Evening star., 1932-07-08
Slams Ruler Wins Applause
As Royal Clan Meets Defeat

Tranquil Siam, one Of the last of the
so-called absolute monarchies on the
globe, is believed by Americans to have
been Influenced by the modern ideas of
King Prajadhipok in conducting its
mild revolution while still retaining its
royal leader. With a limited monarchy
and a peoples party, the Asiatic coun-
try is held to have eliminated the
Kings numerous relatives, who have
been strong and expensive factors in
the government. The recognized causes
of unrest are the depression in foreign
trade and the desires Of the agricul-
tural population for better conditions
The leaders of the revolt" in the
opinion of the Altoona Mirror, mani
tested surprisingly good common sense
when they invited the King to remain
upon his throne. He is an experienced
ruler and something Of man Of the
world. He has liberal tendencies, but
was bound by lot of traditions and
ceremonies that precluded the posi-
bility of manifesting any real humani-
tartan interests in his subjects. Now
that his country has cut loose from the
past and Is to inaugurate a new era, he
ought to make a good ruler for Siam"
1T has been a long, long road from
America and Europe to Mandalay-and
Bangkok-but We are getting on" says
the Milwaukee Journal, with the sug-
gestion that "the citizens of Siam will
have the privilege of making their own
mistakes" The Journal offers the ex-
planation of the change: "Prajadhipok,
the smiling young man who when he
came on a visit to America was as
democratic as a native-born, was not
fitted to be an absolute monarch. That
is not to say that he lacks talent as a
ruler. He seems to be both fair and
wise. But 1t was easy to see that he is
too much man of this age to fit in
with the tradition of divinity on earth.
He could pretend, of course, and for
while he did. But those around him
must have seen through the pretense,
and after while the people did also.
The depression struck Siam as it did SO
many other countries. There was un-
rest and suffering. The people turned
to Prajadhipok as they had turned to
long line of his ancestors. He alone
was charged with the responsibility of
aiding them. He could do nothing of
himself to relieve them. He knew that,
end pretty soon they knew it. So they
decided that they would participate in
government"
Observing that "the King will now he
able to break the tradition of national
exploitation by the royal clan and sub
stitute for 1t cheaper and more off,
cial system In much closer keeping with
his own plan for his people" the New
YORK Herald Tribune says of the eco
nomic conditions: Despite the fact
that siam Is an agricultural country,
with very simple social organization,
and despite the enviable state of its
national finances, the little kingdom
has established sufficient foreign trade
connection to lay it open to the uni
versal contagion of the depression. The
shoe has pinched Just hard enough to
make the agricultural classes restiVe
under new taxes. and to prompt them
10 look for a domestic scapegoat upon
which they could vent their Ill humor
II Is worth noting that they have not
in this fretful mood shown any DISPOSE
tion to visit their resentment upon
king Prsjadhipok, but have gone to him