East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-28
(By Charles P. Stewart, European

(By Charles p. Stewart, European
Manager of the United Press.)
Madrid. Jan. 2S.-Their minds at
last definitely made up that under
its present so-called liberal govern
ment their country is making no
more progress than under the old con-
servative regime, Spanish repubh-
cans are getting ready to eliminate
Premier Canalejas, who is frequently
referred to as King Alfonso's last
chance. Premier Canalejas' elimina-
ton therefore means a long step in
the elimination of Don Alfonso. In
fact, II is hardly possible that Senior
Canalejas can be politically killed
without endangering the monarch.
Rodrigo Soriano is the republican
chosen to fire the first shot in the
revolution. Senior Soriano is owner
of the radical Madrid newspaper
"Espana Nueva." He is a member of
the chamber of deputies from the
Spanish capital. And since Alejan-
DIRE Lerroux has suffered in credit
by the mal-administration of the re-
publican municipal government Of
his home city of Barcelona, Senior
Soriano is the most influential re-
publican in Spain. If the revolution
should occur very soon he would
probably be president. In fact, 1t is
not unlikely that he Will be president,
in any case.
VIII Make Demand
Senior Soriano's attack upon Pre-
mier Canaleias will take the form of
a demand for n revision of the hear
ing of Francisco Ferrer who was put
to death in the summer of 1909 after
a military court had convicted him of
participating in the Barcelona riots
of that year A revision of the case
will certainly mean n decision that
Ferrer was judicially murdered. This
will do Ferrer no good but it is bound
to start such an outcry against King
Alfonso's government as, in its pres
ent unstable condition, it simply cam
not stand.
Premier Canalejas commands a ma
jority of the chamber of deputies and
can prevent Deputy Sorlano's demand
for the Ferrer revision If he likes, but
II he does this he will have to con-
cede that he wishes to shield Former
Premier Maura, under whose admin
istration Ferrer was killed-in short,
that he is as much of a reactionary
as the ultra-reactionary Maura him
self
Would Upset Throne.
Whichever way it goes, the repub-
licans will be satisfied. II the Fer
rer revision is granted they count on
a scandal which will upset the throne.
fc ytrin 1o
convicted OF cheating the country by
pretending to give it liberal govern
ment which is really reactionary. And
they do not think the throne can long
survive that, either.
1t is true that the republicans
want the Ferrer records overhauled,
but they would not have insisted on
1t If Premier Canalejas had convinced
them that he meant business in his
"Church and State" campaign. But
they are satisfied that he does not,
and for his lack of good faith in the
Church and State" matter, they are
making a weapon of the Ferrer case
to kill him.
To Limit Power of Church.
"I believe the premier would really
like to do something toward limiting
the church's power" said Senor Sori-
ano, in an interview to the United
Press "but King Alfonso and the
Clericals back of him will not allow
1t. At any rate, he is accomplishing
and will accomplish nothing. Every
thing he has done has been ineffec-
tive. 1t Is bound to continue So"
And do you consider the King al
so responsible for Ferrers DEATH"
wanted to know.
NO" said Senior Soriano mot for
Ferrer's death. That was Maura
and Minister Of the Interior Cierva
But for the failure OF the fight agaist
the church, the king Is responsible
yes"
well, what" said, sis to be gain
ed by a reversal of the death sentence
against Ferrer-since 1t has already
been executed for a year and a half"
Nothing will be gained for Fer
rer," answered the republican leader,
"but it will be Spanish Dreyfus case
and the present Spanish government
Is not strong enough to survive a
thing like that"
What will happen2"
'It will drive Canalejas out Of Of
fice-at once"
why won't he Immediately be sue
ceeded by some one elsef"