New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Dato. Conservative Lead.
er, Shot in Street of Ma
drid by Motorcyclist :
Chauffeur Also Killed
Noted Lawyer,
Long in Power
Known as Unyielding in
His Opinions; Put Down
the 1917 Labor Revolt

was assassinated this evening while
returning from the Chamber Of Depu-
ties in a motor car. He was attacked
by several persons who fred number
of shots.
The actual assassin Of the Premier
was a man on a motorcycle, who fed
The chauffeur of the automobile in
which Premier Dato was ridin: also
vas killed
Eduardo Dato was recognized as one
OF the most conservative of the Con
selvatives in Spain He became leader
Of the 1.iberal-Conaervative PARTY. the
strongest political group in both the
Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, after the disappearancc Of
Canovas. Never ''ricnd Of the work
ing classes, and opposed to all re
forms, Dato acquired the height of his
reputation for sternness in August.
1917, when he suppressed with the
utmost energy the workers movement.
Although apparently Of e-ntle tenn
permanent. Dato possessed q e-ill Of
iron and never discussed - sub1ec5
with anv one once le had made up his
mind on IL.
Won Prominence Eatly
Dato, who WAS born in Corunna in
is9o, = son OF farming folk, became ore
o. the foremost lawyers in Spain while
vet a young man. ITc was edvcated in
schools in Madrid and studied law ct
The university there he was admitted
70 the oar IN 1875 and two yeas later
re opened a. Office IN the Spanish
capital His talents were early lecog-
nized and his rise in the courts ,vas
RAPID. Two years after lie was a.
mitted to practice he vas & contri0t.
Tor 10 leading periodical OF Madrid.
slon. In 1876 he published well
known history Of urisprudence.
He vas elected deputy fer the first
time in 1884 for the district Of Murias
de Paroles, province Of Leon. Fe was
reelected 10 repreeent the same distri ct
IN 1891, 1893 and 1888 lie was in these
early days Of his career follower
Of Canoves del Castillo, leader of the
Conservative party. He later broke
away from this party with Francisco
Silvela, when the latter founded the
=,
during the national crisis which fol-
lowed the war with the United States
Sefor Dato was d Supporter of Sill
vela in the stand which he took in
this national crisis. Tle gave his sup
port 20 The signing OF the treaty Of
peace with the United States. and led
a bitter attack in the Cortes on the
Sagasta government for having been
unable TO avert the war.
Overthrows Old Regime
Because Of the ennlity which sprang
up between Silvela and Sagasta at this
time. Silvela and Dato finally sue
ceeded in overthrowing the Sagasta re
gime. Silvea was offered the post OF
Premier, and he accepted in March,
1899. lie appointed Senor Dato Min
lister Of the Interior.
1t was during this period that the
tght with the Vatican over the senara-
ton of the Church from the State was
begun. Silvela and Dato fought for
the rights Of the Church. They vigor-
erals, but the fight was in vain.
When in 1913 Antonio Maura, several
times Premier, declined 10 accept the
offer Of King Alfonso TO form rev
Cabinet on the ground that the Con
servatives would not have q majority
il. the Cortes. the post was offered to
Dato.
Dato, On accepting the post, was sue
cessful in dispelling The impending
crisis. which Maura foresaw, by de-
clarlng an election early in February
Of the following year, and dissolvins
the Cortes until that time
Dato always was warm admirer OF
the French, and when he became Pre-
mier he outlined SPAIN policy in re-
gard to France as one Of open cordial
ity. During the war this friendship
was uninterrupted.
Dato's position as leader in Spain
was threatened during the national dis
turoances Of 1917 and 1918. Twice dur
ing this period the Premier was forced
TO form new cabinets.
Dato was vice president OF the Royal
Academy Of Jurisprudence and Legisla
tion Of Madrid II was the author of
a number Of works on legal subjects.