Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
Reprieve Of Rioter under Sentence
of Death Has Excellent Eff.
feet on Country.
MINISTER'S MADE BLUNDER
Premier Will Think It Over and
May Decide to Try Running
Spanish Affairs Again
Crisis 1nopportune.

Madrid. Jan. 1.-THE Spanish cabinet.
of which Jose Canaiejas Mendes was
premier, resigned to-day
The cabinet resigned as the result OF
a divergence of views with King Alfonso
MS to the ACCESSIBILITY of committing the
death sentence OF one of the rioters.
who murdered judge and wounded sew
eral court officials in the town of Gull
lera. province Of Valencia, last Septem-
her. The general strike at that time IN
Valencia and other provinces involved n
plot to assassinate General Weylcr. ana
the King was compelled TO suspend the
constitutional guarantees.
The trial of the strikers concerned IN
the Cullera murder has engrossed pub
lie attention to the exclusion of all else
for sometime past. thanks to the skill
full campaign of the radicals. who seized
Upon the affair as weapon TO attack
the government. in the same way as
they utilized the refusal TO reprieve
Francisco Ferrer. director of the modern
school who was executed in 1909. TO
bring about the downfall &c the Maura
cabinet.
Realizing ,ha, II vas Il sordid crime ana
that the accused men were impossible
objects Of sympathy, the radicals raised
q false issue accusing the government II
all sorts of tortures and cruelties towards
the prisoners. Consequently the agitation
spread with great rapidity and caused
grave concern to Premier tanalejas.
SIX SENTENCED TO DEATH.
The rioters were tried before a military
court last month and six of them were
sentenced t. death. The case then went
TO the supreme council Of war and marine
for revision and the council condemned
all seven prisoners to death Petitions
In favor OF a reprieve have flowed in ever
since the first trial, and II was evident
that the whole nation strongly desired
that the men should not suffer the death
penalty. Premier Canaleias advised the
King to exercise his preroga tive In the
case OF six Of the prisoners. but held
that the seventh, Chato Chequeta. should
he made an example of in the interests
OF law and order
The agitation had by this time reached
formidable proportions. the Barcelona
radicals issuing decree calling for a gen.
eral strike II Chuqueta was executed on
Monday. the date fixed for his death. The
premier In his own words, then realized
that the exclusion of Chuqueta from a
reprieve was a political bunder. and
learning that the King was of the same
opinion. ne went with his colleagues tc
the palace. where the King declared tina,
he favored "a reprleve for Chuqueta.
Premier Canalejas said that he deferred
TO His Majesty's Judgment and would pre-
pare a decree TO that effect without delay
but, considering as he did. that the minis
try had made a mistake. 1t was his dut!
TO hand IN his resignation. King Alfonso
urged him to reconsider his determination
hut he remained firm.
CRISIS EXCEPTIONALLY GRAVE
The ministerial crisis at the mo-
ment of the Franco-Spanish negotia-
lions on Morocco is OF exceptional
gravity, and the King has lost no time
in consulting with the leading states
men He conferred in turn with Gen
Montero Rios. president Of the Cortez
ex-Premier Moret Prendergast and
ex-Premier Maura. all of whom
agreed that the liberals should re-
main in power. They urged the King
TO try to prevail upon Senior Canalejas
to return.
The reprieve of Chuqueta has had
an excellent erect throughout the
country, which yesterday was aroused
when II was learned that the KinG
and his ministry had failed to reach
an agreement on the question.
The King received Senior Canalejas
tonight and again asked him TO re-
sumo the premiership, assuring him o,
continued confidence. Senior Canaleja.
asked for time to reflect. promising e
give his reply tomorrow
On leaving the palace the ex
premier declared that II he decided I,
accept the officc no would retain tn,
same ministers.