Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-26
CABRERA GETS AN AIRING
Iron President OF Guatemala Fears
Nottingham Knox.
0UTDOES ALL IN HOSPITALITY
Last Ruler Of Type Of Disz In
Southern Republics Rules Over
Downtrodden subject. by Aid
of Upper Glasses.

se1Sttts W sttt
of Upper Glasses.
GUATEMALA. March 5.-ICorrespond-
ence of the Associated Press.)-If the
visit OF Secretary Knox to Guatemala
accomplished nothing more IL afforded
the president OF the republic public air
ing, the like OF which he has not had
since the last attempt upon his life some
four years ago.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera has a keen
sense OF humor and he must have had In
mind more than he expressed In words
when he said at the dinner given by him
to his American guests at the government
palace 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 to
the peopie-and to their unfeigned sur
prise. Indeed the appearance In public OF
the iron-handed ruler whose multitudin-
GUS duties, as he explains. have long kept
him closely confined In the palace was
much the feature Of the visit.
Edict Goes Forth.
In Guatemala the wish of the national
executive Is the law and when word went
forth that Guatemala was to outdo the
other Central American republics in its
welcome 70 Mr.. Knox IL was a foregone
conclusion that the reception would be all
that the considerable resources OF the
republic permitted. A special train bring
ing members OF the cabinet, high army
officers and other notables met the Knox
party at San Jose and the secretary was
escorted to the capital.
The railway stations at all points were
decorated with the Guatemaian ana
American colors and half buried behind
palms and flowers. On the platforms
were school children dressed IN white.
AT Esuintla, where . stop was made for
refreshments. the secretary passed be-
tween lines Of boys and girls and one OF
the children presented him with an ad-
dress Of welcome. At Moran, the mecca
Of cockfighters, a band jammed the star
Spangied Banner into the two minutes re-
quired TO take water by the engines.
Swimmers Wave Flags.
Pressing TO the southern shore OF beau
tlful Lagune the train brought to view q
flotilla OF canoes Enthusiastically dressed
in the colors of the two countries. while
around the craft filled with young men
and women were swimmers whose pro-
trudlng hands held above the surface the
Stars and Stripes. .s. -
Reaching the capital the secretary was
greeted by q distinguished group OF gov
eminent officials and escorted to a
mansion vacated by its Spanish owner
for the use OF the Knox family. through
streets gaily decorated. under arches Of
welcome. past a duplicate OF the statue
Of liberty and always between rows OF
soldiers. behind whom must have been
a majority OF the city's inhabitants, All
were respectful. but one looked in vain
for glimmer OF the sort Of welcome that
a distinguished guest expects In North
America
That evening 500 Indians took part in
a torchlight procession and President
Cabrera giving his arm to Mrs Knox
stepped 70 an open window from which
he witnessed the weird scene. II was a
pathetic sigat-duli faced men. women.
children and their miserable garb made
more fantastic by the uncertain light of
their torches trudging along TO dolefui
music and occasionally cheering for
Cabrera for the entertainment OF the
presidents American guests, Cabrera, the
last OF the type Of Diaz. Castro and
zelays In the republics to the south of the
United States, is the absolute ruler Of his
2ooGoo "subjects.' l.Do,ooo Of whom are
Indians.
Cabrera the Whole Thing.
Little ID said Of the president and II
what Is said is true. he is nearly per-
feet man. The obsequiousness of his
ministers at the various functions was
marked. He directed every move. At the
slightest movement Of his hand men rose
and sat down. stepped toward him aud
reiterated automatically.
The president attended a dinner at
the Arpericau legation. Al Its conclusion
digninad figure surrounded by officials
left the legation ana stepping into the
presidential carriage was driven swiftly
away. Ten minutes later Cabrera
NllttN Hc1 AuAAttAfNth AfSAii NA1 utAsC anu
climbing into a dilapidated public con-
veyAnce was taken to the palace. The
president never follows the natural route
In his travels about the city, nor does
he ever appear Just when and where he
might be expected.
'Guatemala Il always peaceful said
the president in an interview. and SO
We do not need court at Carriage. but
some Of the other repan'~s where there
are occasional revolut % need such
tribunal. and II Is q sUsa thing"
Guatemala, however, has not been espe-
cially punctillious in observing its
obligations under the Central American
peace pact Of 1907. and only recently
Salvador had occasion to complain and
invite the good offices Of the American
state department to secure It's territorial
rights against Guatemalan aggression
President an Indian.
Cabrera feels the burden OF state. but
has no desire to lay II down. He has
been reported as In very bad health. but
= Nan-