New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-19
Favoritism Declared To Be
Condemning Country to
Stagnation
May Reorganize Army
Defence Bodies Spring Up
with Demands for Sweep
ing Reforms

Madrid. June ls.-A movement for a
radical rebuilding OF the whole political
edi'ce in Spain is gaining adherence
everywhere.
Discomfort with existing methods has
long been general among the more ad
vanced liberals and reformers among
the other parties of the Left. Internal
and external difficulties arising from
the war have served 10 heghten and
increase 1t, and It has gained among
the other parties. Even former Pre-
mier Maura. leader of the Conserva-
tives, agrees that there is ground for
dissatisfaction.
Senior Romeo, editor OF the GORE
spondencla de Espsna,' summed up the
general grievance in a forcible article
recently. He wrote:
1--WE ought all 10 initiate the soldiers
in refusing to be downtrodden a mo-
ment longer The soldiers have shown
US the only way possible-organization
with the firm determination 10 carry
our point, regardless of sacrifice.
The whole OF Spain. with the excep-
tion Of thousand families who monop-
Ollie the sweets of office, is sick to
death Of the favoritsm which con-
dennis the country 70 external stagna-
tion, and is only waiting for the signal
to rise like one man and do away with
u forever. Favoritism is the canker
which Is killing Spain and will put an
end 70 hsg unless We put an end TO it,"
Demand Promotion by Merit
The Officers Defence Committees
demand. briefly, that rewards should
be propOrtionate 20 service and that
promotion should be by merit, with due
regard to the claims Of seniority. Their
action was. on the whole. well received
by the public and brought about the
downfall of the Prieto administration.
The example is being followed all over
the country. Defence committees OF
al sorts of professions and trades, as
well as of government servants, are
springing up everywhere.
A. Cordova several prominent men,
including engineers, university profess
sors, manufacturers. workmen and
priests. have published a manifesto de-
handing a new political system totally
different from that hitherto IN exist
ence and urging the formation of de-
fence committees similar 10 the Off
GERS organ izations throughout the
country. Meanwhile there h. a grow
ing movement IN favor OF the reopenng
of Parliament. Three Liberal deputies
Seniors Barriobero. Dasolga and Pache-
co. have addressed a manifesto TO the
senators and deputies. protesting
against the closing Of the Cortes under
the present circumstances. II seems
THAT the government wishes 10 allow
time for the agitation 20 die down be-
fore submitting d solution of the grave
problems raised BY the army officers
and resulting from labor troubles.
Dato Confident
Premier Dato, in an interview yes
terday, said:
THE whole question is TO know how
20 meet the aspirations OF the coun-
try The government IS, therefore. TAX
INC note Of all claims of grievances
and Justice will be done without de-
lay. We shall he guided by the judg
ments Of public opinion. We do not
pretend that We live in an Arcadia. but
we think we can say that we have
brought about relaxation Of the
strained situation which permits US 10
view the future with confidence"
While Premier Dato enjoys general
respect, his confidence In the outlook
is not altogether shared by political
observers. who unanimously agree that
the situation continues one OF eXtrsor-
binary difficulty.
Among the steps tho government is
taking Is reorganization Of the
higher commands in the army. which
is being studied by the Minister Of
War, General Primo-Rivers.
No Increase Asked
Colonel Marquese. president of the
Officers Defence Committee a. BARGE
Iona, the leading body in the reform
movement. has declared that the COM
mittee did not intend 70 ask for in
creased pay He said that the state
military budget would suffice for the
reorganization OF the army Il II was
well employed.
Inc marquis ne LENA, foEtleu hAN
ister. has had long interviews with the
American Ambassador and with the
Spanish Ambassador 10 Great Brit
ain. who has just arrived here. After
ward he conferred for two hours with
Premier Dato. following which the Pre-
mier met the italian Ambassador and
the Minister Of Finance.
Premier Dsto told the newspaper
~rr-n ~ & 4 O.
intend TO exercise any censorship
against criticisms of the present min
istry or against the administrations
Of Count RomanOnes or Marquis
Prieto. but would forbid attacks against
persons in authority by any body Of
IRRESPONSIBLE persons. He also said
that attacks which might prejudice the
Governments foreign policy or mill
tary discipline would be prohibited
The Premier added that the country
had confidence in the governments pol