The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-15

: aH- IN r. w p * - :,
mond Hitchcock, Willie Collier
and others made the musical
comedy revolution famous in
America, but it remained for the
gentlemen of Paraguay to give to
the world the first "Follies Re
VOLT
Their real life show beat any
thing on which Flo Ziegfeld ever
raised acurtain. And they do say
that Flo is cunning now for
Paraguayan diplomats for leading
roles in 1928.
Echoes Of the "Follies Revolt"
are still rumbling UP and down
South America. Cable stories tell
how revolutionists + attacking
the capital and being beaten back.
That is probably only Gondra
footing up for the final ensemble.
Gondra? He is in the Paraguay
an presidents chair when the cur
tain goes up on the first act.
George AIDE, in his The Sui
tan Of Su1u," didn't get Frank
Moulan into any more complicat-
ed straits than Gondra got into as
i a result Of the "Follies Revolt
How 1t Happened.
1t all came about like this:
In 1921 a Scandinavian named
Fred Engen was in the farm land
| business in Canda. Much OF his
work was among the great Men
monte colonies.
The Mennonites, originally from
Russia, politically are Scommunistic
and religiously are dyed-in-the-
| wool pacifsts. They were dissat-
isfed with Canada and were con-
templating migration.
Paraguay is just the place."
Engen told the leaders, and he
hustled down to South America
to see what arrangements could
| be made.
1t was a big enterprise Sixty
thousand men, women and chill
| dren were to be moved about
1000 miles. Nearly all were
farmers. An immense amount Of
land would be needed Govern
ment guarantees were needed that
would satisfy the migrators.
Engen Fixes Things.
Engen fixed it all Up. He ar
ranged to buy thousands of acres
in the Paraguayan Chaco, or will
derness. The Mennonites and
their descendants were to be ex-
| emp.ed from military service.
They e to pay no taxes for ten
years.
It was said at Asuncion, the
Paraguayan capital, that Engen
! spent 100000 to accomplish
this. But if he moved the Men
|nonites, he stood to make mil
lions.
Certain folk in Asuncion and
down to Buenos Aires looked with
Jealous eyes at the millions En-
gen was already counting for him
- Ha-- TI,11y n n fod r. 10 ha in a. on
it. But Engen just laughed at
them-and went back to Canada
to complete arrangements.
Ha, a RevoIution!
The jealous ones began to plot.
. In true musical comedy style they
gathered in the cafes and Matched
plans. They argued like this:
The Mennonites are pacifists.
If they think theirs due to be a
lot of fighting in Paraguay re-
volution, for instance-they won't
want to come. Let's send a lot of
revolution talk to Canada, Engen
won't believe it, but the Mennon-
ties will, and to prevent his plans
from falling through Engen will
have to come to US to get the
stories stopped.
Dispatches soon were going to
Canada telling of a Paraguayan
movement against President Con
dra for acquiesing in the Men
monte concessions.
These brought inquiries from
the north as to the name Of the
revolutionary leader.
They Find a Leader
ID One had to be found in a hur-
ry. The conspirators persuaded
DR.. e. Ayala to jump into the role.
He was well known in the north,
having represented Paraguay at
the north. having represented
Paraguay at the second Pan
American financial conference IN
Washington.
Things moved rapidly. Doctor
Ayala played his part admirably.
Engen became increasingly I'M
easy. The conspirators, %convinc-
ed that the time a ripe, got
ready to submit their demands on
him and to call Off Doctor Ayala
and his revolution.
Then came the third act. The
plot thickened. Ayala refused to
quit.
I've got this imitation revolu-
ton SO we'll started that it looks
as If it might work." he said.
I'm going through with it, and
nave @ s-tsF #0'
The Worm Turns.
The p%lotters protested that it
wouldaspoil Engen's plans and
their own plans to get his money.
.Aya1a replied that it was too bad,
but he fancied the idea of being
president of Paraguay.
And pull" a revolution he did.
Doctor Gondra resigned, with
an automatic pointed at either
side OF his head as he signed the
papers. And Doctor Ayala step
ped in.
Now Gondra, with his second
wind regained, seems to be trying
to5get back.
And the Mennonites? Most of
them are still in Canada. Those
that did move went to Mexico.
It's quieter there