Evening star., 1935-02-24
ECUADOR'S OCCUPATIONS
GIVEN PLACES In SENATE
Upper Chamber Turns Upon Govern.
ment, However, and Proves Too
Powerful for Creators.

TALLY, "politicos" The result is that
the new Ecuadorean Senate, made up
Of representatives Of well organized
groups and Of professional classes
with powerful weapons in their hands,
has become tremendous political
force. Instead Of an assembly of
popular representatives defending the
rights and interests Of their respective
communities, the Ecuadorean gov
ernment has been facing for the past
few years a we'll organized and de-
fiant Senate, demanding submission
to its policies.
In less than four years Ecuador
has had six different Chief Executives,
and one President-elect who was never
inaugurated, and most Of them owe
their political fate to the dictates of
the Senate at Quito. Late in 1881
President Ayora, under whose regime
the parliamentary reform took place,
was forced out of Office by the stern
refusal of the Senate to cooperate
with him and the adverse public
opinion which congressional leaders
succeeded in arousing.
Col. Larrea Alba was chosen as his
successor, but he did not last long.
Suspected of personal ambitions and
his desire to establish military dicta-
torship, the colonel was also given
indefinite leave of absence, and a new
provisional President. Dr. Baquerizo
Moreno, was appointed by Congress.
Under Baquerizo Moreno's regime.
a general election was called. and in
leader, Conservative, triumphed over
the three candidates of the Liberal
party, who had split the Liberal vote.
How Conservative candidate, having
Unexpectedly won at the polls, was
to arrive safely in the presidential
chair over the wishes and designs of
a large and autocratic Liberal ma
jority in the Senate, was something
Of mystery to foreign observers.
The mystery was dispelled by the
Quito Senate when it annulled the
a new presidential election.
Liberal Gets Majority.
This time, a Liberal, Senor Martinez
Mera, received a majority at the polls
and was subsequently inaugurated as
Chief Executive of Ecuador Soon
afterward, however, he was, accord
ing to the New York Times corre-
spondent, practically kicked out Of
office" by the Senate.
A new provisional President was
selected by Congress, new electoral
preparations ensued, a new election
was held. Senor Velasco Ibarra, one
of the leaders of the parliamentary
opposition which had ousted Martinez
Mera, was chosen to steer the Ecua-
dorean ship of state. He had hardly
been inaugurated in Office when the
Senate started using the tactics which
had resulted in his predecessors fall.
President Velasco Ibarra, however, a
man of great ability and courage,
called the bluff. and by Immediately
offering his resignation, which was not
accepted, drew to his side the support
of the people and the army, and
| weathered the storm. Congress ad-
journed soon after that, a few weeks
ago, but no one knows which new
upSets 1t will not attempt when 1t
convenes again next August.
Fortunately, the policies of President
Velasco Ibarra were already beginning
to bear fruit, and, by the time Con-
gress Is again assembled, an improve
ment in the economic situation may
have given him enough popular sup
port to allow him to use firmer hand
in dealing with his senatorial oppo-
nents. .-.
lcopyrisht. 1eaS.l