Evening star., 1902-09-15

presumably ineradicable The "gentlemanlv
vices" of drinking and gambling find no
liberation in the Mexican army under it's
present head.
Success in Putting Down Revolutions.
Gen. Reyes is said first to have won the
regard of President Diaz by his success in
putting down local. revolutions Where the
| iron hand was needed he never hesitated
to use it. and the northern states of Mexico
owed the suppression of several projected
outbreaks to his promptness and firmness
yet he could also persuade and conciliate
rival factions. and this gave him a great
reputation. 1t was Furthermore an indi-
cation of his talents for civil administra-
ton.
Because of his position as secretary Of
war the civil career of Gen. Reyes some
| times is overlooked. but 1t has been a nota-
Bile one. He was governor of the rich state
of Nuevo Leon before he became secretary
the future in northern Mexico. He still has
great prestige and popularity there. AS
would be said in the United States. he con-
trolls those states
smeiters and foundries IS known as the
Pittsburg of Mexico, and which is the most
American city in the republic, he was
brought In contact with Americans who
were engaged in great Industrial enter
! prises. He has sustained President Diaz
In all the measures taken to protect and
| encourage foreign investments. but espe-
cialiy investments by citizens of the United
States. He has fair knowledge of En-
glish. but speaks the language with diff
dence.
The Minister Of Finance.
Secretary Jose Yves Limantour is the
greatest constructive f1nancier Mexico ever
has known, and deserves front rank among
those of the world in this generation He
has been both the Alexander Hamilton and
the John Sherman of Mexico. His work Is
better understood and appreciated in Eu-
rope than in the United States, but of late
years it has received recognition in this
country.
Without the stable government which
President Diaz gave to Mexico her credit
never could have advanced. but it also may
be said that without genius of the highest
finances could not have been the strong
| right arm of the Diaz administration that
they became. Secretary Limantour could
devise and apply systems of taxation to In
sure the revenues which had to be the
basis of all credit. He has known how to
administer a stamp tax as to secure an
source without there being an outcry for
Its repeal. At least. never heard any one
In Mexico make that suggestion. The Cuban
congressman who want to provide the
means for the interest and sinking fund on
their proposed national loan have been
studying the Mexican stamp tax with
view to its adoption. If they could bor-
row the Mexican secretary Of finance for q
few years they might succeed.
Secretary Limantour has distributed the
Mexican national debt so that neither
England, France, Germany nor the United
States can be said to 'town Mexico.'' This
was both stat esmanship and financiering.
I heard the head OF a New York bank
speak regretfully Of the policy which had
enabled his institution to get only a mil
lion dollars Of the Mexican gold bonds. But
he said this plan was a good thing for
Mexico.
Secretary Lmantour. in his methods and
the clearness OF his processes. has been
compared to the French financiers. He is
partly of French blood. He was born In
California, after It became a part Of the
United States. but his parents soon after
ward returned to the City OF Mexico. He
had the training Of a practical banker
His Great Tirelsssnsss.
One OF his qualities Ii tirelessness II Is
said OF him that for recreation he set out
to learn billiards. The play interested him.
: He n Ars.N II fnNl.n{ooil~y U~S