The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-09-17
HUGHES BEARD
CANNOT COVER
UP LAUNDERING
Pulled Boner on South
American Relations
BY LAURENCE TODD.
Federated Press STAR Correspondent

kreuerateu rresS StaH CorreSponuent,1
WASHINGTON, Sept. is.
Secretary Hughes modest dec
Iaration, in his supplement to
the republican campaign text
book, that our relations with
Latin-America were never bet
ter, may have to be crossed out.
Those relations were bad
enough when he wrote the
statement, but the military
overthrow of the constitutional
government in Chile has made
them worse. And the worse
they grow, the more difficulty
does Mr.. Hughes find in finding
excuses for the compromises he
makes.
American Diplomacy.
Three months ago he warned Presi
dent Martinez of Nicaragua, who acct
dentally came into office while hold.
ing progressive views, that IL Mar.
tinez were reelected this year his
government would not be recognized.
Nicaragua's constitution forbids its
president to succeed himself in of.
fice
Today, Chile. has a military dicta,
torship, thanks to a conspiracy by
the leading officers of her army and
navy, who have sent President Aless.
andri, a radical, into exile and have
dissolved the congress, which has a
radical majority in both branches.
government, moreover, was accom-.
plished by direct violation of the
safety" clause in the Chilean consti.
tuition, which forbids military officers
to meet for discussion of any politi
cal subject.
The question naturally arises, will
Secretary Hughes point to the tatters
of the Chilean constitution, as he did
to the dog-ear on the Nicaraguan con-
stitution, and force the restoration Of
Alessandri to power?
Chile Smokers at Charlie.
That question answers itself. The
highest authorities" at the depart
ment may decline to discuss the situa.
ton, all they please, but the fact
stands out that Chile is big enough,
and important enough in the Latin.
American world, to laugh at the laws
of Mr.. Hughes imperialism. More
over, notice that Alessandri and the
congress are radical, and that they
were about to enact certain labor leg
islation demanded by the organized
workers of the Republic. What's
constitution, when it obstructs the re
moval of menace IkA that? Besides,
the military junta which is now call
ing a special election to "reorganize"
the government of Chile, has pretend.
ed to adhere to the constitution IL
some of the details Of procedure, af.
ter smashing the fundamentals. The
state department is looking for evi.
dence that the fascist coup at Santt
ago is quite all right.
Difficulties nevertheless present
themselves at once. In every other
Latin-American country there are
groups of politicians and military
chiefs who have hopes of a revolu
tionary rise to a presidency. They
will point to Hughes acceptance OF
the Chilean coup, and will announce to
their prospective followers that con.
stitutional safeguards do not apply to
any case involving a real military
success. Kill enough of the other
faction, and Hughes will take you to
his bosom.
Kicking over Traces.
Just as Mussolini has failed to con
vince his bandits that they must not
kill too many of their opponents with
out due provocation, so the imperial
headquarters at Washington is find
ing it impossible to keep all Of its
subject states in order. Brazil, Hon,
duras, Chile, all within a summer
have kicked over the traces placed
upon them by Mr.. Hughes. His veto
of their independent tendencines ex'
hibited at the Santiago conferences
last year has led them to greater &C.
tivity in the League of Nations, and to
new defiances of his mandate that
political changes shall be made only
in constitutional way.
The sum of the matter is that Latin
America is growing up. and is reject
ing the imperial pretensions of Wash
ington. 1t will enter the League OF
Nations, and it will go thru the po.
litical and social struggles incident to
the development of modern industry
and modern industrial relations, with
out asking consent Of Mr.. Hughes.
At the moment, Mexico and Brazil ara
q recovering from the unsuccessful at
n tempts of their old landed aristocrats
d and financiers to regain power by
. military revolt In Chile, the reaction.
aries have taken power but may be
unabla IN hold n National r,rida bos