Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-08-15
VENEZUELAN POLITICS

FN'A"en', d. the psychological moment steps into
'He game puts the ball over the plate. and names
LIS successor Or if he really likes the lob. and
waits lew more millions provided the opposition
party is not too strong) he being chief of the army
ueclafes the country in state of siege under
Ai'ary control In such stringent times constitu-s
"'nS are not recognized, of course and it is very
natural Tor the man in military command to
assume the duties of president By and by the
CORNER OIL the constitution is once more permitted to
peek over The SHELF and the republic is again re-
S'ored III all Its phases of representation
AS this is written MAY, 1879 this turn of
affairs, or even more serious yet real revolution
seems extremely imminent. Congress is now in SEES
sion IN Caracas The president and his council of
thirteen are strangely at outs over diplomatic ques-
tlon with the French government new president
must De appointed by next years congress- the pres
eht term expiring in April 1914 The wires" at
TINS term are stretched taut. The incumbent of
the 1rst office, President Gomez, desires another
term, and hence wishes the constitution changed The
third vice president of the republic a member of the
Big IL, General Bautista rich, with strong fol
lowing, also desires the plum. To harass the situa-
ton still more, the Castro cloud ever growing
blacker, threatens dissolution much more now than
al any time since the ex-president fled the country
with his amassed fortune. General Castro wishes to
return and with his coming he will bring a well
equipped army to quiet any dispute about his right
TO enter the land of his former successes Rumor
has 1t that over in Colombia General Castro has
reLdezyous, and with his troops will enter Venezuela
from that side Several solutions present themselves
but none without revolution.
Ii President Gomez succeeds i'll changing the con-
stltutlon according to his Wishes thus succeeding
himself president, General Bautsta and his strong
following will spiritedly resent the change. CAS-
matter Of interest," it might be well to add here that
General Bautista, now in Caracas, is under careful
watch. President Gomez has two guards in front of
Bautlsta residence at all times, and one, save
the general and his family is permitted to enter.
No matter where the general goes two guards
pany him. This to prevent any sudden assault
the government Another well devised precauton
that Gomez has taken has been to discharge the en-
gineer in charge of the construction of a roadway
across the state of Trujillo and appoint gen
erals to superntend the work. This gives the presi
dent army of some six hundred men in the home
state of Bautsta AS a sidelight it can be added
that these workmen paid out of the road appro-
praton and at present also soldiers. The presi-
dent will pocket either the wages due them from
the appropriation or the wages due them as soldiers
The men are not given double pay.) If Gomez fails
and General Bautista is elected the present incum-
bent will have his forcible say.
And what about General Castro2 If he comes
and the is exceptionally strong that he will
come there will be conflict between the Gomez fac
ton and the Castro division inasmuch the Gomez
people are in power. If in the supposed
fct Gomez looks to be the winner General Bautista
who will take part until success seems to crown
az +ho of tho
interim an understanding will have been brought
about between Castro and Bautista whereby the lat
ter will be declared president If Castro should look
to be the conqueror of Gomez Bautista's strength
will go to Gomez, with the resut-Bautista for
president. 1t looks to be threecornered fight with
General Bautista holding the trump card Everyone
fears the revolution, and any day may bring forth
startling developments Times indeed very
stringent and all are preparing for the conflict.
And so we have the president. The president
appoints his cabinet of 10 members the duties of this
GERS of the United States, with salaries fixed at
$4,000 per month All foreign ministers and
bassadors are also appointed by the president
Each state has a president, who in turn is
elected" by the state legislature 1t is of little
consequence that the president of the republic sends
request to the legislature that Mr. So-andSo should
be their choice For again. should Mr.. So-and-So not
be elected" there state prisons well as fed
era bastle and the gates cape thrice wider for dis
obedent legislators than for any other men. If, as
it sometimes happens the legislature refuses to
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