The San Francisco call., 1905-06-11
Former President
of Guatemala
at Palace.
Revolutionary General
a Fugitive From
His Country.
Comes Here From Mexico With
Several Of His Faith
full Followers.

Manuel L. Barlllas. former President of
Guatemala, upon whose head a price has
been placed by the present ruler of the
Central American republic, accompanied
by several of his followers, who have been
plotting with him TO overthrow that coun-
try, arrived here yesterday from the City
OF Mexico ana are staying at the Palace
Hotel. Ten years ago. Barillas. then a
man Of fortune and of great influence in
his own country. triumphantly entered
San Francisco and securing elaborate
apartments at the Palace. proceeded 10
entertain in the lavish manner OF an ORR
entail potentate. Yesterday Barillas came
TO San Francisco as a n ordinary traveller,
looking the part OF a man tagged by the
hardships OF frontier life. of which he has
had considerable experience of late. He
ordered through one of his followers sew
eral ordinary rooms and communicated TO
the clerks OF the hotel the fact that he
did not want TO be disturbed. particularly
by newspaper men.
The remainder Of the day BariIlas re-
mained within his rooms and positively
refused 10 see all callers, except two
counrrVmen- one being Juan Ojeda, who is
connected with several OF the prominent
families cf Guatemala
Just what General Barillas' mission is to
San Francisco is q secret, but il is inter
preted as meaning that be has abandoned
the plans for q. revolution in Guatemala
that he inaugurated nearly year ago
For several months the general and his
party leaders have been assembled at
Tapachula Mexico. awaiting an opportu-
nifty 70 invade Guatemala from the north
simultaneously with similar movement
from the south. II was generally SUD-
posed that President Diaz of Mexico and
President Regalado Of Salvador were cog
infant OF the plotting going on in their
own countries against Guatemala. and
from their indifference TO the presence
OF Barillas followers in their respective
territories il was suspected that they were
quietly encouraging the movement
INVASION FRUSTRATED.
General Barillas in a proclamation is
sued six months ago announced that he
would invade Guatemala before President
Cabrera was reelected, but the election
was effected without Interference from
the revolutonists. Later il was reported
that Barillas would cross the borders
with his forces before Cabrera was IN
suguratec two months ago, but again he
disappointed the people of Guatemala.
Apparently he was not receiving the
support from the people of Guatemala
that ne had expected, and evidently Pres
ioent Dlaz Of Mexico arrived at the con-
clusion that the revolution would not
materialize, for several weeks ago he un-
expectedly ordered BarilIas and his mill
tary leaders out of Tapachula and in
structed them 10 report at once to the
City Of Mexico, where he could keep a
closer watch upon them
The last that had been heard of Barillas
was that he had arrived in the Mexican
capital and was still confding TO his
friends that he had not given up his
plans for deposing President Cabrera
Naturally his countrymen in this city were
~
news was spread about the Latin quarter
that the general and several Of his fol-
lowers had quietly slipped into San Fran
cisco. General Barillas can never hope
10 return TO Guatemala so long as Presi-
cent Cabrera is the ruler of the republic
for the latter has worn to administer the
extreme penalty in the event of Barillas
falling into the hands of the Guatemalan
authorities. In fact the President long
ago hoped to capture Barillas, and when
he learned that The revolutionary general
was massing followers at Tapachula, with
a view TO crossing the border Cabrera
so deployed his own forces on the north
ern border as to leave an opening in front
of Tapachula, through which he expected
that Bsrillas would make a dash and fall
into q trap that had been set for him.
NOT SEEKING PRESIDENCY.
1t was not Barillas' ambition to be-
for he keenly appreciated the fact that
he is well advanced in years and has
many political enemies in his country who
would never permit him TO assume the
reins OF government. Besides this the
foreign element is anxious for peace It
was the generals claim that his plans
for deposing Cabrera were the outgrowth
of e personal desire on his part TO render
the people of Guatemala a lasting serv-
ice. When he retired from Office many
he would never favor perpetuating the
term Of the President.
]. is claimed that shortly before the
first term Of President Cabrera expired,
the latter began scheming to have the
period OF the Presidential term length
ened two years. and this fact angered
Barillas, who Immediately proceeded to
organize a revolution, and when he real
szed that he was being watched he quiet
~ slipped over the border into Mexico,
where he was later Joined by his follow
ers at Tapachula.
Meanwhile the Guatemala Congress met
and passed an act extending the Presi-
proclamation declaring bitter enmity for
Cabrera.
He announced that he did not desire to
be President and to prove this fact he
named three prominent countrymen, any
one of whom, he said, he would favor for
the position. One Of these was the pres
ent Guatemalan Consul General to the
City Of Mexico who is a close friend Of
President Diaz ana it is suspected that
this friendship, together with the pros