The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-17
MUSSOLINI OF
HAITI TIGHTENS
GRIP ON isle
Black President Sets Self
Up as Dictator Over
Tiny Republic.
UNCLE SAM CRITICISED
United States Accused of
Winking at Oppression in
West Indies.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS.
Scripps Howard Foreign Editor

ocTlpps-HoWard Foreign Editor
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-Under
the protecting folds of the American
flag, fiuttering over the black re-
public of Haiti, a dark-skinned
Mussolini, full-fledged and unafraid,
is developing in the person Of
President Louis Borno.
Next April brings with 1t the
Haitian presidential election. In
anticipation thereof, according to
press reports from Port au-Prince,
the willy Borno has issued an edict,
the effect Of which will be to give
him full power either to name him
self to office again or pick his own
successor.
In 1880 Borno will have been
president eight years, having served
tive terms. The presidential tenure
having been increased to six years
by recent decision, if Borno con-
tlnues to hold on he will thus be-
come more or less of a fixture in
| Office, to the ire of considerable
portion of the people.
Assembly Not in Session
The national assembly, composed
of fifteen senators and thirty-six
members of the chamber of dep
uties, is not in session. There has
been no such body since it was dis
solved by President Dartiguenave
in 1917. Ordinarily, this body elects
the president, but in it's absence
the nomination is made by the
council of state, a body composed
OF twenty-one members, three from
each Of the seven political divisions
within the republic.
Since the president names the
members of this council, and can
remove them, quite obviously he can
bring about his own reelection or
dictate the nomination of the man
Of his choice.
Considerable bitterness is reported
in the island against President
Borno's dictatorial way. He had
given the people to understand that
new national assembly would be
elected by popular vote next April,
which freely elected body would
then name a chief executive.
United States Is Criticised
The situation naturally brings
criticism upon the United States
not only in Haiti, but, as usual in
such cases, throughout Latin Amer
lea. This is true, regardless of the
merits of BornoS contention that
the blind passions of opposing poll
ticians have created a situation dan
gerous to the peace and order of the
country and that the people hardly
can be trusted to vote at this time.
The United States interviewed In
Haiti in 1915, following some Of the
bloodiest scenes ever witnessed in
the West Indies. Seven presidents
came and went in the five years fol-
lowing 1910, the last, President Sam,
literally being torn to pieces by O.
mob.
Following the massacre Of some
200 political prisoners held in the
Haitian bastile, Sam took refuge In
the French legation, whence he was
dragged and killed during the fu-
neral of the victims.
Following traditional American
policy it then t"came a case Of In
tervening herself or of standing by
while France or some other Eu-
ropean power interviewed.
Uncle Sam in Charge
Since then Haiti has been under
the wing of Uncle Sam. BY treaty
he is pledged to look after her
finances, health, public order and
general advancement until such a
time as she can do these things for
herself.
Automatically, the treaty Is TO
terminate in 1886, by which time, it
is hoped, the Haitians themselves
mostly Negroes and mulattoes de-
scended from the early French set
tlers-will be able TO take over.
A high commissioner, appointed
by the President Of the United
States, is the real ruler Of Haiti. I'M
der him are marine and naval off,
GERS commanding the military or
police force of the republic, together
with other key men. The United
States, therefore, has made itself re-
sponsible for what happens in the