New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-28
General Gomez Continuing
IN Office Without Formal
ity of an Election.
HOLDS PRESIDENCY
AS A DICTATOR
Washington Takes Exception to
His Efforts to Set Constitu-
ton at Naught,
,By cable to The Tribune

corocas. Dec. 2I.-The American
Minister. acting, 1t is understood, on
,l...,ctions from Washington, has in
,orroed the Venezuelan government
tat President Wilson and the State
nsnsrtment would be pleased to see an
lection held in the republic for Pres
,5snt 10 succeed General Juan Vicente
Gomez. and that the American govern
,,ert would look with displeasure on
INV further effort TO defeat the pro-
yIsions Of the constitution, which it is
dsc,sred President Gomez has done IN
continuing in office without the for
.,outv Of an election. The Venezuelan
constitution expressly provides against
an incumbent Of the Presidency sue
ceeding himself.
president Wilson has said that his
sovernment could have no relation
with any government not founded on
law and order and that usurpers could
mot hope for support or recognition
from washington. This was said with
particular reference TO Mexico, but 1t
undoubtedly applies equally TO this
country.
Under the constitution the Presiden-
,is, election should have been held last
september. The law provides for the
election at that period Of the year OF
congressman, who in the following
,nri1 meet and cast their votes for the
President, much after the Electoral
College system in the United States.
Rut q few months before the time for
the general elections President Gomez
adopting the policy of General Cipriano
Castro. suspended the constitution and
declared himself Dictator on the pre-
tsnce that General Castro had started
an armed movement to get back TO
power. The revolution" exploited by
the government was nothing more tnan
a "squib." and Castro, who was sup
nosed 10 have invaded the country, was
at no time within miles of Venezuela
However, the purpose of General
Gomez was served by the adroit but
well known move. The time for the
elections pas ed. the constitution re-
NAMED suspended and Gomez remained
as Dictator. The powers of the Pres
dent are thus his for another four
Years II his action is permitted to
stand.
General Gomez is unwilling 10 nave
the elections held. One reason is that
there has been noticed in the country
a strong sentiment in favor of General
Jose Manuel Hernandez (El MochoI
whom the Nationalist party has put
forth as their candidate. General Her
nandez is now in Port of Spain, Trini-
dad, having lately gone there from
New York. He is known to be in close
touch with his political adherents. His
proximity 10 this country, after having
announced that he proposed TO compel
q fair election, is causing the Caracas
government much uneasiness. Before
he left the United States General Her
nandez called at the State Department
in Washington, where he explained the
situation here. II Is understood that
he created favorable impression by
ais straightforward declaration that he
was not troublemaker, but that, hav-
ing a direct interest in the outcome of
The election, he would force the Gomez
government to have 1t held, that the
people might have a fair opportunity
to express their preference and by
whose verdict at fair election ne
promised to abide.