The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-04-03
NO TEARS FOR MACHADO

The obituary writer's had hard time last week
trying c find something nice to say about Gerardo
Machado former President OF Cuba, who died at
Miami Beach from the effects OF an operation.
THE Butcher" Cubans called him, with hate
which had not died in the years 1888 they have
had to forget his listed administration.
He was the modern Machiavelh political villain
so base and so bold that Adolf Hitler Benito Mussoln
and Josef Stain look ike Miss Abigail Bunchs Sun
day school class by comparison.
Anything goes. in Cuban politics. Machado played
the game the hard way Bullets sienced his OPP
ponents and not only his opponents but hundreds
OF bameless citizens besides The Butcher killed with
free hand.
20 Machado had flair for the spectacular and was
one Of the most coorful personalities in the stormy
politics which followed Cubas long fight for free
dom In the Army Of Liberation his name was linked
with those Of Zayas and Gomez and he followed close
ly in the atter's political footsteps
He had a wel-oiled machine ready for the 1925
presidential election In his campaign he broke away
from the established custom Of presidential candi-
dates by refusing ride prancing charger at party
demonstrations Instead he led the parades "a pie
con footO and "a pie became the slogan of his
followers The popular party threw its votes to him
and he piled up a big majority over Gen. Menocal
tine conservative candidate.
FL To put through his political program he en-
gineered alliance of his own liberal party with
the conservatives and the populars. While that was
working order the federal legislature backed him
consistently and when unrest was added to financial
troubles gave him dictatoral powers by authorizing
him to suspend constitutional guarantees.
Beginning in 1929 his foes turned from arguments
against the legality of his active plotting
Seven plots kill him exposed in less than three
years. Only chance saved him in February 1881, when
bomb dropped down vent pipe leading to his
bath room at the when the president taking
his customary early morning soak The plotterS
knew the pipe led to the bathroom but they did not
know that plumbers had put elbow in it only few
day before their attempt. The bomb therefore ex-
ploded a floor above Machados quarters
In June 1881 the conservative party withdrew
from the legislative alliance August there
open revolt in Santa Clara province put down only
after Machado had taken personal command of the
troops
Strikes became numerous and disorders grew
reaching climax July 1888 when police machine
guns were turned on a Havana mob killing 26 anc
younding 100.
nv A month later Sumner Welles United States Am.
bassador advised Machado to take leave of absence
in the interest Of Cuban peace. The Presidents re-
ifusa brought warning from President Roosevelt
Mat the United States would be compelled to act UNI
less the island abandoned political warfare
Then On August II the army turned against Ma
chado. notifying him that the presidential palac,
would be bombed from the air unless he relinqushec
his office. He bowed to this ultimatum next day anC
wild mob sacked the palace, killing Col Antonio
Jrninez head Of Machados. secret police: Antonio
Ancarte chief Of Havana police and score of othe
neutenants Of the deposed executive
- Maehado escaped in an amphibian blame which