The sun., 1908-12-23
Why MR. COOLIDGE GOT OUT
ZELAYA ANGRY OVER TAFT RE-
JOICINGS IN NICARAGUA. ~

Capped thirty Participants in Pfson
and Accused u. @. Minister or IntFigu-
Ing when He Tried to Get Them
Out-Reosevelt Backs UP ZeiayA.
New ORLEANS. Dec. 22.-Passengers
arriving from Nicaragua give O nay
version Of the recent resignation Of the
United States Minister. John r. Coolidge,
and tho incidents leading toit. The trou-
bic arose over q demonstration at the oity
Of Granada. Nicaragua, on the receipt OF
tho news that Mr.. Taft had been elected
presidsn. Of the United States. a-enads
10 q town Of 1s. 600 population; It was form
eriy the capital Of tho republic. and 1t is
traditionally hostile to the present capital,
Managua. and regarded 40 the centre OF
opposition to the Government.
When IL was known that Taft was elected
the principal business msn Of Granada
seized on the occasion for q great demon
tration In his honor. Several hundred
turned out carrying Aneriodn banners,
parading the streets and ahouting them.
selves hosrse for Taft as the dsliverer
OF Central America from depression and
individual lethargy. As many OF the men
engaged In the parade were known not te
be overfriendly to the Zelaya administra-
ton. the demonstration, although there
were no revolutionary cries. was regarded
by Zelaya as an unfriendly act and re.
hection on himself and his adninistra-
ton.
The crowd showed moro enthusiasm
over the election OF the President Of the
United States than It did recently over the
election Of the President Of Nicaragua.
The affair was stigmatized AZ an incipi-
ent revolution and a regiment was at
once sent from Managua, only thirty
were promptly jailed, including David
Arrelana. one Of the leading bankers and
mine owners Of the republic; Miguel
Cuadra Passos, q leading merchant Of
a very old and influential family: his
brother, Carlos Passes: Francisco Granizo
and others. These and twenty-five other
citizens, mainly merchants. were arrested
by the troops on the charge Of melting
tiary at Managua, where they were placed
in solitary confinement. They have re-
mained ever since In cells with the worst
criminals.
In order to facilitate the arrest and give
his soldiers free hand the entire town Of
GranAoa was piaceQ unoer martiai law
and II has 30 remained ever since II
there was any disposition toward revo-
luton Il showed In no overt act. for the
utmost quiet prevailed. '-
As soon as the arrests were made Minis
ter Coolidge visited zelaya, with whom
he had formerly been on friendly terms,
expressed the opinion that evidently
no harm was intended by the demon
stration and suggested that the American
Government might regard ID as an un-
friendly sot for Nicaragua 10 punish so
severely men whose only act had been to
wave the American nag and rejoioe over
the election Of q warm friend Of Central
America as President of the United States.
President Zelaya refused to take this
view Of the matter, declared the demon
stratior was hit at him and that Taft's
name had been used as q blind. and he
complained to the United States De-
partment Of State that Mr.. Coolidge vas
interfering in local politics and encour-
aging political demonstrations and revo-
buttons against him. Mr.. Coolidge pre-
sented his view Of the Bituation. but Presi-
dent Roosevelt took the Zelaya side and
the Minister'S resignation was promptly
accepted on the ground that he. was
mixing In Nicaragua's domestic affairs.