Evening star., 1923-08-17
THE OWL TAXI
BY Herbert Footner
Copyright

BY Herbert FOotner
Copyright by George 81. Doran Company

army is largely recruited from neigh
boring states. 1t is plentlfully sup
piled with machine guns. With the
judges and the machine guns on the
other side what could poor man
do? Our so-called popular elections
were of the nature of a comic opera.
'As a matter of fact, there has been
little open discomfort. The odds were
too hopeless. The most dreadful fea-
ture of the situation was the people s
apathy.
"The one champion who never lost
faith in them was Antonio Bareda;
patient. great-hearted, and Of daunt-
less courage, he was well fitted to be
the friend of the oppressed. For the
last eight years or so, or ever since
things began to go to the bad, he
had been working for them: During
that time his life has been a long
record of petty prosecutions on the
part of the authorities. But his very
simplicity and candor baffled his ene-
mics. He gave them no handle to use
against him. His clear gaze struck a
, secret terror to their souls They
dared not take extreme measures
against him on account of his hold
on the affections of the people. They
feared that his death might provoke
even that wretched race to rebel.
He lately came to the conclusion
that the people must have outside
! help in order to free themselves. He
determined to appeal to the United
States through your President. The
late elections in Managuay provided
| his opportunity. AS | have said our
elections are no more than cynical
joke. For some years now the gang S
candidates have been returned un-
| the help OF a few of us working in
| absolute secrecy Bareda succeeded In
forming at least the skeleton of a
political organization and in putting
| up opposition candidates.
| "Of course, we did not expect 10
| win. Our candidates U was one Of
| tbem) were either bribed. arrested or
| bludgeoned. Nevertheless we gained
our point, which was to put the cor
| ruption of the government on record
Antonio Bareda prepared a report OF
| that election, supported by dozen
| afhdavits attesting to examples OF
| subordination, bribery, assault, intim
| idation. etc. That is the matter that
| is bound up in the little black book
Secret as we We're, our purpose be-
| came known. of course; they have
] their spies everywhere. 1t threw d
! panic into the enemies camp. Bareda
| was on his way to carry IL to the
president when he was killed. 1t was
Bareda's intention to appeal to your
| President to withdraw his recognl-
tion from the present illegal govern.
ment OF ManaGuay, and for him &c
insist on an honest election being
held, II necessary under guard OF
United States marines. He was or
his way to Washington when he was
killed.
Il helped get the matter together
but did not see the little book after
| 1t was finished. l was to have ac-
companied him as interpreter but a
few days before we were to sail was
again arrested on trumped-u
charge and thrown into jail. He
dared not delay his departure-he had
to have somebody to interpret for
him-and so he fell into their trap
With the help of my friends
| managed TO break Jail in Santiago
/ one devoted fellow is serving there
now in my place. But l was too late
to catch the Allianca. learned thai
de Socotra had departed secretly In
| his yacht for an unknown destina-
ton. and / did not require TO be told
| that extreme danger threatened my
! friend and my master. The captain
/ or a small coasting steamer came tc
my assistance. He smuggled me