Evening star., 1932-09-18
CHILE TAKES NEW STEP
NPOLITICAL EXPERIMENT
Begins Another Year of Its History, With
Eyes of World Turned on Its
Unique Problem.


who had aroused the class consciousness
Of the laboring elements and raised the
flag OF social Justice" a great under
current had been going on for the abo-
lition OF class distinctions-so pro-
nounced In the Chilean society-for the
betterment Of the lower classes and for
the propagation Of a new political creed
distinctly different from the old party
lines. In other words, the seed OF So
cialism had been maturing in Chile
President Montero and the conserva-
tive leaders who backed his government
did not fully appreciate this phenome-
non. They confused 1t with imported
red propaganda and made themselves
believe that the very seriousness of the
economic crisis would prevent the dis
contented from organizing and prepar-
ing themselves for a fresh struggle
Unable to Meet Problem.
In the meantime, his administration
was unable. or did not have the courage,
to tackle the outstanding problems left
Dy the 1banez dictatorship. Especially
In the two most insistent demands Of
| the people-the abolition of the famous
Cosach nitrate combine and the disso-
luton OF the spurious Congress, both
lett over by the Ibanez regime-the
well meaning but timid Chief Execu-
| live IdlleO 10 need the Cl9mOr of niInlic
opinion.
Unemployment, general destitution,
llscal penury, grew worse. President
Montero failed to realize that labor
outbreaks, military and naval mutinies
and other manifestations serious and
deep unrest were the direct conse-
quence of his laissez-faire attitude at a
time when action. and not words OF
/ hope was needed" 4"
And action was Carlos Davilas pro-
gram. Upon his return from Washing
ton, where he had been Chilean Am
Dassador for several years, Senor Davila
had taken up the aspirations of those
groups who believed in a social and
economic readJustment. Organizing
their lines he became the champion Of
that social Justice which. in Chile like
elsewhere, was the goal of progressive
thought.
From his political hiding Senior Da-
villa issued a manifesto entitled AN
Aggressive Policy Against the Crisis"
in which he advanced a plan to heal
the economic and social wounds Of the
nation. The new leader of the opposi-
tion condemned vigorously the conser-
vative administration. charging it with
"opportunistic individualism, and de-
clared openly for state socialism as the
only cure for the social and economic
ills of the republic.
Urged "ColIectivized Economy"
Said Senor Davila: We, who pro-
pose and favor a radical change from
| the present system to one of national
economy, planned in such way that
labor would be regulated under the re-
quirements Of production determined
by the state with social criterion and
not by individuals for the sake of profit,
are the ones who take the only position
consistent with the countrys interest"
He advocated "a collectivized economy
paraleling individual economy" "A
| Socialist experiment" he stated, adapt
ed to our national peculiarities. is iusti-
| fed not only by what this doctrine has
Of human superiority, but because it
offers an economic solution for an eco
nomic crisis" And he set forth his
plans for the creation Of government
| organizations to prepare the way for
agricultural, mining, industrial, COM
mercial and transportation activities OF
Chile
When 1t became apparent that the
Montero regime was deaf to these de-
mands of economic readjustment the
use of violence appeared inevitable.
! O6IlOT DdNlld SUlSlll, IllcIi IllC sup
port of certain high officers Of the
army and navy. and with their CO.
operation had little difficulty in fore
ing the resignation of President Mon
tero and open the way for the estab-
lishment of a new system along social
istic lines.
Emerged as Leader.
| After some dissensions among the
L. M Ia
finally emerged as the head Of the new
government, and sat down to work in
the carrying out of "the aspirations for
progressive reforms that animate the
nation"
And there he was until last week,
struggling f1ercely to save his rule both
from the attacks of Conservative and
Liberal politicians of the old school and
from the intrigues of Communists and
extremist radicals who deemed his poll
cies too moderate. Finally, few days
ago, he had to surrender to the pres
sure of certain army officers of ad-
vanced radical ideas who accused him
Of not carrying out fully the Socialistic
program he had promised.
If the present Socialist movement In
Chile had only been one more attempt
in the list of coups d'etat for person.
alistic purposes, so common in the an
mails of Latin American politics, the
Chilean situation would be meaning
less. But, instead, the Davila revolu-
ton in Chile has set in motion po-
litical and economic experiment new
in the Western Hemisphere. One which
aims at the substitution of new polit-
ical and social concepts. One which
intends to set up a distinct economic
order and accomplish redistribution
of wealth in favor of the less fortunate
classes. One which seeks the surren-
der Of individual privileges to the high
er interests of the society and the state.
Hence, that the Chilean people are
now living in one of the most interest
ing moments in their history. And hence
that the eyes Of the world are placed
today upon their country, as 1t turns
the corner of one more year Of SOW
| ereign existence.
(Copyright, 1922