Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
FOR THE SAKE OF DEMOCRACY

~ WIuClL Ildfc JUST ldhSIl pIhC6
" " In Bolivia, the first South
American republic to start
the present epidemic revolu-
tionary fever in the Western Hemisphere
is also the first one to hasten the re-
turn to normal and legal political con-
ditions.
When in June last the former regime
was overthrown in Bolivia and a mill
tary Junta took charge Of the situation
the high army officers who had led the
movement declared that their rule would
be only temporary one and that cleo
tons would be held as soon as possible
for the constitution of a new govern
ment In accordance with the provisions
Of the Law.
Students Of political phenomena did
not take very seriously such statement
Of purposes, usually heard after the
success Of each new violent upheaval,
not only in Latin America but the world
over.
History shows that often these politi-
cal good intentions are forgotten soon
and another strong and arbitrary re-
ginae succeeds the former. In other
words, that the men whom the revolu-
ton has put on top get so used to the
privileges of power that later on it is
hard to convince them that they are
only a passing instrument in returning
the country to normal political condi-
lions. Either by using their influence
in having themselves elected as the per-
manent authorities or by staying in
definitely in power, disregarding the
provisions of the constitution, they usu-
ally end by retaining themselves the
government and thus satisfy their per-
sonal ambitions.
Latin American history in particular
is full of these examples, and the
pledges Of the Bolivian junta were
therefore received with natural sus-
picion. When a few weeks after they
had been in control of the government,
however, the new Bolivian authorities
actually called general elections for
January and announced the steps to
be taken in order to establish legal
side observers began to look with in
terest upon this democratic develop
ment, rare in Latin American politics.
The Bolivian political parties, on the
other hand, contributed to lend greater
Importance to this move by agreeing to
support a single joint candidate for the
presidency Of the republic. Although
each party entered the electoral con-
test with q different candidate for the
Daniel Salamanca, the outstanding
leader In the country, for the presi-
Dental seat.
Almost as strange as the disinterested
attitude Of the military junta itself, this
unanimous accord among rival parties
in selecting the next Chief Executive
made observers Of political conditions in
Bolivia more Skeptical as to the final
outcome Of these promises and pledges.
Not until the balloting booths were
erected did they really believe in the
sincerity of those promises.
The elections were held few days
ago under an unusual state Of order
For the first time in many years the
influence of the governing authorities
did not interfere with the will OF the
electorate. The impartiality OF the
junta has not been questioned, and
democratic ways of popular expression
at last attained realization in Bolivia.
Senior Daniel Salamanca, with no OPP
position to confront. was, of course,
unanimously elected for the highest po-
case in Bolivian contemporary history
that a Chief Executive has received the
unanimous support of the citizenry. In
| 1903 Senior Fernando Guachalla, Tor
mer Minister to the United States, had
no rival candidates in the presidential
contest Of that year. His sudden death
however, only is days before his inau-
! guration, prevented MIN from DelIlB lie
| first national President of Bolivia, a
President elected and supported by al
| parties.
Senior Salamanca has now that OPP
portunity. The military junta in pro-
Visional control of the country has an
nounced that 1t will transfer the duties
and responsibilities of the government
! to the hands of the newly elected
executive before the end of next month
In the midst of an outstanding stage
in Bolivian history, at the turning point
of what seems to be new and more
democratic era in that republic, backed
by the entire Bolivian citizenry, with
long and unparalleled record of po-
litical honesty and prestige behind him
ScncT Salamanca appears to be in g
particularly fine position to give Bolivia
The aQYsEpment she dasexYea end Tx