Arizona republican., 1899-10-11
PORFlRIO DIAZ,
 MAKER OF MEXICO

| Chatting with GeOfS6 U. O'~1h o
 Chicago, whose business acumen has
 just aided Mexico to improve her finan-
 cial conditions, he said to me:
 'The breadth of the nature Of Presi-
 dent Diaz cannot be understood by
 these who have not met him. He has l tremendous business ability, is hu-
 mane. liberal ua an extreme, most friendly to the United States. and in every particular a great ruler Of the
 republic he has created
 | Po1ff1io Diaz is the positive Of a
 union Of the Latin and Aztec races.
 The best of the qualities of the early races of Mexico find development
 within him, while what is strongest in the Latin is uppermost in his deeds. It is net just to call him the Washing ton CT Lincoln of Mexico. He prefers to be called the Diaz of Mexico. There has been but one, and little reason, eX- ists for believing that there will be another.
 The banditti of the land were rulers when he came to the presidency Of Mexico They laid tribute upon high and low Mexico, for their presence, was mora pestilential to travellers than Italy g. decade ago Diaz sent for the most influential of the bandit chiefs. They came into his presence armed, wondering, threatening He said to them with a little gesture of his hand:
 ''Senors, how much a year do you make out of your business ?"
 They told him. Then he said:
 -Sencrs. I can offer you better than that If you accept my offer you will have adventure and honor hand in hand. What I want yCu to do is to hcIr, oH nf Mexico. 1 ask you to became members of my staff. You shall be the best Of my gentlemen guards. 1 will pay you mere than any ether soldiers of the world receive
 After consultation the chiefs accept ed his cffer He formed them into what are now called the Rurales-the Rough Riders of Mexico. They ended banditry in Mexico with a suddenz ess that astonished all. As flying cavalry their efficiency became world famous. When Governor Roosevelt was at Las Vegas they sent tc' him this message:
 ''The Hurdles (Rough Riders) Of Mexico send greetings to their brave Rurales (Rough Riders) of the United States, and respect for their gallant colonel"
 Assassius surrounded the presidents chair when Diaz came into power. If liberal Mexico trusted him, c0nserva- tive and clerical Mexico hated Law lessness prevailed in all sections Of the republic. Title to property was inse- cure. The currency was debaSed. For eign capital would not invest. Pauper- ism was at every twist of the road.
 This son of an innkeepsr of Oaxaca must have possessed Nap3leonfc quail itieS to have brought about a state Of affairs the reverse of that existing when he was made president. Under Santa Ana he demonstrated his bray cry He fought the French at Pueblo with famed bravery. He besieged Marqu5z in the City of Mexico and hastenad the downfall Of MeXimilian. And when wal was at end he proved himself a master in statecraft.
 Rubio w3s one of his early Cppo nents. He raised an army against him, defeated him and his chief LerdO, and then married Rubio'S daughter. Rubio and Diaz after the downfall Of Lerdo met at a ball in the American legation. Rubio's daughter was beau tiful and attracted the ambitious pres ident. The. marriage was one Of love and made second in the rule of Mexico a woman noted for her loveliness of and charities.
 Rubio became master of the interior under Diaz. The latter is passionately fond of duck hunting. Rubio is not, but was persuaded to jcin the president on an expedition. While on the lake one day Diaz saw a number of ducks rise on the opposite side and bsgin fly ing toward him. He took position i'll the bow Of the beat and the boatman padded slowly toward the bank. Just as Diaz raised his gun to fire the boat struck bottom and the president sat down in the mud. Without noticing the interruption, he let go both bar rels and brought down two ducks. | Then he quietly turned to Rubic and said:
 T wonder if the president of the United States could beat that?"
 This is description of one of the journeys of Diaz through the republh::