The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-09
by MILTON nR0NNER

LONDON, Oct. s.--There'R CLINT
Of steel In the eyes OF Don Miguel
Primo dc Rivera. MARQUES de EStelia.
military director OF Spain. when IL
flashes. whole nation trcmbles--
and he just laughs.
For Rivera. apostle of strong arm
methods, has battered his way 20 the
foremost position in Spain. and has
made himself one OF the powers OF
Europe, hut no has never loas bis
sense o. humof
Ia some aspects his advent TO
power ia only purely local matter.
In others. Il IL an Indication Of the
wave OF reaction that 10 setting in
OIL over Europe.
In Germany IL follows the banner
Of Hitler. In France II manlfes,s
itself In the 'Cnmclois du Roi"-the
wild young airiplingr who pretend 10
believe they can restore royalty TO
the throne there. In Italy Il is ias.
cism and Mussolini. In Spain Il 10
Dc Rivera and rule by the army.
Mussolini overturned constitutional
government IN Italy by forming an
army outside Of Tho army. The king
bowed TO an accomplished fact
In Spain De Rivera overturned
constitutional government by means
OF the army. The king was nppar.
entity IN on the know and delighted
TO SEQ the politicians turned out.
Mussolini sprang from the people
and had once been a socialist. Do
Rivera belongs 10 tho artsiocraey and
IL counted among this intimate
I friends Of the king.
He inherited his title from tho late
Marshal Don Fernando Primo do III.
vera. on whom Il wna bestowed for
his services in fighting the support
( era Of Don Carlos, the ptetendcr q
the spanish throne.
Tho present marques has seen
service In all spaln'a recent wars
in Cuba. the Philippines and in
Morocco. Wherever he went. he
flashed his oyes--and won. He has
several times been wounded on The
battlefield.
In spite OF his title, he has an NJ.
I fable. gay. democratic manner and a
sense OF humor which further en-
dears him to those who meet him.
once fugitive minister Of foreign
affairs fled to France in an automo'
ollie and duly notified Rivera OF the
fact. "All right" replied Rivera by
wire. THAT makes no difference,
but send back tho auto. II belongs
to tho state"
Aside from the army and the king,
he has the support Of the great bust
ness interests who were tired OF the
continued anarchy in the great indus
trial towns. notably Barcelona and
Bllboa.
The mass OF the peasantry az a
political force Is nil II is illitorate-
one OF the most illiterato in all Eu
rope. II In npathetc. II has little
political power. Tho elections in the
country districts are mere farces
staged by managing committees OF
great landowners and the peasant
farmers who own the blgger.sized
farms. The small farmers and the
peasant farm hands have little or
no voice.
There are two great questions dis
turbing Spain which De Rivera will
have to face.
First The situation in Morocco.
Seccnd-The situation in Catalonia
For 10 years Spain has been drain
ing herself OF men and money In
fruitless wars with the wild Riffian
tribes in TINT portion OF Morocco
which she claims as her protectorate
The Moslems have licked the stuff
ing out OF the Spanish troops. The
officers have proved themselves sin
gulnrly lnept The peasants are bit
ter against their sons being taken
/