Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-01
president KEPT BY ECUADOR,
MASTERFUL INCAS DESCENDANT
Ayora, Whose Resignation
Was Refused, Active as
Surgeon.
American Experts Called in
Applying Remedies of
National Ills.
BY REX COLLIER.

% hEA CULLEN.
DR.. Isidro Ayora, bronzed descendant
of the Incas. whose resignation as
President Of Ecuador was refused yes
terday by the National Congress, is
one of the most colorful and progressive
executives in South America.
He didn't want to be President in the
first place, but the pleas of his people
prevailed and he finally accepted the
post of provisional President.
In acceding to the wishes of the
clamoring populace DR.. Ayora, how
ever, exacted what is probably the
Strangest proviSo in the history Of
Latin America.
Under the approved arrangement he
was to continue on a part-time basis
his private medical practice.
Accordingly, he presided over his
medical Office in the morning and over
his nation In the afternoon. Every
morning he treated human ills and
every afternoon the Ills of government
And there was an abundance of gov
ernmental ills to be treated when DR..
Ayora assumed the Office OF President
The story of how DR.. Ayora diagnosed
his country's economic troubles and adj
miniStered drastic measures that re-
stored new life to the republic is one
well known to President Hoover, who
met and gained the sincere friendship
of the Ecuadoran medico- President
during the good will tour of 1928.
Prescribed Special Board.
The treatment which DR.. Ayora had
patient included the ministrations of a
special board of expert conSultants from
the United States.
The Ayora story is one to capture
popular imagination. Before becoming
provisional President, DR.. Ayora was a
stranger to politics. In the world of
medicine and surgery, however, he had
an enviable reputation. His attachments
had gained him wide renown throughout
Ecuador and extending over the whole
continent of South America.
There came one OF the periodic revo-
buttons, which have beSet the equatorial
republic since its early days. The con-
stitutional government was overthrown
by military coup and for a while the
country was ruled by two military lead
ers, who were excellent soldiers, but poor
statesmen. The revolutioniStS them
selves senSed q threatening economic
collapse unless the government were put
In more efficient hands.
A hunt was launched for q man who
could step into the lettering situation
.
seemed TO gravitate naturally toward
Or. Ayora. He had the confidence of
all the people as a professional man,
and he had displayed enough admins
trative capacity in public welfare work,
that he was the logical choice
DIR. Ayora was very reluctant to ac-
cept the job. Indeed, he absolutely
refused the presidency, when first 1t was
offered him. The military tribunal was
insiStent, however, and it was then he
agreed to take the role on his half
day basis.
Calls on Advisers.
Perhaps the military men had thought
DR.. Ayora would serve merely as q
fgurehead, anyway. If that was their
thought, they soon learned otherwise.
The physician astounded his country by
announcing plan for finding what was
wrong with Ecuador. He let it be known
ne was summoning economic advisers
from the United States to help him in
his task.
Prof. Edwin w. Kemmerer of Prince
ton University and staff of assistants
were called in and given q free hand
IN diagnosing Ecuador's financial trou-
bleS. The commission of experts went
to work and finally handed in their re-
port. It called for rs economic reforms
deemed essential to the financial re-
Mobilization Of the republic. Among
these were recommendations for estab-
lishment of national bank, promulga-
ton OF a budget law, adoption of new
methods OF taxation and revision of
customs duties.
Without question DR.. Ayora proceeded
to carry out the recommendations. The
entire financial structure Of the gov
eminent was reorganized. A central
bank was set up, mortgage bank for
agriculture formed, bank founded for
the special purpose of relieving the gov
eminent OF an enormous pension bur-
q general banking law was passed and.
for the first time in Ecuador's history,
the national budget was balanced.
Fiscal Experts Cabinet.
In addition, DR.. Ayora formed 'lit-
tie cabinet" of American fiscal experts
to insure smooth operation of the re-
organized government. American citi-
zens were appointed to the posts of
controller general, director general of
customs. financial adviser to the ma
tional bank and superintendent gen.
eral of banks.
AS q result, Ecuador experienced a
novel financial renaissance. Although
a cacao blight doomed on Ecuador's
chief industry, Dr. Ayora met the emer-
gency by inStituting agricultural re-
searches designed to find profitable
substitute for cacao as major crop.
At the same time the President at
tended to other pressing needs of his
people. He foStered development of
such public works as highways, rail-
ways and sanitation, created social
welfare board TO adjust the labor prob
lem. sponsored child welfare law and
provided free education for working
men.
No Lack Of Opposition.
All these far-reaching changes were
not effected wholly without opposition.
One report has it that a group Of mil
itary leaders became so incensed that
they plotted his overthrow by force. He
subdued the plotters and banished
them.
Then DR.. Ayora called the National
Assembly into session, delivered an i'm
passioned lecture on the state OF the
unVarYaVnanf aud rAutonaH 6iS