The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE
HOW MEXICAN BANDITS WERE EN-
ROLLED IN THE ARMY.
Invited by DiaE to Attend a Banquet
at Zoco1o Palace, Choice of Veni-
son or Bullets Was offered.
New York Times.

New YORK Times.
They chose cabrto, Who, under the cir
cumstances, would not?
The tourist who visits Mexico discovers
his first and his last Interrogation point
well as one Of his chiefest interests concern
ing that interesting country, in the file Of
buckskin-clad soldiery that is drawn up at
each railway station to witness the arrival
and departure OF trains. He wonders why
they are there, and feels shiver of appre-
hension lest there is some outbreak in the
vicinity which they have been detailed to
quell. They are the Mexican Rurales, part
and portion OF the regular army, but more
than anything else they are living statues
to the sagac.ty and foresight of one of the
most remarkable men of the close of the
nineteenth century and the beginning of the
twentieth century-Porfirio Diaz. They are
called Rurales because before they were
soldiers they were bandits and came from
the country, and while now. after twenty
odd years of service under the government,
there are many enrolled among them who
have never personally belonged to the out
lawoclass, it is safe to say that there are
few, If any, whose fathers or grandfathers
or uncles were not bandits in their day.
The history of the Rurales is an interest
ing and Significant chapter in Mexican af-
ralrs, and IL Illustrates the policy OF Presi-
dent DlaZ better than anything else that
could be SAID ABOUT his Inscrutaply strange
ana unique character.
When Diaz assumed the reigns of govern
ment ne found a condition of things for
which the word cnaos is only meagerly de-
scriptIye. The entire country, from the RIO
ca ande to Tehuantepec, was oYerrun with
banditu, so thatstraveilng without a numer-
Gus escort was impossible. The numerous
estados OF the country were arrogant and
independent of spirit, and greatly inclined,
with force or arms If necessary, to resent
any and all interference in their affairs by
the national government. The governors Of
many or the States were openly in league
with the bandits and utterly defiant of every
semblance of control by a central authority.
Again, revolution was disease germ which
auected every officer in the army above the
rank or captain, and many of them did not
scruple to plot openly against the control
and authority of President Diaz. Men who
| were supposedly greater and more capable
than he could ever hope to be had eSSayed
the direction of affairs, only to fail. and the
country was sorely IN need of the very ele-
ments that soon developed in the provisional
President to save IL and to evolve out of IL
what he has accomplished. His greatest
| stroke OF genius for mis- country good and
| for his own success was the enrolment of
| the Rurales into National Guard of Mexi-
| CO. 1t was his coup d'etat. 1t clipped the
wings OF the governors. The true story OF
that great achievement is this:
THE PRESIDENTS PLAN.
Realizing fully that the bravest men, the
| hardest fighters, the most CONSCIOUSNESS
daredevils, and the most unconquerable ele-
ment within the borders of Mexico were the
hardy mountaineer bandits, Diaz knew that
if he could induce them to serve under his
! banner and enroll themselves as a separate
body of soldiers he would hold a handful of
trumps, if not the full thirteen, in his pos
2
herculean task to undertake. but this man
approached ii with that quietly determined
| AIR which has made him famous, and with
| in six months OF the time when the idea Oc-
Cured TO him IL was an accomplished fact
If the method by which the result was re-
allied is to be criticised, the critic must
bear in mind the circumstances. ITO do
great right, do a little wrong seems espe-
clally applicable here. If he deceived those
bandit chiefs then, they and their descend
ants thankful for the act now, and the
country and its people have been saved be-
cause of IL.
Mounted messengers, selected for their
known loyalty to their general, were taken
| from the ranks of his personal following and
| dispatched with all speed to the uttermost
corners of the republic, far and near. Each
was an envoy extraordinary and minister
| plenipotentary to bandit chief Each had
his particular message and selection of pres
ents to deliver. Each was a fearless, bold
and determined man, who bore a sealed
packet, which, among other things, con-
tanned a message, of which the following is
a more or less free translation:
"Porfrio Diaz, provisional President of the
Republic of Mexico, greetS you. 1t is his
honor and privilege to invite you to be pres
ent and to partake of a banquet to be given
at the palace in the City of Mexico, on the
| -th day of September, IS. The freedom of
the city will be extended to you during the
week preceding the date fixed for the BAN
quet, and safe conduct to and from the city
is guaranteed to all invited guests. AS an
additional safeguard, the bearer hereof, an
officer in the Mexican army, will remain
hostage among your followers, until your
safe return etc.
guests accompanied by the suggestion that
the recipient would do well to communicate
with whomever he chose among them in
der that they might with greater comfort
and convenience make the journey together.
In reality this was meant 70 Undue them
with added sense of security and conf
dence; and ii was effectual
'.They accepted the invitation and came"
said Major General: Minjosa, who, at the
time he related the story to the writer, was
minister of war of Mexico, in the Diaz Cab
and In groups. They came from north and
south and east and west. They came from
Tamauipus Chihuahua, 5onola, Durango,
from Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and
from every State In the republic. Many of
them had never seen a city before that
time. There were more than seventy OF
them in all-three score and ten bandit
chiefs, clad in buckskin. armed to the teeth.
and the most picturesque set Of men that
this country of picturesque effects has ever
produced
HOW THE PLAN WORKED.
ION the appointed day they assembled in
the Ambassadors Hall in the palace, where
they were received by General Diaz, who
was dressed in his full uniform as general
in chief of the army. AS each one entered
the room he was grasped by the hand and
warmly greeted by the President, who had