The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15
WEAK MAN RULES
OVER GUATEMALA
CABRERA, Against Whom Revolt
is Aimed
AN ARROGANT DICTATOR
He Seized Reins of Government When
6arrlos Was kiIIed-His Spy sys-
tenn Has Imperlled Lives
of Leading Men.
AN ARROGANT DICTATOR

car without having either the ability of
a wise ruler or the friendly aid of the
| counsellors Of bureaucracy.
Twenty years ago at the close of the
progressive yet strong administrative rule
of J. Rufino Barrios, Guatemala seemed
to have forgotten the art of making rev.
olupons Barris administration was term
mated with his death at Chalchuapa as a
result of his vain attempt to bring about
by force of arms the union of the five
Central American states. The political
situation was saved at that time by Gen.
eral Lisandro Barrillas, who, taking up
the relns of government, threw the cruel
minister of war, Barrundia, into jail, pro-
claimed himself provisional president and
held an election which resulted in his
being chosen for the constitutional period
of six years.
| At the end of comparatively peaceful
administration Barrillas announced his de-
| termination of retiring from the political
| field and holding an election for the choice
of his successor The programme being
| carried out Barrllas retired quietly to
his coffee estates near Quezaltenango,
where he set an example of patriotism
by his non-nterference in national poll
tics and accepting minor offices at vari-
GUS times when his services were needed
Got Control.
Reina Barrios who succeeded Barrillas
distinguished himself by an extravaganza
far beyond the ability of his country to
sustain and at last he plunged the coun-
try into a revolution which he success
fully put down only to meet his death at
the hand of a crazy assassin
Cabrebra got control of the situation
which followed. Whence he came and how
he got control no one seems to know,
but he found at his disposal a well or
ganzed and fully equipped army for
Riena Barrios imagining himself the
Young Napoleon of Central America, had
not only squandered money on brilliant
uniforms but had kept the army up to
the high grade of efficiency instituted by
his uncle.
Cabrebra with this army at his disposal
has successfully put down number of
incipient revolutions. although the whole
country has been shocked at his high
handed measures.
In the Central American states there
have always existed two distinct political
parties the conservative and the liberal
For forty years the conservatives ruled
| in Guatemala with an illiterate halfbreed
for president Under his rule Guatemala
was almost as completely isolated as
walled China The country practically
lived on its native industries, and al
though the government of the president
was often dctatorial aud cruel, 1t was the
most economical which the country has
ever seen.
Barrios changed all this. He at once
opened up the country to foreign indus
tries and enterprises. He parcelled out
ba Ia n Foreigners
encouraged them in every way to raise
cattle and coffee. He built highways and
railroads and opened ports on both the
Atlantic and Pacific seaboard.
Still there are people who believe that
the country was better off in the good
old days when the inhabitants thrived
from their own native Industries there
was no foreign debt hanging over their
heads, there was money in the national
treasury and the government coined gold
of its own which circulated at par.
BarrilIos Not Extreme.
The administration of Barillas was
marked by neither of these extremes. He
exerted himself more to carry out the
law as written than to introduce any
reactionary measures or reforms His
rule was one of comparative peace, great
ly encouraged by the high price of coffee
which gave to the country wave of
prosperity.
Barrios' cry was for the progress and
advancement of the country with the
other nations of the world. He estab-
lished a race track, held sort of inter-
national exhibition, worlds fair On n
small scale. equipped one of his regi-
ments In Prussian uniform. which
proved such a burden to the tiny sol
diers that several were Frustrated while
on parade, and thus drained the national
.f..., f..I
revolution and the necessity of obtaining
money, he ordered the summary execution
of one of the wealthiest and best known
men in the country, which was the direct
cause of his own assassination.
The administration of his successor Ca
brera, has been marked by neither the
progress of the liberals nor the extreme
economy OF the conservatives, nor has
policy of moderation been pursued as'was
the case during the administration of
Lisandro Barrilas. While the other Presi-
dents walked or rode through the streets
frequently. unattended by any military
escort, Cabrera keeps himself surrounded
constantly by strong guard. During his
rule he has honeycombed society with a
spy system, while he has lived In such
constant dread of losing his own life, II is
asserted that his meals are prepared by
his aged mother. who sends them to him
under lock and key.
A foreign minister to that country, re-
Gently stoI ping in Washington, said to
the writer:
.sYou can believe all you hear of the con-
ditions in Guatemala under the rule of
that man. Why, 1t is risky thing for one
of his subjects to attempt to leave the
country, for prominent men preparing to
leave have disappeared completely Some
are arrested and thrown into prison. and
that is all that Is known about them. His
spy system is so complete that even the
privacy of families Is invaded and no one
dares trust implicitly even his own rela-
tiyes. The making of the most insgnlfi-
cant enemy Is enough to lead to the party
being denounced to some one of Cabrera's
numerous agents. and prison or death
may he the result
Worked No Reforms.
Nor has Cabrera brought about any re-
forms or good under his system of ruling.
Guatemala City, the capital of the re-
public a city of some $1,000 inha bitants,
has always been under all other adminis-
ira tons a remarkably clean, moral and
well governed city. 1t has been called
the Paris of Central America on account
of its perfect municipal organization, its
beauty and cleanliness; but under the rule
of Cabrera this city has become what
Is known as wide-open town. THE lid
is off, as was recently stated in letter
from the Washington policeman who Is
now there as superintendent of the police
force. Gambling of all kinds goes On
without other restriction than the percent
age of gains which must be turned over
to the government.
The economic conditions of the country