Evening star., 1932-11-27
VOTES BOOST DEMOCRACY
IN3 SOUTHERN REPUBLICS
Alessandri Victory in Chile, Carias in
Honduras and Sacasa i'm Nicaragua
Forecast as Demands of Trend.

His election this time Is probably
due, more than anything else, to the
fears aroused in the largely influential
higher classes by the radical candidates.
The Socialist revolt led by Carlos Davila
and the succeeding disorders, alternat-
ing with military rule, had alarmed the
old political parties to such an extent
that they have rallied now, more or
less, under the only man who offered
any guarantees Of moderation and sta
bility in the government.
Thus we witness a most curious phe-
nomenon in Chilean politics-although
in politics nothing should surprise us
any more. Ese men who first aroused
the political ambitions Of the Chilean
lower classes, the first to talk to them
Of social justice" and Socialistic reme-
dies, the first Chilean President elected
from outside the rank and file OF
Chilean aristocracy, Is now again chosen
to head the government by the support
Of the aristocrats, the conservatives and
the middle classes, frightened by the
extremist leaders Of truly radical and
Communist groups.
The social movement has progressed
so rapidly in Chile that the radical
Of only a few years ago is almost the
Conservative of today. This circum-
stance, and an evident reaction in Chill
can public opinion against the unset
tied and incompetent rule of military
chieftains who have recently succeeded
themselves in power, afford the ex-
PLANTATION of Senor Alessandri's victory
at the polls.
Political Expedience.
Yet, precisely because this popular
support is not thoroughly sincere, but
rather one of political expedience. the
election of former President Alessandri
cannot be said to have ended the pres
ent political troubles of Chile Besides,
there have been too much internal un-
rest down there in the last few months.
And there are at present too many fac
tions strong enough to gain power but
not strong enough to hold it.
Dissatisfaction with Alessandri's
election is already reported by press
correspondents. The National Social
lists who follow Col. Grove-the most
radical group. outside the Communists
their demands and their following
seems to be gaining The day after
election, crowd Of 10000 of them
demonstrated wildly in the streets of
Santiago for the return of Col. Grove
from exile. So wildly, in fact, that
part of it had to be fired at by police
rifles and machine guns.
In Honduras the aftermath Of the
presidential election was even more
serious 4, revolt Of small proportions
followed the announcement of Gen.
Tiburcio Carias Andinos election. Al
though the loyal troops did not for
moment lose control Of the situation and
one after another recaptured the towns
seized by the rebels, up to this writing
there are still some groups in arms.
And this brings me to one of my pet
subjects. For years, now, have been
criticizing the Misrepresentation and
misunderstanding Of things Latin
American in which writer's, novelists
and correspondents from this country
indulge so often.
Newspapers have been doing it for
decades. The moving pictures have
been doing it recently. Now the radio
seems to be joining the parade.
was listening to broadcast of cur
rent events some days ago, when Edwin
c. Hill, widely heard news commentator
for the Columbia Broadcasting System,
began to talk on the Honduran revolt.
He said, more or less, that the revolu-
ton had been started by Gen. Andino.
defeated candidate in the election. that
the rebels were having the best of il;
that Tegucigalpa, the capital, xas at
the time menaced By them; that Presi-
dent Colindres was probably getting to-
gsther as much cash as he could Law
his hands on, to flee to Europe, and that
in Paris he would join number of
other Central American dictators in
disgrace
To which would not object at all,
II 1t were not for these facts: First,
that Gen. Andino the meant Gen.
Carias Andino, the first name being
the one predo,r,T.ant in Spanish) was
net the defeated candidate in the cleo
ton, but the successful one; second.
that he, therefore, far from having
started the revolt. was its stanchest
opponent; third, that the rebels at the
time of that broadcast had already
been reported defeated: fourth, that the
capital was no more menaced by them
than Washington: fifth. that President
Colindres Che meant President Mejia
Colindres) was no more thinking of
fleeing for Paris than. probably. Mr..
Hill, and sixth, that there is not to-
day e sirgle Central American dictator
in the French capital
Which reminds me Of the teacher
who, having asked one of his pupils
for description CT chameleon. re-
cei-ed this answer: "A chameleon Is
fish that looks like turtle and eats
worms" The teacher commented:
Your answer is all right. except that
chameleon is not fish. but n rep
tile: it dceT not look like turtle. but
like lizard. and it does not eat worms,
but insects" Outside of that, the an
ever was all rieh,.
Copyright. 1897