A SMART DICTATOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17956, 7 December 1932, Page 12

A SMART DICTATOR

VENEZUELA’S RULER SYSTEM OF SPYING Tho Dictator Senor Gomez, of Venezuela, who lias kept that South American republic under his firm control for tho past 30 years, is'at the same time, the most cordially hated and tho most admired man 111 JLatin-Ameriica, according to Mr. J. C. Starr, an American business man of Caracas, states the Montreal Star.

“Gomez aas UlO country so organised that everyouo is spying on everyone else,” Mr. Starr said. “It is not safe to. even think anything critically about him in Venezuela, in case someone draws inferences from your facial expression and tolls his suspicions to one of Gomez’s officers. “Then if you are British or American, you are told to leave the country within 24 hours, and leave it you must, for there is a law that tho Government need not explain why it expels foreigners. If you nro a native Venezuelan, you may be more unlucky.” Yet, reluctantly, Mr. Starr professed an admiration for the old despot . SOUND FINANCIALLY

“Ho has done things for Venezuela vyhieh would never have been done under any other bind of Government than bis,” he admitted. “Me lias built an excellent system of roads—perhaps the best in South America. lie has kept the graft in his own hands, and he has kept tho country fairly free of debt. Financially Venezuela is in a much better condition than most of the LatinAmerican republics.” Gomez recently became interested in certain industries. For instance, since tho price of hides lias fallen, thus cutting into the revenues of his great cattle ranches, he 'as decided that Venezuelans shall all wear boots and shoes. Up to the present, tho favorite footwear for those who wore anything at all on their feet, have been “alpargartas” — rope sole canvas shoes. But since the dictator’s views on leather shoes have become known, the .alpargartas are no longer “in fashion.” “Ha’s clever,” Mr. -Starr admitted ruefully, ‘he's too clever for comfort. But bv and large he’s probably the best kind of ruler that Venezuela could have had.”