The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-29
Action Similar to Opening
Russian Revolution.
Nationwide Strikes Over Food
Prices the Cause.
REVOLT NOT SURPRISE TO U. S.
Govt Attitude Towards Ger
many PrOvOkes People.
U-BOats Sink Many Spanish
Ships and Prevent Imports.

London. March 29.-The Spanish
cabinet has suspended all con-
stitutional guarantees. according to
wireless advices received here today.
The act means institution of martial
law thruout Spain Labor union
headquarters also have been closed,
the Madrid advices say.
The order was promulgated this az
ternoon.
Spain has been menaced with \
nationwide strike of all laborers dur
ing the past few weeks, due. il is I'M
derstood, to complaint of the workers
iShat food prices were out of all reason.
Presumably the situation has become
sufficiently serious for drastic meas
ures.
Paris, March 29.-An appeal to the
people, which has been issued in
Spain. has been declared by the gov
eminent to be seditious, Havas dis
patch from Madrid reports. The
signers of the appeal have been ar
rested.
Strike Disorders for Year.
Internal disorders and widespread
strikes in Spain have been reported at
intervals during the last year. In De-
cember a general strike of "a hours
was called by the labor organizations
as protest against the increased price
of food In January rioting and in
cendiarism at Sargossa were reported
Last summer the railway employees
struck and for week Spain was under
martial law.
Foo Shortage Precipitates 1t.
Washington, March 29-Frequent
reports from Spain of widespread UNI
rest because of her attitude toward
the war and an almost universal food
shortage made officials at the state
department receive today's announces
ment of the suspension of constitu-
tional guarantees without surprise
Since the beginning of the war there
has been decided internal dissensions
as to SPANS attitude in the war and
during the last few months especially
with the sharpening of the German
submarine campaign, the food short
age has aggravated the trouble.
Officials here. pointing out the SIM
ilarity to the Russian revolution which
also began thru political unrest. deep
ened by food shortage, were unwilling
to predict the outcome. Recent re-
ports have shown the food shortage
has been felt in cities and in the coun-
try as well. Germany's ruthless sub
marine warfare has sunk many Span
ish vessels, has tied up most of the
others and virtually stopped foreign
trade AS a result. the country has
been threatened with an industrial
crisis.
A deeper cause of dissension has
been SPANS war policy.
The court the clergy and the army
have been reported here as decidedly
pro- German, so that Spain has not
been fully trusted by the allies. BUSH
ness interests, in many other neu-
trail countries. and the people gener-
ally We're reported anti-German-
Spain has protested sinking of her
ships with a varying degree of bft-
terness but REPORTS that she had sent
an ultimatum to Germany in response
to the demands of the business inter-
ests of the country have not been COR
roborated-
Spain refused to endorse President
wilson's peace note last winter on the
ground that it was not opportuue, ana
reports have been frequent that King
Alfonso hoped to be the mediator at
the end of the war. Germany is de-
clared to have conducted a systematic
campaign to spread that idea, fiatter-
ing the intellectual classes and lead
ers of public opinion. Spain's sup
port has been eagerly sought also for
her probable influence on LATIN
America.
Senior Riano. the Spanish ambas-
sador, was without any official infor-
nation on the situation in his coun-