Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
BY WALDO DOUGLAS.

Y ATTN AMERICA is growing safe
for democracy. Formerly 1t was
an everyday story to hear of
IL new relationships being installed
in different republics of Central
and South America. Periods of peace
full and normal political activities were
almost exceptions, GASES between one
strong government and another The
"iron-hand" leaders. the traditional
"caudillos," seemed to be imperishable
in Latin America, and public opinion
there, ignorant of democratic principles
and the benefits of true self-govern-
nfent, was supposed to be pleased with
dictatorial methods and with dictatorial
rule. Hence ambitious executives and
I leaders found no difficulty in perpetrat-
ing themselves in power for indefinite
periods OF time by means of reelection,
extension Of terms, coups d'etat, etc.
The recent political events in Bolivia
seem to correct, however, the false i'm
preston that the Latin American ma
lions are still unaware of the funda-
mentals of democracy. The mere sus-
picion that President fernando SileS
had the intention of remaining in
power after his legal term had expired
IN August next aroused great discon-
tent and opposition all over the country,
which finally broke out in an open
nominally, three weeks ago and a con-
vention was convoked, under his direc-
ton. to reform the constitution and
permit his reelection to the presidency.
The Bolivian constitution prohibits
reelection of the Chief Executive for
second consecutive term, and it was
IN order to escape this legal barrier
that President Siles resigned and left
the government in the hands of his
cabinet. This was, Of course, made up of
his own political friends, all appointed by
hlmseH. Nobody was, therefore, sur
prlsed when the governing cabinet
called general elections for a national
convention which should reform the
constitution and select accordingly the
new head of the nation. 1t was we'll
understood since the first moment, that
all this procedure, in open conflict with
the provisions of the constitution, was
to end with the denomination of DR..
Siles for a new term of four wears, as
the projected convention would be en-
tirely formed by his closest political
followers and partisans.
Revolt Results.
No sooner did this conviction begin
to spread among the people, than
rumors of political dissatisfaction and
possible turmoilS we're felt in Bolivia.
The first incident occurred about two
weeks ago, when Roberto Hinojosa, an
element of we'll known communistic
affiliations, seized by surprise the small
town of VillaZon in the Bolivian
Argentine border with the aid of some
80 armed men. This movement, having
communistic appearance, had no
moral support nor sympathy in the
public opinion and was easily overcome
by the intervention of an army unit
which captured some of its leaders and
restored order in VillaZon. Now, how
ever, 1t is believed that the Villazon
uprising was nothing but a means to
distract the governments attention
from the real revolutionary plans.
In effect, a few days after legal
troops had been sent to the Argentine
border and had defeated the so-called
communistic rebellion, the Camacho
regiment with headquarters in Oruro,
the second important city of Bolivia,
issued a proclamation against the
irregular government of the Siles cabinet
and counting upon the moral support of
public opinion demanded that a mill
tary Junta be established in the capital
TO take over Professionally the admin
lstratlon, call free and popular elections
and maintain internal order until a
new normal regime had been inau-
gurated in accordance with the consti-
tuition.
The army thus presented itself as the
constitutional champion and the in
Surgent Camacho regiment found no
resistance at all on the part of the
Oruro authorities, who surrendered