Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08


Presidents were inaugurated
wv in less than month, in FL
Salvador, the neighboring
Central American republic,
an election has just been held, in &C
cordance with constitutional provisions,
which Is said to have been remarkable
for the order and regard for law shown
by the Salvadorian people.
Preparations for the electoral cam
paign were begun several months ago,
and five different candidates entered the
presidential race. Political clubs and
newspapers were active in the defense
never reached the point Of luminosity
and intolerance which until recently
was more or less characteristic of Latin
American elections. The just, impartial
attitude of the government, unusual
also in that region of the continent,
conveyed to the people a serenity sell
dom seen on similar occasions.
1t was undoubtedly this open-minded
spirit which made peaceful and legal
elections possible in Ell Salvador, al
though it may be worth while to re-
member that the government had de-
creed general disarmament" during the
electoral period so as to avoid in 1t the
probable recurrence of scenes Of blood
shed. had an opportunity to COM
ment in this same column, only few
weeks ago, upon the measures adopted
by the Salvadorian government in order
to do away with the traditionally turbu-
lent spirit of the voters. Probably these
MISUNDERSTANDING that guns, revolvers,
knives and all other lethal weapons
in the possession of individuals be
turned over to the police authorities
until the contest was OVERHEAD some
thing to do with the tranquil, peaceful
elections Salvadorians have just enjoyed.
The engineer, Arturo Araujo, the IA
vored candidate, who will be soon inau-
gurated President of FL Salvador, has a
striking personality. Somewhat of a
philanthropist, Senior Araujo has de-
voted his life and considerable part
of very large fortune to promoting
the welfare of the laboring classes of
his country. One of his farming prop
critics is mentioned in this respect as
an outstanding model for its perfect
organization and the comforts 1t offers
to the laborers or ''peones" working in
1t. Cottages, schools, a hospital have
contributed to form there a large COM
munity of contended workers. All of
which, though 1t may seem common
place to readers in this country, Is quite
unusual for laboring conditions down
the other side of the Rio Grande.
According to cabled reports, Senior
Araujo alone had about 10000 votes,
the totals of his opponents put together
amounting to 10000; that is to say,
although with large advantage over
his rivals, he did not quite obtain the
legal majority necessary for election.
In this case it is up to Congress to Sc
lect the future President among the
three candidates which obtained the
largest plurality of votes. Senior AraujoS
advantage, however, having been so
large, and the sentiment of the people
being so decidedly in his favor, he Is al
ready considered the President-elect of
FL Salvador. Besides, the majority of his
supporters and political partisans gained
congressional seats in the same elections,
and this is a further assurance Of his
coming confirmation as Chief Executive
of the small and progressive Central
American republic.
Senior Arturo Araujo, who Is an ex-
pert engineer and has heretofore kept
himself out of politics, holds a degree
from an American university and has
spent many years in the United States
and Europe, a fact which leads us to
believe that his endeavors in the field
of international affairs will maintain
and improve the friendly relations ex-
listing between his country and Uncle
Sans.
"BAS LES ARMS"
Latin America, too, has her disarma-
ment problem. No naval conferences
are entangling-yet; her international
TinV,a ond M farrifa V,oana 0in0 faI LIS