The farmer and mechanic., 1915-05-25
HOW ARGENTINA
IS GOVERNED
A Talk With the President of the Republic
and His Relations to Us

The Pink House Versus the White |
Housc-A Look at Congress and Its
Palace Of Gold-A Building Scan |
dal Which Involved MilliOns-Ar-
rcntinc Graft and Grafters-Quccr
Laws as to WiIls-Churches Lii
braries and SchOOls-Quccr Fea-
lures of a Great Argentine News
DaDcr-It Has Doctors and Law
ycrs and Teachers All Free to the
Public.
Copyright 1915, by Frank G. Car
penter).
BuenoS Aires.
] have just returned from an inter-
view with the president Of the Ar
gentine Republic. My audience was
arranged through our embassy, and
his excellehcy received me in the
great government palace, facing the
water front at the lower end of the
Plaza de Mayo. This palace covers
more than two acres. 1t is four hum
dred feet long and two hundred and
fifty feet wide, being one of the larg-
est buildings on the South American
continent. 1t is made of brick COW
cred with stucco, and it's old rose color
reminds one of the great Winter Pal
ace at st. Petersburg, on the banks Of
the Neva. On account of the color it
is known as the Pink House, and in
this respect is in striking contrast to
our White House, on the banks OF
the Potomac. The Pink House is
several times the size Of the White
House. 1t has three stories and it's
surroundings, including the many Of
fcials in livery, are grander than
those about President Wilson. / en-
tered it from the Plaza de Mayo, be-
ing led through the building by
Capt. Lynch, the military attache of
the president. We first passed
through the wide vestibule, ascended
marble stairs to the second story, and
there met Senior Atilio Basilari, the
introducer of foreigners. After chat
ting with him a while / was taken
into the audience room and presented
TO the president.
The president of Argentina is DR.
Victorino de la Plaza. He is, l judge
about fifty years of age. He has had a
long public career, having been secre-
tary of foreign affairs and held other
high offices. He was elected vice
president of the republic in 1910, a
the time that DR.. Rogue Saenz Pens
was elected president, and upon The
death of the latter last fall he be
came by law the chief executive O.
the nation. The presidents here ar.
elected for six years, and there are NJ
expire in 1916.
President Victorino de la Plaza ros
as l entered the room and offere'
his hand. He is SO short, fleshy maj
with round, rosy, full face an
bright eyes that look out throug7
narrow Sits. The cartoonists hav
caricatured him in the press as
Chinese, and in some respects his fea
lures are almost Celestial He is
man of education and culture. He ha
bright mind and his opinions ar
positive. He spoke freely, but rathe
automatically, about the relations {
the United States and the Argentin,
saying that he was glad our rela
tions were growing closer and close
and that he wanted to see the trad
between the two countries increase
to its utmost extent. Said he:
am glad that you people al
taking our meat and corn, and tina
as time goes on, we will have a MOI
varied exchange of commodities. I
1T is now, you are furnishing the mo
of our agricultural machinery, and v
are increasing our purchases of goo
of every description. Trade must
reciprocal in order to increase in VIC
ume, and the present situation
such that we are growing more al
more dependent upon each other. Tt
is especially so with Argentina, who
pendent upon foreign conditions
am glad to see Americans banks b
ing founded in this country and
should like to see better .teamsh
connections between us and t
United States"
l asked his eXcellency al out t
feeling in the Argentine as to Unt
Sam. and whether there existed a
jealousy in regard to the Unit
states. The president replied
If there is jealousy 1 am i
aware of it. The relations b.tWe
the two countries are of the frier
hest possible nature. Argentina /
enormous resources, and it is gro
ing so fast that it has not tirae to
jealous of any one. 1t is wels satisf
with Its place in the sun, and also w
what the good Lord has givex it in
way of resources"
Upon this l asked as to ti.s Arg