El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-25
CABRERA, THE
GUATEMALAN DIAZ
Rules With Absolute Power
Over His People, Afraid
To Show Himself.

Guatemala CITY, aIarch I6.-CCOrre-
spOndence OF the Associated Press-l-
If the visit Of secretary Knox to Qua
temala accomplished nothing more, It
afforded the presidenN or this republic
a public airing the like Of which he
has hot had since the last attempt up
on his life some four years ago.
Manuel Estrada CABRERA the last %
the type Of Diaz, Castro and Zelaya in
the republics to the south OF the United
States, is the absolute ruler of his
100000 subjects. 10000 of whom are
indians. Little is said OF the president,
and IL what IS said is true, he is nearly
the perfect man. The ObseQuiOusness Of
his ministers at the various functions
were marked He directed every vote.
At the slightest movement OF his hand,
men rose and sat down. stepped toward
him and retreated automatically.
Cabrera feels the burden OF state, but
has no desire to lay IL down. He has
been reported as in very bad health
but he does not look like a sick man
dc is an indian. about 55 years old, Of
moderate height, thick set. with a well
shaped head His hair is thin and slight
ly gray and his mustache is iron gray.
His face is wonderfully mobile and eX-
pressive- His black eyes are penetrat-
ing and he can give one g disconcertng
glance. At the same time he can smile
swee1y enough and his manners are
easy
The grievance Of the lower classes, If
indeed they realize that they have any,
IS 10 be found in the poverty resulting
In part at least from the immense rev.
enue necessary 10 maintain the presi-
dent and army in lavish style.
What the better class think. IS not
known for certain For Il years Ca
bI era has maintained a military dicta-
tOrsnlp- Yet many Americans resident
here told members of the Knox party
JnaL no other government is possible
ana that Cabrera. s absolutism was bet
ter than ceaseless revolutions; that the
united states could not hope to do more
with Cabrera than swing him in being
reasonably good"
The president has a keen sense Of
humor and he must have had IN mind
more than he expressed in words, when
ne said at dinner given by him to his
american guests that he had hugely
enjoyed the last three days.
Always at the side Of the secretary,
mrs Knox or others of the guests the
president repeatedly showed himself
10 the people-and TO their Unfeigned
surprise. Indeed the appearance in pub-
lie Of the lrOnhanded ruler whose null
tltuoinouS duties, as he explains, have
long kept MIN closely confined in The
visit
In Guatemala. the wish OF the na-
tional executive is law. and when word
went forth that Guatemala was to out
40 the other Central American repub-
lies IN Its welcome to Mr.. Knox fl was
a foregOne conclusion that the receD-
ton would be all that the considerable
-tS1tAA ~N1 VI AA-E 4ED4AAAc permitted. u
special train met the Knox party az
san Jose and the secretary was es-
ccrted to the capital.
The railway stations at all points
were decorated with the Guatemala and
American colOrs, and were half buried
behind palms and flowers On the plat
forms were school children dressed in
white. At Esuintla. where a stop was
made for refreshments, the secretary
Iassed between lines Of boys and girls
and one of the children presented MIN
with an address Of welcome. At Norma
the mecca Of cock fighters, a band
played The Star Spangled Banner I'm
the Two minutes required by the loco
motive 10 take water.
Passing closely to the southern shore
OF La Gune, the train brought to view
a flOtilla Of canoes fantastically dressed
IN the cOlors of the two countries.
On reaching the capital the secretary
was greeted by government officials
and escorted to a mansion vacated by
its Spanish owner for the use Of the
Knox family. The secretary rode
through streets gaily decorated. under
arches Of welcome, past a duplicate Of
the statue Of Liberty and always be-
tween rows of soldiers. behind whom
must have been a majority Of the city's
Inhabitants.