Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

lice, all information concerning politica
intrigues-in fact, everything that bore or
the attitude Of the people toward the
government was discussed The president
who. of course. had other sources of in
formation at his disposal and also per-
sonal knowledge In a great many cases
of the people who were named in the re-
port, would then give his orders to the
chief of police, and appropriate measures
would be taken by the latter.
The secret police was partly under the
control of the chief, but of course from
the delicate nature Of their duties they
were allowed great d al of liberty OF
action. Their employment was naturally
almost exclusively in political affairs, and
a great many were just plain spies. In
fact. Guatemala swarmed with spies In
and out Of official life tn spies spread
seeking everywhere for rumors and whis-
pers of discomfort and Of intrigues against
the government. Nobody knows how
many spies there were employed. There
were many who were professional spies,
then great many amateurs, who sought
to curry favor with the powers that were
by informing on their neighbors. The
public restaurants and cafes were al
ways full of them. 1t was not at all an
infrequem occurrence in places of public
resort for man to come into place and
make all conversation cease absolutely at
his entrance. That man was a spy, and
the diners took no chances while he was
in the room Of having one word of their
talk overheard by him.
4
Often servants in private houses were
paid to report on the actions and words
of their masters and mistresses. The
lower class drinking places had their in
formers also. and the markets were not
neglected.
Sometimes, however. even the numerous
cyNto ,txr-tt fnI a.1 do. two
plot came to head in spite of the rigid
surveillance maintained over almost every
man Jack in the country The spies and
the police and the military were always
on the watch and it was proved that deep
underground, far out of sight, hidden
plotters wove their dark webs and await
ed for the appropriate moment to arrive
for the striking of the decisive blow.
Twice in the last two years desperate at
tempts have been made on the life of
President Cabrera and he has escaped
more by marvellous good fortune than
by any other cause.
Early in 1907 the first one Of these plots
was formed. Four well known young men
capital were the only ones concerned.
They went about their work in the quiet
est and most methodical manner possible,
so that 1t was not until the final moment
that anything at all was known of their
operations. They had rented house on
a street that led to the fashionable drive
known as La Reforma," where the
president, accompanied by his staff, was
wont to take the air every morning.
From this house they tunnel ID outward
to the street and there placed a heavy
charge Of high explosive. They pierced
all the walls from the courtyard to the
front Of the house SO that they could re-
main well In the rear and still have an
outlook into the street, and they led into
the yard the wires that connected the
mine with close ~
electric circuit and explode the NINE
When all was ready the four conspra-
tors waited in the yard of the house for
the president to drive by in his carriage,
as was his daily and invariable custom.
The long awaited moment arrived.
Through the openings that had been cut
through the walls, the advance Of the
imposing calvacade of officers and guards
that always accompanied the president on
his outing could be seen passing. Now