The Washington herald., 1920-10-17
First InStaIment.


IT HAS been indicated that dis
affection followed the elevation
Of Losada TO the presidency of An
churia. This feeling continued to
grow. Throughout the entire re-
public there seemed to be a spirit
or silent sullen discomfort. Even
the old Liberal party to which
Goodwin, Zavalla and other patriots
had lent their aid was disappointed.
LOsads. had failed to become popu-
I lar idol. Fresh taxes, fresh import
suites and. more than all, his toler-
Rnce Of the outrageous oppression
n citizens by the military had rem
fered him the most obnoxious presi-
Ydent since the despicable Alforan.
The majority of his own cabinet
were out of sympathy with him.
The army which he had courted by
giving il license to tyrannize, had
been his main, and thus far ade-
quats support.
But the most impolitic of the ad-
ministration's moves had been when
II antagonized the Vesuvius Fruit
Company. an organization plying
twelve steamers with a cash capital
somewhat larger than. Anchuria' S
surplus and debt combined.
Reasonably an established concern
like the Vesuvius would become ir-
ritated at having a small, retail
republic with no rating at all at
tempt to squeeze it So when the
government proxies applied for a
subsidy they encountered a polite
refusal The president at once re-
taliated by clapping an export duty
of one real per bunch of bananas
thing Unprecedented in fruit-grow
ing countries
The Vesuvius Company had in
vested large sums in wharves and
plantations along the Anchuria
coast. their agents had erected fine
homes in the towns where they
had their headquarters, and here
tOrorc had worked with the republic
in goodwill and with advantage
to both. 1t would lose an immense
sum il compelled to move out. The
selling price of bananas from Vera
Cruz to Trinidad was three reals
per bunch. This new duty of one
real would have ruined the fruit
growers in Anchuria and have Sc
riOusly disconnected the Nesuvius
Company had it declined to pay it..
But for some reason the Ncsuvius
continued to buy Anchurian fruit,
paying four reals for it; and not
suffering the growers to bear the
loss
This apparent victory deceived
His ExcellenCy; and he began to
hunger for more of it. He sent
an cmissary to request a confer
fruit company. The Vesuvius sent
Mr.. FranzOni. a little, stout. cheer
ful man. always cool, and whistling
airs from Verdrs operas. Senior Es-
pirition. of the office of the Minis
ter. of Finance. attempted the sand
sasrrg in behalf of Anchuria. The
meeting took place in the cabin
OF the Salvador. of the Vesuvius
line
Senior Espirition opened negotia-
tions by announcing that the gov
ernment contemplated the building
Of a railroad to skirt the alluvial
coast lands After touching upon
the benefits such road would con-
fer upon the interests of the We
suyiUs, he reached the definite sug-
gestion that a contribution to the
roads expenses OF, say. $4,000 pc
sas would not be more than an
equivalent to benefits received.
Mr.. Franzoni denied that his COM
pany would receive any benefits
from a contemplated road. As it's
representative he must decline to
contribute $4,000 pesos. But he
would assume the responsibility of
offering twenty-five.
Did Senior Espirition understand
senior Franzoni to mean $1,000 pc
sos
Ey no means. twenty-five Pc
sos And in silver; mot in gold.
Your offer insults my govern
mrnt'" cried SenOr Espirition, ris-
.n= with Indignation.
Then" said Mr.. FranzOni, in
VaTning tones, we will change it
The offer was never changed