El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-23

z Nov. 23.-There is no doubt
that Manuel Estrada Cabrera
the president Of this Guatemala re-
public, is ruling by terror. Every man,
woman and child in the country is
afraid Of him, and he who would criti-
else him, gets behind the wall and
speaks with bated breath.
Nv first experience as TO the lear
which permeates the hearts of the
Guatemalans was IN a motel IN Ihe
capital OF Costa Rlca- ! had spoken OF
Cabrera, and in an ordinary tone was
telling a story 1 had heard concerning
him to an American who had large
interests I'm Guatemala. He begged me
10 speak low, saying that there were
spies everywhere, and that could not
say anything in Central America that
Cabrera would not hear Here IN Qua
remala I am told that the president
knows everything, even what each man
eats for dinner, and as to the guests
that sit down at his table. In many
cases the very servants are IN his pay
and all society IS said to be money
cOmbed with his spies. There IS abso-
lutely no freedom Of the press al
though now and then the newspapers
criticise the administration. SUCH crit
icisms. however are always directed
from the palace, and are merely dunn
my expressions to give the impression
abroad that freedom exists.
The Man of Blood and Iron.
President Cabrera is Guatemala s
man Of blood and iron. He is COM
bination of strength and weakness, OF
greatness and the reverse In some re-
spects ne reminds one Of Nero, in 9TH
ers Of Napoleon. and again of Abdul
Hamid, the now dethrOned sultan OF
the Turkish empire. He was a NapO-
leon in his grabbing its presidency, and
a Nero and Caligula in some Of his
lets since he took charge. now over IA
years ago. He has been a Napoleon IN
his arbitrary rule, which has kept the
people quiet, and put down revolutions
with an iron hand. Order IS better
kept in Guatemala than in any other
Central American republic, except
Costa Rica. and the people are far bet
ter off than those Of Honduras and
Nicaragua. 1t is true that the finan-
Cial system Of the country IS, to use a
disgusting expression. rotten, and that
the dollars here are worth only cents
of our money, but nevertheless the
planters are growing rich and the
coffee crop brings In It's mlllOnS a
wear. It is due TO Cabrera that rail-
roads are being built and that the iron
track running from New York through
Mexico viii soon be laid across Guate-
mala TO the capital Of Salvador, so that
We may in time go TO Panama on the
cars It is due TO him that education
is being pushed throughout the re-
public, and that new peon law which
proposes to do away with indian siaF-
cry has been enacted.
Afraid of AssaSsins-
And now take Cabrera as the Abdul
Hamid of Central America When Alb
dul Hamid was sultan he was half
crazy from his fear Of assassination.
Everything that was cooked for him
had to be prepared in a certain way,
and he had his professional tasters
who IL was thought. would get the
first bite at the poison He always
had a revolver at his right hand, and
I was told in COnstantinOple that there
were times when he sat up at night to
watch. His career ended by a revOlu-
ton and an enforced abdiCauOn, and
he is still trembling now that he is in
retirement.
do not know that Cabrera trem-
bles doubt it. He seems to be the
soul Of bravery, but of caution as well.
Ken secretary Knox was here he
came out Of his palace for the first
time in MANY months and when his
state coach drove to the door of the
nalace where Mr.. Knox was entertained
ii was surrounded by secret police.
When it left ii went by the back way,
and it is said that others of his jour
news. taken during that visit were
made in street hacks in order TO avoid
the danger Of the state carriage being
dynamited-
Tt is known that Cabrera takes a
different route every time he comes
out of his palace. There are stories
here Of his always wearing a coat Of
mail next his skin and that for a long
time his meals were prepared by his
aged mother who sent them to him in
locked boxes. TO insure the food against
the possibility Of being poisoned
The president is always guarded. Tt
would be impossible for a stranger to
enter his palace. He has his army