The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-19
GOMEZ RULED
VAST WEALTH,
SPURNED POMP
Late Venezuelan President
Ardent CoCkfight Fan,
Movie Goer.
BY JOSEPH J.. JONES

visits with President Juan Vicente
Gomez. who died yesterday. during
the last wears Of his regime in Vene-
zuela gave me an appreciation OF
his amazing personality which few
Americans were privileged to know
Last survivor Of the strong men
who ruled Latin America when Hit
Ter and Mussoilii we're unknown
schoolboys, President Gomez was al
so multimillionsire rancher, good
roads enthusiast, movie-goer and
cockflght fan.
He Stunned the capital of the
country Caracas, and spent almost
all his time at the little town CT
Maracay 30 miles distant. Thither
went ministers, congressman and
petitioners
Died on Ranch
Three miles out of Maracav is
Las Delicias, the ranch where Gen.
Gomez liked to receive visits in
the late afternoon There he died.
in a plain upstairs room within
sound Of the elephants and jaguarT
he had installed in Venezuela's big
gest ZOO
The well-deserving Gen. Gomez, y
as he was officially known since
congress voted him the title of Fl
Benemerito. was legendary figure
abroad because Venezuela long was
isolated from the world by costly
communications and censorship
The facts about him though, were
not less colorful than the legends.
His properties were valued as
high as 100000 900 by business as
SOciates. Probably only Simon Patti
no, Bolivian tin king, out-ranked
him in South America He had one
ranch valued at $4,000 900. another
worth $2000000, and a third for
which he was said 10 have paid
$4,000 000
Personal Pay Roll Large
His personal weekly pay roll was
some $4,000 or more than two and
half million dollars a year. Twelve
thousand persons depended on his
enterprises for livelihood. He sent
Cacao to Liverpool and Hamburg,
and coffee TO New York: had thou
sands Of rubber trees. and exported
cocoanut oil The Gomez cotton
factory in Maracav, with $50 looms,
represents two millions invested.
With so much to administer in
addition to the presidency, Gen
Gomez was frankly bored by cere-
\ monies. formalities. red tape.
Speeches, he classified as "long
poor ones, which are wholly bad;
good but long ones. which are also
bad. and short good ones, which
alone are good"
Members of his household esti-
mated that Gen. Gomez had 90
children. Their ages ranged from
so years to babyhood. One of his
sons attained the vice presidency.
but was ouSted from the Job and
sent on a diplomatic mission TO
Paris.
Bore Years Lightly
Wiry and straight as string.
Ell Benemerito bore the weight of
his 70-odd years lightly. He became
thinner with advancing years. and
his grizzled mustaches lacked the
upward twist Of his soldering years.
His face was lighted up by sparkling
brown eyes, sometimes screened bv
gold-rimmed spectacleS His bow
had true Latin polish. plus bold
ness natural to the man who ruled
Venezuela for nearly three decades
Earliest riser in an early-risine
country the president began his
day at 4:30 a. m, After coffee. ne
set to work with a secretary until
7.30 breakfast. Then drive in the
\ country, where official conferences
were as likely as not held under a
tree. Gomez loved trees, and for
bade their destruction for church,
road or factory,
Siesta Followed Lunch
Lunch at l p. m was followed
by the SieSta usual to that warm
climate. Afterwards, an hour re-
ceiving detailed reports on his pri-
vate affairs was followed by the
trip to Las Delicias where he re-
ceived visitors.
An inveterate movie-goe Gen.
Gomez saw an American film almost
every night He was fondest of
Westerns. with herds of cattle and
good riding, but was partial also
TO war plays or reels showing SOL
diers, Complex dramas bored him.
On Sunday mornings he liked TO
see the cock fights. which were held
IN a little rooted arena at the back
OF a Maracay garage 7 saw him sit
at the pit from 8:45 one morning
until noon. thanked by seven cabinet
members, Around him eddied the
1mpaSs1oned cries of bettors. who
were so noisy that they had to re-
sort to sign language The General
was in light khaki uniform. with a
turned-up panama hat AS the little
building became hotter. he unbut-
toned his blouse.
His Luck Varied
With friend, he bet on about
half the fights. 500 or $50 at a
time, With varying luck. The book
makers, scuttlinS around the ring.
would take of their hats before ap-
preaching his wicker bottomed
rocking chair to take his wagers.
Gomez always travelled by auto
mobile, and had several expensive
American cars. When on cross
. country trips, often his party be-
came a caravan of Is machines.
MARITIME Is NAMED