The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1958-03-07

had worked, quickly and humanely in
neighboring Columbia.
A miracle of secret organization
had been accomplished under the
leadership of a young teacher-journ-
alist, Sr. Ajeda. Beginning last June
he, with four assistants, welded the
four political parties, long outlawed
and under ground, Social Democratic,
middle of the road party, and the
Catholic Christian Democrats, under
the guidance of his patriotic Junta".
Leaders were known to one another
only under fictitious names. Each
worker knew only two other work
ers, thus making it impossible for the
security police to torture many names
from apprehended members and also
making extensive betrayal impossible.
But it afforded an unbroken grape
vine for word of mouth and a means
of distributing leaflets.
It's leaflets were distributed Sun
days at mass and at night in the heart
of the business section.
For weeks great quantities of mon
ey and securities had been in flight.
A school strike was called for Mon
day. Apparently every teacher and
every child stayed at home that after
noon. Every newspaper plant closed
that evening, one of several indica-
tions that underground labor unions
were in league with the patriotic
Junta'' and that many owners were
sympathetic. Tuesday church bells
throughout the city rang out the
signal that the general strike would
be in force at noon.
NEXT STOP FOR
And so it was-The professions,
business establishments and the wage
made common cause-Clos-
ing was close to 1907. The army
then came over, leaving only the
hated security police holding out.
They expected to be torn to pieces
by the mobs. When leading army Off
GERS set up junta and told Jimenez
to get out, he got, about 3 am, for
refuge with his fellow dictator Tru-
jillo in the Dominican Republic, along
with his chief of the security police.
His guest and adviser, Dictator Peron
from Argentina, followed as soon as
ne could get out. Probably one or
both will soon be spending their mil
ions in Miami, where fleeing dicta-
ors like to retire.
1t is now, came the severest test
If the strength of the civilian Patri-
tic Junta. 1t insisted that it would
lot stand for continuation of mill
airy rule. 1t refused to support the
lew ruling military junta until civil
lberties were fully restored, all poll
zeal prisoners freed, the torturers
nd thieves punished, a near date for
rec elections set. All their demands
we're granted. Now, can the diverse
william political elements hold to-
ether sufficiently to rid the country
orever of military dictatorship which
he Great Bolivar foresaw as a ter
IDLE scourge of his native land for ]
SiiCI aCiolS, anu eSCdDllSn sell gov
and developing democracy?
Vretched Venezuela has lived in the {
ruelest hell of exploitation through {
ut her history, with only two or
1ree short interludes of decent re- !
oect for human beings. S
The winds of freedom seem to be s
lowing again. Who knows? Perhaps ,
ur relatively minor affliction by the
owerful monopolies that undercut
lr liberties and hamper our economic
evelopment may soon be mitigated
terminated by means of an all
owerful free ballot.
| like to recall a raucous but pleas L
Mt sound that l heard on the streets
Caracas. When it started it was
mid and spasmodic, but as the days q
the revolution passed, it grew T.
uder, bolder, defiant, insistent, I
ore rhythmic, almost awesome. The
ctator had decreed, 500 fine for 0
~ driver who hooted his horn
efore the people began to rise the 5
'cree was fully respected. Then it {
as discovered that if many hooted
once theu xUara rooeopobl,x aaco u