Evening star., 1924-09-17
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

Chile has overthrown it's presi-
dency.
Chile. which stipulates in its con-
stitution that its military shall un-
der no circumstances meddle in the
government, has permitted a bloc or
army and navy officers tprofessing to
be backed by the people) to drive out
Of Office the constitutional cabinet:
then, when President Alessandri had
formed a new cabinet pledged to
bring about the demanded reforms.
he, too, was driven from Office.
The deposed President with his
family, knocked at the door of the
American Embassy some time after
midnight, and announced that he had
resigned the chief magistry of his
country, and asked admission and
protection. The next day the Chilean
Senate, voted by is to IL, against ac-
cepting his resignation, but permitted
him six months leave of absence
from the country. This he refused.
Chile stretches as far north and
south between the Andes on its east
and the Pacific on it's west as the
United States reaches from New York
to San Francisco. It's total popula-
tion is 3,774.485, according to the
1921 census.
There are 10000 workmen engaged
in the copper mines and Industries:
10000 in nitrate industry and $4,000
in coal mining. In recent years
large manufacturing enterprises have
developed in the production of shoes,
flour, wines and industrial alcohol.
Iron ore is abundant and is shipped
to Scotland, besides extensive use
both in Chile and by the Bethlehem
Steel Company in the United States.
Owing to the unrest. the govern
ment has made strenuous efforts to
induce immigration; but emigration
has nearly if not quite surpassed
immigration. Some years as high as
10000 workmen have migrated to
other South American countries
where labor conditions were supposed
to be better.
The constitution Of Chile, adopted
in 1893, is based, partly. upon that of
the United States and partly upon
that of France. The President is
chosen for five years by an electoral
college which is elected by popular
vote. Every citizen Is entitled to
vote, IL 81 years of age and able to
read and write.
From the biginning of the
republic Chile has really been ruled py
an oligarchy Of landed proprietors
and very rich industrialists. Lord
James Bryce, in his book, South
America: Observations and impress
sions," says: 1T is sometimes said
that 100 families rule Chile"
The oligarchy controls the Senate,
which consists of 81 members. The
masses are more nearly represented
in the House of Deputies, where there
are at present 11S members-one for
each $4,000 constituents. In the House OF
Deputies there are six or eight parties
all of which profess to favor the re-
forms; but each Is jealous lest other
factions get credit for passing any
real reforms, so no agreement Is
reached.
The Chilean cabinet has more power
than that Of the United States. Our
cabinet acts as q council of the Presi-
dent, who, however, 10 under no obli-
CATION to accept it's advice; all execu-
tive decisions rest with our Presi-
dent. Not SO in Chile; responsibility
is divided.
Mr.. c. Reginald Enock, F. r. g., in
q book published two years ago. says:
while the upper and educated class
and the land-holdinE oligarchies
which govern the republic are well
advanced in comfort and civilization
they form but . small minority, and
the bulk OF the population OF Chile,
like that OF other Andean republics.
il poor and ignorant in the extreme,
and the workers, as class, are with.