Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-24
Colombia Names
Progressive AS
New President

Withdrawing just prior 70 the seces-
sion Of Panama.
What lends international sgnifi-
canoe TO this election Is its bearing on
the question Of the Colombia claims
for the loss OF Panama and ON the
possibility of a return TO the erst-
while close relations of Colombia with
the United states, rather than an un-
derstanding with England, Germany
and perhaps Japan
The election suggests four salient
points,
New President Is Progressive.
First DR. Concha is regarded as the
most progressive man IN Colombia to-
day. Only AZ years old, he has brill
liant record as deputy and senator,
president Of congress, member Of the
judiciary, cabinet minister, and as Co
l0mbian representative in the United
States, England and France. lie is
laliye to the urgent need Of bringing
his country out Of its political and
economic isolation and his diplomatic
Experience enables him to gauge the
international outlook Of Colombia on
the eve of the opening of the Panama
canal.
Second. his known opposition to
Colombian politics emphasizes the Of
lneial statement reported from Bogo-
Ia that the indemnity expected from
the United states will be used solely
for public works and economic and
administrative improvements, ana not
for religious purposes.
/ Third, the conservative chief had
the staunch support at the polls OF
"a powerful faction of the Colombian
liberals, headed by Cen Tribe Urlbe,
Iwho advocates q sincere and far-
reaching understanding with the Unit
ed States; his party organ recently
published notable article pointing
To the designs Of Brazil, in the diree-
ItiOn of the Pacific coast as the only
roal menace TO Coombias territorial
Integrity, and 10 the United States as
the natural ally to cheCkmate Bra
lillian imperialism
Fourth, the defeat Of the republic
can candidate, Or Nicolas Esguerra,
1 Is internationally important because
of his political anteeedents He is a
man Of great political and moral pres
tige and Is universally credited with
having aroused the Colombian people
against the dictatorial policies Of
President Rafael Reyes and with h1y-
ling frustrated the ratification Of the
treaties with the United States and
Panama which were TO have put an
END to the controversy five years ago.
Three Parties In Colombia.
A brief survey OF the Colombian
party situation is in point: There arc
three parties In Colombia--thc his
tOrical conservatives and liberals. and
the republicans with radical sub
division The republicans are fusion
party made up Of a large portion OF
liberals who broke away from the
leadership OF Gen. Uribc Tribe, and
lof a small faction Of conservatives
The latter thus, are essentially unit
ed while the liberals are divided. 1t
was the republican party, formed 70
break the Reyes dictatorship, which
placed the present executive Or. Car
los Restrepo, IN power. Such fusion
or reconstruction, parties are peculiar
TO Colombian political history, not
withstanding the gulf separating con
.servatives and liberals in principle
AZ the recent elections, primary foi
the first time under the present con
Istitution, there really was o double
fusion, the republicans voting fol
, DR. Esguerra who was particularly
| supported by the radicals and the
! conservative liberal alliance which
succeeded in having DR. Concha elect.
ed The division Of the liberals had
made il impossible for Gen. Tribe
J Uribe 20 put forward his own candi
dacy with any chance OF success ans
, ne decided 20 support the conservative
IN opposition TO the radical candi
date
p AT an earlier period, a second con
servatiYe candidate had been spokei
+ lof-Dr Marco Fidel Suarez, leader o
Z the nationalist wing Of the conserva
b tvos aud a pronounced church man
The church Yields very great powe
d in Colombian affairs, political, sOcia
and educational, the majority OF tn
conservatives having strong cleriea
tendencies, and without the supper
~ the church element the election %
81 4 Dr. Concha would have been impos
81 siblo. Tho withdrawal of the Suare
candidacy Is point of singular in
terest because Dr. Conrha's past nc
4 tiyities have suggested the possibilit
of the latter taking "a decided STAN
j against the Concurdat of 1887 be
tween Colombia and the Vatican. Tha
Is 90 say, IL is believed, In politien
circles. particularly In view Of Oh
INhNphAA hifNA liiiti ~ AitH A"Nlhi NAAti
that he may make an effort 10 recoyc
some of the civil prerogatives Of tn
government surrendered By the>1on
cordat and even that he may worl
for return TO the former separation
of state and church As the ecclesias
tical element in Colombia Is cosmo
politan and in close touch with Eur
ope such a policy might have mucl
more than domestic effects. far
reaching as these would be,
Indemnity Is Looked For.
We find General Tribe Tribe. Dr
Esguerra and DR.. Marco Fidel Sliare
M the advisory committee which ]
90 be IN charge Of the investment o
the indemnity, looked for from tn
United states and with more or les
plausihility placed In the noighhor
hood of S25, 600, 0O0. The other tw,
members are both strong conserva
tivcs Antonio Jose Tribe and jos
Maria Gonzalez Valencia, brother O
Gen, Ramon Gonzalez Valencia Wit
served out President Reyes term
There are. therefore. three lcadini
ioonsei KatAes and the Two promlnen
liberals on this committee
That such q huge amount given tn
colombian finances with the paper dol
I Tar worth enc cent in gold would havl
. "a revolutionary effect an the economic
= condition of the country Is evident
i even though official figures for tn
tolal paper currency are not available
hnt TO put the country on It's feet fo
good, extensive public works are need
ed' above an else a railroad system