The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-06-10

He has projected himself into era in which
presidents staying in power from decade 10
decade distinctly unfashionable; 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 MS
fingers at all attempts to GUST him. he nous Uhe
worlds record for escaping assassination
Only two long-distance autocrats of Latin
America have ruled more than Cabrera's total OF
% years-Porfrfo Diaz of Mexico and DR.. Fran
cia, the famous ruler of Paraguay. The other
most famous dictators of Central and South Amer
ica despite the long terms of office, have not sue
ceeded In equaling Cabrera's total of years as
president" of his native land, elected" by the
votes" of his fellow cOuntrymen.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera born November
21 1857 at the city of QueZaltenango, in the in
terror of Guatemala He studied law at the ma
tionaI capital and was appointed governor OF the
Department of Retalhuleu and, in 1886, chief JUS
tice of his native city OF QuezaltenangO But
these posts were not big enough for his amoi-
lions. He managed to get himself appointed Sc
gundo Designado" second vice president, OF
the republic And then, when President BarriOs
quite a long-distance ruler himself-was assas-
snated in 1898, Cabrera his chance AS sec
ond vice president, he was not the man who would
automatically succeed BarriOS-there was first
vice president in the way. But that tribe didn't
bother him. He is said to have walked into
meeting of the big of the Barrios govern
ment laid a revolver down on the table before
Them and remarked:
Gentlemen. 1 president of Guatemala!
He was right And he has been president of
Guatemala ever since. The term president as
has been limited, is putting 1t far too mildly.
car in the palmiest days of czarism, Roman
emperor at the height of imperial ROme's power,
p bIoO1-thirsty despot of the far east, might well
envy Manuel Estrada Cabrera, firmly seated
his Central American throne in this year of grace
1920 cheerfu!Iy acting in a way that would have
made a 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 every
thing that would insure his remaining sole arbiter
of Guatemalan destinies, simply marvellous.
The members of the Guatemalan assembly, though
1t Is externally perfectly good legislative body,
modelled on the parliaments Of really democratic
lands are simply his creatures-Or his enemies
say 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, acute the sus-
picion aroused by the dictatOr's methods, well
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
since he realizes quite well that his power rests
on bayonets. The private soldiers are recruited
by force and get only few cents day. The Of
fcers, too. are poorly paid, but they like the CT
william officials of Cabrera, are not, according to
common belief. deprived OF means Of improving
their stipends.
Cabrera has escaped assassination in miracu-
Ious ways. The attempts to kill him have been
far from bungiing essays by amateurs; they show
skill in planning that should place them high
among the classics Of their kind. As result OF