Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-12-19
THE CAREER OF
JOSE CANALEJAS
Prime Minister Of Spain Mel
an UntimeIy End
IS YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFE.

A Man of Indomitabie Will and Tire
less Enersy-The Idol of tho Monar-
chioaI Democratic Party-His Term
as Premier.
Don Jose Canalejas y Mendes, prime
minister of Spain, who was recently
assassinated, had held that position
since February, 1910. His rigorous de
mocracy, lndomitable will and tireless
energy made him the idol Of the mo
narchical Democratic party.
For thirty-five years Canalejas had
been in public life, beginning at the
age of eighteen, when he made his first
bow as a public speaker at the Acad-
envy of Jurisprudence in Madrid The
next year saw him delivering political
addresses in all the large cities Of
southern Spain His political doctrines
were strongly tinged with a republic
snsm that made him an 'object Of sus
picion when be gained greater promi
nence In later years.
At twenty-five the district Of SOriu
sent him to the cortes, where he took
a seat among the advanced Liberals.
The young Republican had acquired al
most a socialistic faint by this time.
He fearlessly Haunted his political con
victions in the faces of older ConserV
atives. All of his efforts In the cortes
during his younger years were direct
ed in the interests Of the agrarian
classes and against the aristocrati,
landed grandees of the old order
Edited Newspaper.
Canalejas continued to serve inter.
mittently in the parliamentary body.
being elected to the presidency of the
cortes during the Liberal regime in
1906. His political aspirations led him
to become the owner and editor of Ia
HeraldO, now recognized as the official
mouthpiece of the Liberal party in the
kingdom.
Once the young editor made a visit
to this country, and it was at time
when more than cursOry interest was
attached to his coming. 1t was in 1897
when Sagasta, the Liberal leader was
premier Sagasta had just recalled
"Weyler the Butcher" from Cuba ana
installed Marshal Blanco in his place
Feeling in this country was running
high against Spain. Though CanalejaS
disclaimed any mission here EXCEPT
that of private citizen, it was un
doubted that he carried back to his
friend Sagasta a full report on public
sentiment against Cuban atrocities
here.
After having served as minister of
agriculture. of justice, of finance ana
public instruction Canalejas had 50
trained his original radicalism to com.
port with opportunity that he was
then no longer considered dangerous
by the more sober elements in Spanish
public life. In February, 1910. King
Alfonso surprised all by inviting n
Liberal TO become his chief counselor
His Term of Office Stormy.
Canalejas' term as premier was no.
a pacific one. What with SPANS lit
tie war; with the Riffs In Africa Il
struggle which Is never ended--thc
threatened rise Of revolution at home
and labor disorders King Alfonso
strong man had much to contend with
During the recent spread OF railroad
strikes, behind which were the revolu
tionary laborites, Canalejas was the
most execrated man in Spain.
Radicals and revolutionaries, recall
ing his early radical politics. con
demned him for turncoat and Il
despot who had sold his ideals for
place and power. Secret enemies in
the government tried to turn the heari
of the young king against him. He
stood practically alone, fighting rebel
lion and secret conspiracy.
Recently he was leader of the monar-
chical Democratic party. which came
into power on the resignation Of the
Liberal cabinet headed by Senior Morct