Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-06
Failure of Spain's Dictator
Raises Hopes of Democracy

Resignation Of Gen. Primo de Rivera
as dictator of Spain and his failure
to achieve the reforms that he had
promised cause some hopeful specula-
ton on the beginning Of the end of the
era of relationships that followed the
World War. Mussolini is mentioned
as perhaps the next to be engulfed as
the tide of democracy again rises. There
is disagreement as to where King Al
fonso stands, and doubts as to the future
Of Spanish politics.
Tribute is paid to the record of
De Rivera in his six years of control,
by the Atlanta Journal, which is salts
fled that during his season of conf
dence and power he was an instru-
ment of much good for his country.
Certainly he leaves Spain more pros
porous and more progressive than he
found her. Roads have been built, in
dustries strengthened, trade quickened,
schools multiplied; and, whether by
his aid or no, the fires of Spanish
genius in its every native art have
waXed in a Splendor that is the worlds
admiration. After De Rivera, what?
Only the event can tell. The hope is
the others will build more ably and
more literally on his foundations"
X X X X
with a less resolute man in control
OF the government there is little doubt
that Spain would have gone down to
ruin through civil war years ago." ac-
cording to the Seattle Daily Times,
while the Scranton Times maintains
that he performed a real SERVICE" for
back in 1928, when he stepped in,
there was wide dissatisfaction with
economic conditions, not to mention
the many scandals growing out of the
war between Spain and African tribes
men, making the country fertile field
for Reds and those intent on over
throwing the monarchy"
THE six years have seen more of
his promises redeemed than his enemies
are willing to admit" declares the
Richmond News Leader, suggesting
that perhaps the most substantial
achievement, industrially, has been the
establishment of sympathy and the
expansion of trade between Spain and
her former children Of the Latin Amer
lean world" The Chattanooga Times
thinks he appears ito have lifted Spain
meaSurably out of the bog into which
1t had sunk through parliamentary
wrangling and incompetence"
X X
His failure is emphasized by the
Hartford Courant, with the statement:
opposed by the intellectuals of Spain
from the first, he subsequently lost the
support of the students, then of the
workers, next of the King. When the
army declined to rally to his support
the time had plainly come for him
to go, as he had threatened several
times during the past two years." The
Indianapolis Star explains that at is
a striking commentary on the low
estate to which the country has fallen
that he has been sustained chief
ly by the power of military Leaders,;
that when the source of strength be-
gan to crumble, the dictator realized
his days were numbered"
Army and navy heads are said to
have reported republican sentiment was
too strong for Rivera to remain in
power" records the Newark Evening
News. eff Rivera had been overthrown
by violence, 1t is likely the King would
have gone, too. So far, the suspicion
Is strong that King Alfonso has acted
to save himself" The Buffalo Evening
News, however, holds that "Berenguer
will have to move cautiously in order to
avoid an uprising" and the Birming-
ham News believes that 1T is the Kings