Evening star., 1902-03-11
DIAz'S SUCCESSOR
The Probable Next President
of Mexico.
NOW FINANCE MINISTER
q
HIS FRIENDLY RIVAL WILL SUP
PORT HIM WITH TIE ARMY.
{ II
Something About senor Jose Ives Ii
mantour and the Work He
Has Done.
NOW FINANCE MINISTER

Comment by American newspapers upon
the possible retirement Of President Diaz,
and the succession OF Gen. Reyes to
the office has brought forth what may be
considered as a semi-official or inspired
statement to the effect that Senor Jose
Ives Limantour will be the immediate sue
cessor Of President Diaz and not Gen.
Reyes. This does not affect the value of
the prediction already made, however, that
Gen. Reyes will in time be president Of
Mexico. 1t means simply, If true, that a
compromise long expected and predicted
for several years past has been made be-
tween Mr.. Limantour, the minister Of
finance, and Gen. Reyes, the minister of
war; as to the presidential succession. For
q long time they have been friendly rivals
for the honor. Both of them stand ex-
ceedingly we'll with President Diaz, and
the services Of Mr.. Lmantour in recon-
structing the fiscal system Of his country
and creating a new system of banking
have been recognized as OF extreme value.
Not only are his services appreciated by
President DiaZ, but the representatives Of
foreign capital have believed him to be the
safest man from their point Of view.
In addition to this support there is quite
a large and influential faction In Mexico
French, who have been openly in favor Of
Lmantour The weakness OF his can
didacy, however, has been the lack Of mill
tary support and it was recognized that
II Cen Reyes, the idol of the army should
utterly refuse to support Mr.. Limantour
there was little hope for his success, and
If he should persist in his candidacy there
was considerable expectancy of serious
trouble when the question of succession
should arise. 1t has been believed for a
long time that Reyes and Limantour, being
personally friendly. both Of them progress
sive and both Of them unselfishly devoted to
md ho uyoIfa or }1nir
country, would arrive at some understand
ing whereby both men would reap the re-
ward for their patriotism, and at the same
time enjoy the highest honors at the dis
posal Of the Mexican people
An Agreement Reached.
Two or three years ago it was whispered
about in well-informed circles in the City
Of Mexico that an agreement had already
been reached, that Limantour was to sue
ceed President Diaz for a short term Of Of
fee and that he was then to retire in favor
of General Reyes. Recent dispatches from
the City Of Mexico say that General Reyes,
m case Of the presidential succession being
open, would give his cordial support to the
candidacy Of the minister OF finance, Jose
Ives Limantour. and that 1t Is believed that
Minister Lima ntour. suppoEIed by General
Reyes and other leading perSonages, would
meet the need of Mexico, and in the presi
Dental chair would be governed in all his
acts by the principles laid down by Presi-
dent Diaz. s| F
There Is no question as to the truth of
this statement. for If Limantour was sup
ported by General Reyes he would have the
solid backing of the Mexican military
forces, to say nothing OF the Reyes civil
faction, which is one of the strongest In
the republic. Add to this the support Of
President Diaz, and Mr.. Limantour would
be able to rest secure in hisf administration.
It is known that President sDiaz is anxious
m Mt
recognition Of his services to the Diaz ad-
ministration. This fact has been recognized
for SO long that any arrangement between
Limantour and Reyes, such as has been
noted, would cause no surprise and would
meet with general approval, for 1t would
be in the form OF a compact which would
assure Industrial and political peace to the
country for an indefinite time. 1t Is proba-
BILE that the prominence given to the can
didacy of General Reyes by the American
press has led to this semi-official statement
from the general himself SO as to keep his
relations with his political friends upon an
amicable basis.
Something About Limantour.
Jose Ives Limantour is of French parent
age and is more Of an European than he is
a Mexican. His family is very wealthy,
having acquired wealth through the rise
In the value OF real estate in the City Of
Mexico. He was educated in France and
uHtll Kew years ago was pTactlClnR
lawyer, with highly cultivated taste for
arts and letters. and his home was cele-
brated throughout Mexico as being one OF
the best appointed and the most refined In
It's influences among many such In the
luxurious capital of the Mexican republic.
He was the author of several pamphlets
upon finance, and these attracted the etten-
tion Of President Diaz to his ability and
grasp OF economies. His wealth and posi-
tion forbade his appointment in sub
ordinate position, but he accepted the as
sistant secretaryship in the department of
finance with the understanding that he
was to be made minister upon the retire
ment of Romero. While undersecretary
he originated many OF the reforms in the
system Of taxation for which Romero mas
received credit from foreigners and blame
from some OF the natives who were op-
posed to the apparent innovations.
Since Mr. Limantour has been minister
of finance be has practically beer assistant
president. for President Diaz has left in
his hands many of the modern QUESTIONS
Of government administration with which
the builder of modern Mexico was not able
to cope in detail.
When President Diaz was Ill a year ago,
Mr.. 1imantour was made acting president
and for several weeks conducted the affairs
tIrrr To- 1,vn f,h, f<. fto<,