The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-20
MEXICO'S RURAL POLICE
It's Un que Character, Efficiency and Method
OF Organization.

From the St Louis Globe-Dem0crai
Whatever the virtues aud defects per
tanning 30 her municipal police service
Mexico may Justly boast of the mos;
efficient a. well as attractive system of
rural protection to be found anywhere
IN our hemisphere Apropos of the
particular jurisdiction 10 which its au-
thoriiy extends. this picturesque organ
izltion is known as the federal corps oi
ruralos. The antecedents If this pow
erful arm Of the law are a. full If ro-
mantle interest as its subsequent record
i, replcte with brilliant accomplish
ments when Gen Pordrio Diaz
launched forth on his splendid career
as chief executive # the then infant e
Mexican republic, all that vas, territory
extending from the gulf to the Paoiiic'
and from the Rio Grande to the very
gates Of the capital. was infested and
controlled by a prodigious fraternity II
brigands
Operating in perfect harmony and
under the direction Of shrcSd auu
crafty leaders, this nefarious organizt'
ton WAS grave menace to the future
prosperity Of the new government Be
sides the wholesale plundering OF mines
and haciendas everywhere within their
reach. one Of the principal sources OF
revenue with these marauders was the
frequent concentration Of their forces
about town or village and the laying
Of an immense tribute on the commun-
ity. The impoverished condition Of
the republic at that period precluded
the possibility Of suppressing this ap'
palling scourge by force Of arms. Aud
even had the necessary fuances been
available. 50 formidable were these out
law foes and so inaccessible their noun
tain stronghods that it would have re-
ouired years in which to overcome
them.
But the marvellous tact Of Gen. Diaz
proved equal 10 the emergency. lnylt'
ing the bandit chieftains to council
he desired Of them a statement as to the
income pro rata Of the members OF the
outlaw band as a result Of their depfe'
dations. Being furnished with this
the president astonished them with a
proposition topay them salaries amount
ing TO more than the figures they had
named. providing they would forsake
their illegitimate practices and become
a special mounted guard over the same
territory they were then terrorlzlng'
with their present leaders to remain IN
command The overtures were at once
communicated to the various outla"
hands constituting the baleful fedora
tion. with the result that the great ma
iority Immediately joined their leaders
in compact to serve the government
The outcome Of the establishment oil
this corps has been nothing short OF
phenomenal. Naturally, among SO
many there were some who preferred
70 continue in their former lawless vo'
cation rather thar become useful SER
wants of society, but with their former
comrades to conteud with this obdurate
minority was speedily extermlnateo.
Thus, for years past, thanks to the uh'
tiring vigilance Of this regenerated FAC
tion. the vast rural districts OF Mexico
have been almost entirely free from the
encroachments of organized bands ol
robbers Their advent was the sighal
for new era of prosperity throughout
northern Mexico, and the erstwhile per
secuted haciendadoes and mine owners
sneedily came to entertain feeling Of
security under the protection Of theil
ld.time foes.