Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-18
Qualities of New Head
OF Guatemala Praised

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t has been interesting to read the
news that Gen. Ubico has at last real
lied his ambition of becoming the Pres
ident of Guatemala. I mean no allusion
against the character or honor OF the
old fre-eater in question-he was al
ways known as the straightest square
shooter in Banana-Republic politics.
remember, some five or six years
ago, when Orelanna was the President.
Orellana was popular; he also enjoyed
the sincere friendship of the then
American Minister, who himself was re-
spected for failing to descend to the
guaro-g uzzling proclivities OF sojourn-
ing gringoes.
There were, however, rumors and
whispers of conspiracies, fostered, 1t
was believed, by the Herrera HermanoS
one of whom had sat for brief space
in the chair vacated by Cabrera. Mar
tial law was imminent was. in fact, Oft
en- present. Estado de sitio, I believe
they call it; several times a week the
barefooted soldiers would tramp to
every street corner, where bewhiskered
corporal Cor perhaps generaD would
screech orders read from the document
held in his dusky hand--orders that the
rights" had been withdrawn and that
the citizen who sailed from his house
at such a time did so at the peril of
his pleasure self.
remember one night which We spent
behind tightly barred doors and win
dows, with only candles to light the
gloomy Latin rooms - for la lux had
mysteriously gone away" Hourly we
waited for the boom of the cannon to
sound from the fuerte on the hill-and
we we're directly in the path of fire We
1oo Il ekA
However, nothing happened. And
this was also after the death of Orel-
lana, who died mysteriously, following
a supper party. The physician who
was his closest friend and confidant
afterward attended me during a brief
illness, and as mutual friends who also
were in the know had called him for
my case, he (although not a loquacious
mani told of the failure to summon
him before the poison served to Orellana
had gone too far. Telephone wires had
been cut, and the messenger, sent later,
had required two hours to make 20
minute journey.
AS I was saying, back in 1924. "all
the world" wanted Ubico. He was to
be the next presidential candidate, and
elections were not far of.
All of them-Orellana, Ubico and
Chacon-had been officials under Ca
DIeTd, dIlQ IL was odlO GAldL Ol6l1dIAd
and Ubico had stood by him to the
last. Like Cabrera, both we're common
men. Thin was the flow of Castilian
blood in their veins, and they had
much of the Indian. Ubico was then
and had been for many years the jefe
politico of the Department de Retalu-
lehu, flush with coffee, rich with ba-
nanas and Astounding in sugar and
guaro.
Retalulehu had ever been the grafter's
paradise, but instead of enriching him
self Ubico cleaned up the region, paved
the city and made himself more than
disliked by the petty politicos and plan
tation owners, who had often benefited
hugely from the results of small brides
Upon the death of Orellano, the vice
president, Chacon, became provisional
President pending the imminent cleo
tions.
I saw the polls-Set out in the public
-quares-and I saw the soldiers stop
each would-be voter and heard his ques-
ton as to his choice.
Chacon, of course, received an over
whelming number of votes, and Ubico
trailed far down the list This man
Chacon, by the way, was popularity be-
iieVed TO be q half-wit, and it was said
that he could not write. On the other
hand while the country did not pro-
greSs during his administration, no evils
worthy of particular mention were per-
petrated during his regime. He mere
ly was.
I am convinced that Ubico is the
country's choice just as I am convinced
that he will reap no benefits at the risk
Of his fellow citizens. A. DESSART.