The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-18
Primo de Rivera

Primo dc Rivera, retired Spanish premier, who died in
Paris Sunday, was in an impressionistic way an Iberian
Mussolini- Lacking the fiery egotism of the Italian, he
nevertheless functioned very much along the same lines
as his more strenuous example in Rome. He succeeded
in stiling unrest and avoiding labor troubles, just as
Mussolini, by the power of his leadership of the Black
Shirts, had in Italy.
But III de Riveras case, it was by the power of a mill
tary cabal back of him. When that failed to support
him, he retired and went to France, as so many other
cultured and political Spaniards had when he forced
them into exile.
Meanwhile he had performed for Spain a work in part
worthy of being eXtolled and in part deserving Of the
biterest condemnation. He went about the regulation
of his country with a ruthlessness scarcely less execra-
BILE than that of Mussolini, but. after all, in a way en-
titled to some vindication on the basis of the quixotic
Castuian and Catalan temperament. This temperament
lacks in stability and is prone to frequent %insurgent
ebullition.
Besides, government in Spain had always been afflicted
with corruption. This propensity of the Spanish politi-
cal nature had usually obtained suffrance whatever
party was in power. 1t was deeply %irgrained in the
Spanish official character.
Immediately on attaining power Primo de Rivera an
bounced his intention of making a clean sweep of the
corruption existing in every department OF the central
administration, as we'll as in the provincial and munich
pal governments. Functionaries of every category who
had been enjoying the benefits of the national payroll
without performing any duties were called to account
and in many cases dismissed. The measures were in
tended toward a balanced national budget, which showed
a large deficit. Efforts also were made to reduce the
expenditure on the military campaign in Morocco.
The labor elements of the country, which for many
years had been in sharp conflict with the employers in
a struggle for improved conditions, recognized the fulfill
ty of continuing strikes and consequent disturbances.
Labor leaders advised quiet, and the consequence was
that from the moment Of the military advent to power
there were no strikes. Catalina the hotbed of ~syndical-
ism, became quiet for the first time in a generation.
Discomfort among the workers was confined to low
grumblings and the better organization of their unions.
Among the manufacturing and commercial classes
there was at first great rejoicing over the change, but
later on, when trade began to decline because the people
Of Spain possessed a high degree of timorousness as to
what might happen. confidence in the benefits of the
dictatorial regime waned.
Efforts were made by the dictator and his supporters
TO form a new national party, which was to include all
the healthy elements of the nation, but the members did
not appear to have great confidence in their future.
Meanwhile, affairs in Morocco, whose abandonment de
Rivera had proposed, again became a centre of disturb
ances. The Moorish chieftain, Abd-el-Krim, renewed his
martial activities and de Rivera decided to go to the
protectorate where he had previously won much renown
for his personal courage, and try to put matters in shape.
various mdUeuVeTS ana meLQOQS were lnSLlLuCeO up u0Lll
the time Abd-el-Krim surrendered to the French.
Rivera furthered as much as possible the system of en-
listing voluntary troops to operate in Morocco. holding
the regular army in reserve mostly in Spain. This sys-
tenn had been attempted before his dictatorship, but with
his support it extended until almost half the troops en-
gagged were formed of volunteers.
Primo de Rivera's military career began at the age of
"a, as he entered the military academy in 1884. He won
numerous promotions and decorations for bravery and
meritorious conduct.