The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-06-04

He has projected himself into in which
presidents" staying in power from decade 70
decade are distinctly unfashionable; In whlfn
there is altogether too much interest among Lat
in-Americans in elections and votes and otner
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 Oust him. He hoids the
worlds record for escaping assassination
Only two ong-distance autocrats of Latin
America have ruled more than Cabreras totai Oh
% years-Porfirio Diaz of Mexico and Dr. Fran
cia the famous ruler of Paraguay. The other
most famous dictators of Central and South Amer
lea despite the long of office, have not sue
ceeded in equang Cabreras total of years as
"president" of his native land. elected by the
"votes" of his fellow countrymen.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera was born November
q. 1857, at the city of Quezaltenango in the In
terror of Guatemala. He studied law at the ma
tjonal capital and appointed governor of the
Department of Retalhueu and, in 1886, chief JUS
tice of his native city of Quezaltenango But
these posts were not big enough for his amb-
tions He managed to get himself appointed Sc
gundo Designado," or second vice president OF
the republic. And then, when President Barrios
quite long-dstance ruler himself-was assas-
snated in 1885, Cabrera saw his chance. As sec
ond vice president, he was not the man who would
automatically succeed Barrios-there was a first
vice nresident i'm the way. But that trife didn't
bother him. He is said to have walked into
meeting of the big men of the Barrfos govern
ment, laid revolver down on the table before
them, and remarked:
"Gentlemen. l president of Guatemala "
He was right. And he has been president Of
Guatemala ever since. The term president" as
bas been hInted is putting 1t far too mildly.
ear in the palmiest days of czarism, Roman
emperor at the height of imperial Rome's power,
a blood-thirsty despot of the far east, might well
envy Manuel Estrada Cabrera, firmly seated
his Central American throne in this year of grace
1920 cheerfully 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 eye on every
thing that would insure his remaining sole arbiter
Of Guatemalan destines simply marvellous.
The members of the Guatemalan assembly, though
It is externally perfectly good legislative body.
modelled on the paraments of really democratic
lands, are simply his creatures-or SO his enemies
saw His cabinet ministers slaves. Every
where Cabrera has spies Nobody. native or for
eipn 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-
picion aroused by the dctator's methods so 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 large army, which he keeps efficient,
since he realizes quite well that his power rests
on bayonets. The private soldiers are recruited
nv force and get only few cents day. The Of
6cers, too poorly paid. but they, like the ci-
william officials of Cabrera, not. according to
common belief, deprived OF means OF improving
their stipends.
Cabrera has escaped assassination In miracu-
lous ways. The attempts to kill him have been
far from bunging essays by amateurs; they show
a skill In planning that should place them high
among the classics of their kind. AS a result of