The Washington herald., 1920-10-31
SPA||
BECOMING Il
People Awake From
Sleep, Spurred By N,
After Effects. II
REVOLT FEAR SM
Prestige of King Esd
lished and Ruler Popuh
With Subjects.
REVOLT FEAR SMA
Cwaskinston HerLd-PubHe Ledrer q
Special Gable DiEpsteh.) II

NNhhh<toh herAo-ruboc LecIeT ~
Special Cable DiEpstek-) ~
Madrid, Oct. 3o.-There is scsi
ly a country in the Old World wi
at the present moment is in as I'd
ishing condition as the land Of
fights and copper mines. Like ot
European countries, Spain has
been exempted from social uni
and in the same way this restIl
ness has been the cause OF sant
nary issues in the country OF I
vantes.
over a long period ministry
succeeded ministry in what a pr1
inent Spaniard styles a FRENZY
ineptitude." Meanwhile the cour
drifts Unpiloted by it's effete mil
ters, lacking a stable policy ell
in home or foreign affairs. Adn
istrations spring up-and then ID
film-like, before the eyes Of the q
pie, little or no effort being M
to lay the foundations of good q
ernment on solid ground. No ini
tive and little sympathy is shd
in the general conduct Of anil
and the whole nation lives on 1
state Of sublime procrastinat
unwilling that the endless SD
should suffer any unpleasant Inl
rUption.
Excepting, perhaps, the d
headed section OF the working ci
the populace seems to be insensl
to it's own destiny, somnolent
pusillanimous to a degree not
derstood beyond the frontier.
the politically active section OF S
dicalists has made mighty proErI
In the province of Catalonia CsoI
times called the Ireland Of Spa
it is proving to be q disturbing
ment
King Loved by AL
The prestige and authority Of
lcrown seem TO be fairly establish
never has q king of Spain held
affection and esteem OF his subjt
more than Alfonso XIII. Yet n
are continual threats OF revolUt
mainly by the Catslans. but
looking back we see that monsr
has been living under sim
threats since 1879.
The monarchy will remain, bU
is generally recognized that SOC
or later the administration must
flung into the caldron- What I
emerge therefrom no one dare ]
dict On one point men of nei
all political creeds agree. and
that the king must play a lead
part in any new formation.
! King Alfonso has lately Ia
upon himself the role OF media
not only in the sphere Of regic
lpolitics, but also in that Of conf
between capital and labor. Sp5
ling at a banquet given this year
him at Barcelona, and addres:
the employers in particular,
majesty said:
i am trying TO act as a link
tween capital and labor. II is
ideal difficult Of attainment in ,
er nations. But why should
Spain prove the first nation to re
that ideal7 We must all OF US "
for a happy Spain"
Wen QusIIhed for Post.
The king is well qualified for
post of mediator, and IL would
difficult to eNaggerate the con
ual urgency OF the call for such
tervention. As an example OF
extent Of labor and other UNI
take last month as typical Of ls,
ldyers. electricians, slsughter-h'
men, cooks. bakers and shoemsA
tramway drivers. bricklsyers,
even bull fighters and acolytes c
within the list of affected calliu
There seems to be a widespI
readiness on the part Of those
ployed in almost any industr,
engage in strikes, either for the
of individuals who are believed
be suffering injustice or in sup
Of claims made for improvement
working conditions on the par
those employed in completely
tinct spheres Of work. This is
Itirely a new trait in Spanish q
acter. Up to a few years ago ID
was a land OF exaggerated ind
ualism; the collective spirit
conspicuous by its absence Now
have the Syndicalists rushing
the other extreme.
War Brings Awakening.
A person who has not beol
Spain for a number OF years VI
hardly recognize the Madrid 81
day. 1t is no longer the sleep9
museum Of antiquities il used a
The atmosphere has changed. |
it now seems impossible 70 1
ciate IL with that Of CASTLE. |
population has risen from 5oo,ol
nearly a million souls. w
streets and districts OF well
) modern houses have replaced
; ramshackle neighbOrhoods Of 81
: First-class hotels almost equ$
: New York's best now cater "a
D cosmopolitan travellers pai
, through the city. Similarly
) Of the provincial towns poi
splendid hostelries replacing th
Z "posadas" which existed sincd
/ days before Don QuiXOte is sui
E ed TO have sailed forth on his 4
S of adventure. Race courses, 4
: / theaters, and bull fights pri
e amusement for the population.
{ cinema is more admired OF
years, but has not yet grown in
E lulsrity TO anything like the
= extent as in other European
I ltries.
e Copyright. 1870. by Public Ledger
D TWO EAICONS FEAST