others
pposet 10 be hostile to General
yes have been removed. but this
served apparently only to Increase
opposition.
L.