Evening star., 1926-03-28
More Than so Candidates Enliven
Haiti'S New Presidential Campaign
Island Which Has United States Will Undertake
ter Yearso of Turmoil
BY COL. FRANK r. EVANS.

"A island of the West Indies.
4 \ where the United States. 70,
lowing its military interyen-
ton in the Summer of 1915, has
through treaty obligations assumed
the task of guiding the Haitian people
toward the goal of financial and eco
nornic reconstruction. On April II
the Haitian Council of State. COM
posed of 81 representative Haitians
from every district of the picturesque
island, will elect it's president for a
term of four years. President Louis
Rorno is the leading candidate, but
80 other candidates have already
tossed their hats into the political
ring, and the little island is seething
with interest.
Uncle Sam. despite his vital interest
In the outcome. has assumed a policy
O. hands off, but the reelection OF
President Borno would tit in adrai
rably with the program of progress
that the United States has put into
execution with such gratifying results
under Bornos able administration.
Louis Borno, the president, has
striking personality, The avera ge
American, on meeting him, with due
consideration of the difference in race,
mentally is struck by a certain resem-
blance to Woodrow Wilson. In ply
Sique, tall and slender, in the con-
tours of his face, his eyeglasses, and
q certain PROFESSIONAL appearance,
this resemblance exists. His fluent
and impeccable diction further sug-
CestS it. BY education Borno was a
lawyer, another coincidence, before ne
entered into politics and became the
president of his country.
Under former administrations Borno
was Haitian minister for foreign rela-
tions and finance, and served as min
lister to the neighboring republic of
Santo Domingo. He speaks English,
French and German fiuently, and
while in Santo Domingo mastered
Spanish. Dignified, and yet with
much vivacity at times, he has a we'll
defined charm of manner. Nine.
Borno is handsome consort, and both
are the type familiar in Cuba's cir
ces where Spanish blood strongly pre-
dominates.
X K X i
THE Inauguration of President Borno
on May Is, 1922. presented a spec
taCle unique in Haitian history, that
OF a newly elected chief of state at
tending the inaugural ceremonies in
company with the retiring one. In
the stormy 11S years between the
birth of the Republic of Haiti and
our intervention in 1915 Haiti had
heen ruled by one king. two emperors,
and % presidents. Fourteen of them
served for less than one year of the
statutory term of seven. Just prior
to our. intervention there had been
seven presidents in less than four
years.
OF this long line but one had lived
to fill out the full term. The others
had been deposed by revolutions. fed
ir+ l,ud n
assassination by knife. bullet or
poison At the conclusion of the in
augural ceremonies of Borno, how
ever. his predecessor, DartiguenaVe,
retired with full honors to his cOun
try seat.
When Dartiguenave was elected
president the vote was cast by the
Haitian Senate and Chamber of Depu-
ties. In 1917 Dartiguenave dissolved
the two bodies. which were in con-
stant state of ferment. and obstruct-
ing all legislation. A council of state,
appointed by and responsible to the
president. took the place of the two
bodies. consisting OF 81 members, with
three from each of the territorial dis
tricts of the country. Under the
Haitian constitution of 1918. however,
II was provided that the first legisia-
tive elections should be held on Janu-
ary 10 of an even year, and the presi-
dent was empowered to designate that
year by issuing a decree for the pri-
mary electoral assemblies on a date
not later than October 10 of the year
preceding the elections for the Senate
and the Chamber of Deputies.
When President BOrno decided not
10 set the date last October he gave
his reasons for postponing the eiec-
tions until 1928. or later. in decree.
He asserted his firm intention TO carry
out the constitutional provision when
his people were sufficiently prepared
TO exercise franchise, but held that
at the present time. with q people of
whom 80 per cent were absolutely
i'Iiterate. such course would be
ruinous to Haiti's welfare.
In his statement he rehearsed the
anarchy and bloodshed of successive
civil wars that had brought Haiti to
The verge OF ruin; paid tribute to the
constructive work of the American
intervention, and denounced the poll
tiCians who were clamoring for cleo
tionS as obStructionistS who would de-
stroy the progress Of the republic for
their selfish ends.
The enemies OF Borno made great
use of the argument that, as the coun-
ell of state is appointed by and re-
Sponsible to Borno, his reelection was
predetermined. Dartiguenave. his
predecessor, however, although an ac-
tive candidate for reelection. was de-
feated by the votes of his own coun-
Gil of state.
Undeterred by the prospect candi-
dates to dispute the election with
Borno multiplied, until they passed
the half-century mark. Among them
were few men Of real ability. but
the bulk OF the list was made up of
men who, if successful would speed
lily have undOne the splendid work
hat the American High Commissioner
and his staff of treaty experts have
accomplished. through steadfast CO.
operation with President Boruo.
= x :: <
THE average Haitian politician is
an intensely developed opportunist.
Haiti knows but two parties, the ms
and the Outs. National spirit is at
a low tide. TO an American not ia
miliar with the background of Haiti
L IL lNs1