The Co-operative news. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1917-1918, 1917-12-13
REIGN OF TERROR
in SPAIN

PARIS. - Although the Spanish
government is never tired of assert
ing that order has been completely
restored, word has reached Paris
that Socialists and labor leaders
are still being Systematically perse-
cuted in revenge for the recent
revolution. Arrests are almost daily
occurrences in Madrid as well as in
the provinces.
Among those who have been seized
on trumped-up charges are two So
cialist municipal councillors of the
city of Leon, and the secretary of
the powerful Miners union of AS
turias The Republican deputy Mar
celino Domingo was for several
weeks kept a prisoner on warship.
1t was intended to court martial
him, but public indignation finally
compelled transfer of the case to
the civil courts. He is now at lib
erty awaiting trial.
The general policy of the govern
ment is one Of savage repression
of all liberal forces. The lettering
monarchy realizes that the next rev.
olution probably will be successful.
By establishing a reign of terror it
vainly hopes to stave off the day of
reckoning. Some of its acts have
been fully as barbarous as those
practiced in Russia during the
darkest days of czarism
Prisoners in Revolt
In the so-called "model jail" in
Madrid, week or so ago, group
of prisoners, among whom were a
few revolutionists, rebelled against
the harsh discipline and the bad
food. The movement spread through
the prison and took on the character
of general mutiny. The soldiers
on guard, however, soon succeeded
in suppressing it and locking the
prisoners in their cells.
On learning of what had hap
pened, the captain general of Ma
drid, General Echague, Count of
Serrallo, an intimate friend of the
king, went in person to the Jail,
arriving after order had been re-
stored. He demanded the names of
the ringleaders of the mutiny. A
Socialist was designated, and Echa-
que ordered that he be brought
from his cell. AS soon as the UNI
fortunate appeared he was placed
against the wall of the corridor,
in full view of his Comrades, and
shot to death by the soldiers.
Bring out another ringleader,'
said Echague to the Jail employees.
The latter produced a labor man,
who was executed without hear
ing, as the first had been.
Another" insisted Echague.
Wardens Satisfy Blood Lust
The wardens refused at first to
point out any more victims. But
the blood thirsty dictator inundated
them with threats and was not con-
tent unil he had five prisoners in
all shot.
Besteiro, Caballero and Saborit
the Socialist municipal councillors of
Madrid, who were condemned to life
Imprisonment for their activities in
the revolution, have been sent tc
the penitentiary at Cartagena tc
commence their terms
They were spirited out of Madrid
at night. The authorities had be.
come alarmed at the growth of pub.
lie sympathy for them. Thousands
of persons, including prominent
statesman, writer's and artists haC
called to seem them at the Jail
The last Sunday before their depart.
ure, the crowd of visitors had be.
come so dense that they had to be
admitted in groups of 100. Each
group had been allowed a few min.
utes in which to file by the prison.
ers, without making any attempt tc
shake their hands At this rate
the extraordinary reception" had
lasted for two hours.
1t was hoped that the govern
ment might be influenced by this
demonstration to grant amnesty, But
the transfer to Cartagena was new
ertheless effected. Spasmodic riot.
ing broke out when the news was
published, but was quelled by the
military