Evening star., 1933-08-09

my country and its people. am from
| the people. have always been on the
side of the laboring man. The working
people are for me. Many of them are
out of work 1t is a situation we can
not help. We must find our way out
of it.
agencies for relief. have been libeled
and calumny has been heaped upon me.
I have been accused Of many crimes.
have committed none"
There seemed almost a break in his
voice as he went on speaking.
Newspapers have lied and been most
unfair. Only yesterday one of them
printed a picture which had been dis
torted by an artist. We have not been
able to pay our teachers and some Of
our veterans, but other nations have
had the same difficulty.
Have Broken Up Parades.
I'VE have had Communists who at
tempted parades and demonstrations
which were unauthorized. We have
broken them up. New York and other
American cities have done the same
thing"
Mr.. President" said, your enemies
say that you have organized police
bands who have killed defenseless men
and women. Have you ordered this
done?"
Il never have" he said, his voice
growing hard. II never have. There
have been crimes. I cannot control my
partisans in these matters because my
supporters. too, have been murdered
and beaten. But the government has
never done this
asked about the students at the
| ,r,,i,y itu rThoyy hov hod off
ton in the press. They have been
leaders in the fight against the govern
ment. Many of the bombs exploded by
the opposition in Havana have been
made and thrown by students from the
closed university.
The students have been taken too
seriously. The leaders of the opposition
know that now. And less emphasis will
be placed on the students.
Must Change System.
I'VE must change our university sys-
tem," President Machado said. "It is
not an endowed institution. 1t is gov
eminent school"
There is mistaken idea that Machado
closed the schools. They could open
today if they chose. They remain
closed as a protest.
"The university faculty has allowed
the students to say what they will do, ~
said President Machado. The faculty
has been secondary. Imagine an Amer
lean faculty allowing the students to
they will have. We must change this
| system"
The time was growing short. had
been delayed three days on the inter-
view because Machado had gone fishing.
| I asked him about fishing. His face
lighted up. Some of the WEAKNESS
left it. He seemed more alive. He
told of catching 400 pounds of red
snapper, of landing sword fish. And
then I left
This is my estimate of Machado. He
is essentially a patriot. He loves his
country. He would like nothing better
than to quit and go out to his farm
and live
He lacked the background to meet
the crisis which confronted his govern
ment. He was surrounded, for the
most part, by self-seeking men who had
/ grated, increased taxes unwisely, and
who attempted a terroristic campaign
which was met with terror.
Machado grew up during the period
Of repressive Spanish government. He
and his family suffered from these
measures. He served through the war
with Spain.
When his own government was en-
dangered he could think. Of no manner
to meet antagonistic moves except by
the same repressive measures he had
known as a young man.
He is an old man with i1-advisers
about him. The few patricGs in his
government are unable to outweigh the
majority, which is out to get what 1t
can. ,...
I left the palace. going out into the