Evening star., 1932-01-17


the few which has survived the revolu-
tionary epidemic of the last two years
in Latin America A revolution did
start last Spring, but finally was
crushed, and its leader, Gen. Ferrera,
died in the attempt. The present gov
ernment came to power four years ago
as the result of fair and free elections
in which its leaders were the candidates
of the opposition party. The control of
the government thus passing peacefully
from the Conservatives to the Liberals,
these have been particularly careful In
supervising free congressional and mu-
nicipal elections during the last four
years, and now promise an equally free
and fair presidential contest.
Two Nations Leaders Mentioned.
Some of the outstanding candidates
seem to be, among the Liberals, Vice
| President DiaZ Chavez Minister of Gov
ernment Argueta, who was the diplo-
matte representative Of Honduras in
Washington last year. Minister of Pub
| lie Works Medina and Senor Zuniga
| Huete; and among the Conservatives
Gen. Tiburcio Carias and DR.. Venancio
Callejas.
An equally important list Of candi-
dates is being discussed for the Mica
raguan elections. Here, too, the contest
is to be decided between Liberals and
| Conservatives, the former now holding
power. DR.. John B. SacaSa, at present
Minister to Washington and a former
Vice President, appears to have the
| largest popular support. Other out
| standing candidates within his party
are Vice President Aguado, Minister OF
! Foreign Affairs Arguello and DR.. Espi-
nosa. Among the Conservatives former
President Adolfo Diaz still seems the
! dominant figure.
The announcement of Secretary
! Stimson last year. that the United
| States Marines will be entirely with
drawn from Nicaraguan territory i'm
! mediately after this presidential elec-
ton, gives the contest an added signifi-
canoe. The man chosen to be the next
! chief executive of Nicaragua must,
then, be one able to count upon such
an overwhelming popular support as tc
make that withdrawal possible.
Two Others Likely to Elect.
Presidential elections are a serious
business everywhere. They are par
ticularly so in Latin America, where
politics play such predominant role
They are even more particularly SO al
this time, when critical economic con-
ditions prevail and radical social move
ments are in progress.
| AS II these four were not enough, two
other presidential contests may be helc
in Latin America during 1882. Both ir
Brazil and Ell Salvador the provisional
regimes which came to power by revo-
luton must give away to popularly
elected new governments. This is much
more imperative for FL Salvador, fol
the present provisional government ha,
been denied recognition.
Although in neither one of the two
the date for presidential elections has
yet been set, Brazil and Ell Salvador
will most likely be added before 1882 i.
over to the list of Latin republics which
have changed authorities during tht
year.
Two other Latin American countries
will also witness presidential inaugura'
tions, although the new chief execu-
tives have already been chosen there
Elections were held last year in Ecuador
and Argentina, as the result of which
DR.. Bonifaz and Gen. Justo were Sc
lected to head the destinies of thos,
two nations. They are now waiting tt
receive the reins Of government from
the hands OF the temporary rulers, whit
have been in control since the over
throw of the old regimes and super
vised the recent elections.
One Third Will Change Presidents.
The situation, however, is compli-
Gated in both countries by peculiar con-
slderations. In Argentina 1t is dark
ened by the uncertainty as to what will
be the attitude of the present provi-
sional administration-Whic has lately
grown very unpopular-in turning over
the government, and what its influence
will be on the newly elected authorities
In Ecuador the situation is made more
difficult by the fact that Senor Bonifal
must wait eight months before he l.:
inaugurated his election having beer
primarily secured with the support Of
the conservative elements, who are II
opposition to the present authorities.
To sum up, at least one-third of al
the Latin American republics art
scheduled to change Presidents during
the year. How many more will change
them out of schedule-that is, as tht
result of violence or coups d'etat-nt
one may say.
But this is not all. There are still
other political puzzles in the Latir
} American calendar for 1882
The consolidation of the recently In
augurated conservative regimes in Chill,
and Peru, and the check of growing
popular unrest among the working
classes, already strongly Influenced b,
radical propaganda in those two coun
! tries, Is q large order for the new Chill
5 can and Peruvian authorities.
The church dispute and the conStAn