Evening star., 1935-08-04
COSTA RICAN PRESIDENTS
RETIREMENT MOVE NOVEL
Smallest Central American Republic
Again Sets Example in Democracy.
Comedy of "Indispensables."

hecon,e an indispensable man" he
begins to prepare the road. Long
before his legal term approaches the
end he distributes jobs and commits
sions among his closest friends, estab-
fishes control of the political mschin-
ery of the party in power, sees that all
his followers are elected to Congress
40 as to be sure Of legislative support
when the big moment comes, and
begins the elimination of all possible
rivals or presidential aspirants by
sending them out of the country as
political exiles, or as diplomatic agents.
All this is necessary, and much
more, because in most Of the Latin
American countries reelection is
barred by the constitution. The Presi-
dent who wishes to become "indispen-
sable" therefore, has in the legal
aspect the most delicate problem to
contend with.
When the machinery has been set
up. the movement for the continuance
of the existing administration Is then
started in some remote corner Of the
republic. Popular meetings are held
usually under auspices of the local
authorities-in which the citizens of
that town or village solemnly proclaim
their adherence to the government
and respectfully request that the con-
stitution be altered so as to permit the
permanence in power of the "provi-
Dental man" who is at the helm of
the state.
Resolutions Increase.
These signed resolutions c"actas
populares'O grow in number, skill
fully promoted by expert politicians,
and flow in impressive volume to the
national capital, where a Hollywood
ian" publicity awaits them. The met
ropolitan newspapers start talking
Of popular movement throughout
the nation" in recognition of this ex-
ceptional man, whom the country
needs forever.
Political clubs and groups Of pa
triotic citizens" take up the idea. Very
soon the whole country, impressed by
an overwhelming propaganda and a
few ostentatious public works which
have been hurriedly completed in the
meantime, is discussing the capacities
of this man of the hour" who must
not be allowed to step out of the gov
ernment and leave a destitute people
TO its own fate. The next step is to
overcome the legal obstacles.
This is the real test. But the tracks
have been laid so minutely, the atmos-
phere has been prepared so carefully,
that this final act of the comedy usu-
ally is carried out with unbelievable
smoothness. A friendly Congress, act
ing in the high interests of the state"
/ passes a constitutional amendment
either to permit the reelection of the
| Chief Magistrate or simply the extern
sion of his term for longer period of
time.
In the first case, the 'providential'
candidate has, of course, very little
difficulty in assuring himself of tre-
mendously large majority at the polls
With the government machinery at
his disposal, he can have no doubt as
to the outcome. In the second case he
merely stays in the presidential palace
while the masses out in the street are
being told how fortunate they are TO
have at their head a man chosen by
Providence" who is willing to sacrifice
himself for some longer time in the
benefit and glory Of the republic.
AS far as the indispensable" man is
concerned. the comedy ends there. He
is reelected or allowed to remain in
power without even the formality of a
reelection and acclaimed as the
savior of the country. But for the
nation as whole the comedy usually
has tragic end. The legal ways hav-
ing been closed, popular elections hav-
ing been made a mockery. revolution
is the only way out of this regime of
personalism and abSolutism. The re-
public then has to pay in lives and
money for the ambition of the "indis-
penSable man" and the completely Of
his clique-until normalcy has been
achieved, public liberties restored and
everything is ready for another self
made-indispensable" leader.
The picture is crude one, but 1t
has been true for years in many coun-
tries of Latin America. Because it is
so, and because even now it is being
re-enacted in some Of them, President
Jimenez' gesture sets a precedent of
historical significance.
Copyright 1881