Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-06-04

He has projected himself into era in which
presidents staying In power from decade TO
decaoe are distinctly questionable; In which
there is altogether too much interest among Lat
in-Americans In elections and votes and other
strange things prevalent In North America
Yet, in the very midst of this era, Manuel Es-
trada Cabrera maintained himself swapping his
fingers at all attempts to GUST him. He holds the
worlds record for escaping assassination
Only two long-dstance autoerats of Latin
America have ruled more than Cabrera's total OF
% years-Porfiri0 Diaz of Mexico and DR. Fran
Ella, the famous ruler of Paraguay. The other
most famous dctators of Central and South Amer.
lea despite the long terms Of office, have not sue
ceeded in equaling Cabreras total of years as
president of his native land, "elected" BY the
votes" of his fellow countrymen.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera was born November
81 1857, at the city of Quezaltenango, IN the IN
ferior of Guatemala He studied law at me ma
tIonal capital and was appointed governor OF the
Department of Retalhuleu and In 1885, chAef JUS
tice of his native city of Quezaltenangd BUT
these posts were not big enough for his ambl-
tions. He managed to get himself appointed Sc
gundo Designado," or second vice president OF
the republic. And then, when President Barrios
quite a long-dlstance ruler himself-was assas-
sinated in $685. Cabrera saw his chance. As sec
ond vice president, he not the man who would
automatically succeed Barrios-there was a first
vice president In the way. But that trife didn't
bother him. He is said to have walked into
meeting of the big men of the Barrios govern
ment laid a revolver down on the table before
them, and remarked:
Gentlemen, / am president of Guatemala"
He was right. And he has been president OF
Guatemala ever since. The term president, as
has been hinted is putting 1t far too mildly.
GEAR in the palmiest days OF czarism Roman
emperor at the height of imperial Rome's power,
blood-thirsty despot of the far east, might well
envy Manuel Estrada Cabrera, firmly seated on
his Central American throne In this year OF grace
1920, eheerfully acting In way that would have
made tyrant of antiquity blush for fear that he
was OVERRIDING things.
His rule was absolute. His capacity for at
tending to Details for keeping an eye on every
thing that would insure his remaining sole arbiter
Of Guatemalan destinies. simply marvellous.
The members OF the Guatemalan assembly, though
II is externally perfectly good Legislative body.
modelled ON the parllaments OF really democratic
lands. are simply his creatures-or so his enemies
saw His cabinet ministers are slaves. Every
where Cabrera has spies. Nobody, native or for
eign. enters or leaves Guatemala without having
his every move reported to the despot. SO terri
BILE Is this system of espionage, so acute the sus-
nlcion aroused by the dietator's methods so wen
known his ruthlessness when once he has decided
to swoop down on somebody that his name is
never mentioned in Guatemala except In whispers.
Every man suspects his neighbor.
He has a large army. which he keeps efficient.
sInee he realizes quite wen that his power rests
an hayonets The private soldiers are recruited
nv force and get only few cents day. The Of
acers too. are poorly paid but they, like the ci-
vgIan officials OF Cabrera. are not. according to
common belief, deprived Of means Of improving
their stipends.
Cabrera has escaped assassination in tniracu-
lous ways. The attempts TO kin him have been
far from bungling essays By amateurs; they show
! skin IN planning that should place them high
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