Evening star., 1923-08-01

sepntry; in spite of the dsnials Of his
Peru can hear much against the ma
tion's president, of his iron hand, of
his overstepping his constitutional
powers, of men being hustled off to
prison without trial, and of men dis
appearing altogether.
4 Approve of Acts.
s.It is said by North Americans and
pglishmen who live here that there
much truth in many of these
arges. yet these same sources of
Formation seem to approve of
Fesident Legua's course. They as
rt that it is the way of the Peru
latin n-Americans-who take their
politics very seriously and believe
that direct action against their polit-
ical enemies Is the proper course.
ton to President Leguia is due to his
promoting of certain reforms that
mean fewer jobs and hard times for
professional politicians.
This is the second term for Presi-
dent Leguia. Though his first was
tumultuous, the second has kept him
Just as busy. The interval between
his two terms he spent in England
and there he absorbed lot of useful
. Information concerning modern meth
odS or administering government
affairs. He tossed his hat into the
Peruvian political ring again
couple of years ago and in spite of
hot opposition was reelected to the
presidency and to four years more OF
lighting political intrigues. One of
his first acts was to reform the
finances of the country-nearly always
needed in South and Central American
countries.
Financial Reforms
This reform was No. on his pro-
gram: and in November DR.. William
w. Cum mberland, a North American
was installed as financial adviser Of
the government Hard pickings" de-
Veloped at once for the professional
politicians who in the past had known
some somet- easy eIsnaHn methods Of tapping the
was made superintendent of customs
and director OF the national reserve
bank, and modern methods of ac-
counting for money paid in and dis
6ursed were put into force; AS the
on It's customs receipts the installa-
tlon of a perfectly working account
Ing system at this most important
spot in the financial organization of
the government instantly started
Peru on the road to recover her
financial equilibrium.
Postal and telegraph reforms came
next, or were started. and then fol-
lowed movement to improve the
educational system, with North Amer
wise the work. But the economic
breakdown of Europe and the loss of
many of Peru's markets nearly pros
trated the government so that salaries
were not paid for months at times,
public works had to be abandoned and
the educational reform suffered ex-
tremely. Yankee teachers along
with native saw long periods of time
between pay checks.
inauguration of these reforms
brought on the bitterest fight from
President Leguia's enemies, but he
clung to his program. 1t is claimed
thdt there is continual battle of
wits between Leguia and the opposi-
tIon political crowd. Thus far the
president and his friends seem TO
have won.
outwitting His Enemies.
Small in stature, President Leruia
appears to be absolutely fearless. At
one time a group OF his enemies
sought to force him to resign at the
point of a revolver, but he refused and
by a seeming act of providence es-
capped.
According to report, the latest plot
of Leguia's enemies was Frustrated
very recently by the secret service