Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-09-14

NeW YORK Unfortunate Spain-a
Few citizens fabulously enriched and
9he mass Of the population bitterly im-
noverished by the war, her banks so
Aurfeited with gold that the yellow
enetal Is at discount and her people
mostly going without sufficient to eat
seems to keep international observ-
sers here on the brink Of plunging into
= state of disorderly turmoil like that
recently Witnessed In Russia.
The sangulnary events Of the world
var distract attention from King AL
aosasO Kills country. But history is
being made there, which in normal
Aimes would I'll the front pages Of the
newspapers and be the principal topic
OF discussion here from the tea table
10 the cabinet room.
Spain Is probably the hardest hit
by the war of all the nations except
those actually In the conflict In the
early part Of the war the agitation
between pro-ally and pro-German
groups was looked upon as a possible
source of trouble, but this interna-
tiOnal question is now overshadowed
by a multitude Of internal maladies
any one Of which would ordinarily be
considered Of major Importance.
Alfonso Is Kissed.
Alfonso, the athletic young king,
mas lost his former popularity. He
IN Missed In the theater and stays
away from polo games because Of an
Gicipated disagreeable hostile dem
constructions. This is because he is
blamed for the series of lmpotent gov
ernments which battle weakly and
intellectually against the nations null
Nipiying difficulties. But Alfonso Is
mo kaiser. He is as much at the mercy
of the conflicting political currents
ms his subjects. However, it is the
prerOgative of kings subjects to
blame him for everything that hap
pens.
Mail dispatches received here de-
scribe the labor disorders in Spanish
ylties, which have resulted in several
hundred deaths, as likely to increase
rather than diminish. Perhaps this
Is the most serious Of the dangers
threatening Alfonso today.
The radical workmen, to be COM
pared with the Bolshevih Of Petro-
grad, are pursuing course Of sabo-
tage and destruction in an effort to
1ntimidate the authorities. But the
outbreaks In different cities appear to
have little connection and the move
anent Is not well organized.
: Whatever power the workingmens
revolution has arises from the fact
that 1t costs two and half times
as much to live In Spain as 1t did be-
fore the war, while wages, contrary
TO the experience in most other coun-
tries, have remained stationary or act
Naily decreased.
Many lines of profitable manufac-
turing have had to close, because their
markets In the TeutOnic countries
and In Russia have been cut of
by war lines and because England,
France and Italy are strlngently linn
ating importations. In few lines the
entente allies have demanded all Spain
could produce and have made mer-
chants and manufacturers wealthy be-
yOnd their widest dreams But these
exceptions have not relieved the gen
eral situation.
Army Its Own Master.
The army so far has proved depend
able when set to the task Of putting
down the revolutionary workingmen.
lBut SPANS army is almost self-gov-
Ierning. as Russia's was for many
weeks last spring, before Kerensky
was able to use the spectre Of defeat
nv Germany to restore discipline.
Every army corps and smaller unit
has, 1t appears, council of defense.
This is especially representative Of the
-3noncommissioned officers and commits
stoned officers Of lower grade, who feel
themselves ill-trested by the bureau
-;cracy at Madrid. 1t will be re-
anembered that in the army crisis
iof few weeks ago the officers were
able to force the release Of their lead
III who had been thrown into fortress
lprisons. The army trouble is not set
tied The officers demand technical
changes in organization, more pay, and
Iess favorltism in promotions
A third clearly defined source OF
trouble is the separatlst movement in
catalonia. The Galatians speak diff
Ferent language from the people of
1agadrid. 1t might be described as mid
S,Vay between French and Spanish, as
6,atalonia lies between France and the
rest Of Spain. The Catalan Is insult
sed If called Spaniard-"Catalan" Is
what he likes as designation Of ma
ssi0nality.
The province Of Catalonia is the
wealthiest, most prosperous and most
progressive in the country. It's cap
stal Barcelona, is the center and hot
ned IF most revolutionary movements
IN spain. Most of its people would
rather be part Of France than OF
anain. They believe hidebound, In
crrahIv antique government at Ma
;,,rld IL preventing their taking place
s.v,tb the most advanced peoples on
the globe 80 ~