The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

- he cynieaHy replied:
t6LttsH When / think OF my chances
49, I am surprised at my modera-
ton"
There Is a despot of to-day who has had
far better chances OF graft than even
Warren Hastings. but never used them.
That man is Porfirfo Diaz, for twenty
eight years the autocrat OF Mexico. His
power over the public treasury during that
long period has been absolute, but even his
worst enemies do not allege that he ever
robbed his country of a cent. And that is
indeed remarkable in Latin-Amerisan
country
When he became President, away back in
1S75. before his principles became known,
his relatives and friends used to go to him
for easy jobs under the government They
expected to be allowed 20 plumber the treas
ury in the good, old-fashioned Mexican
way. and they were very much Disguised
when Diaz made it plain that he neither
intended to loot on his own account nor to
allow anybody else to do so.
Since then Diaz has dealt sternly with
many of his family and his tribe, who, hav-
ing been placed in public office, abused their
trust. Many years ago he sent one OF his
cousins TO prison for peculation. The man
was an army officer The family gathered
around Diaz and pleaded that dismissal
from the army in disgrace would be
sufficient punishment.
Consider they said, "he is Of our fam
sly."
THE very reason he must be severely
punishedr' Diaz declared. ':If do not pun
ish my own relatives when they do wrong
how could punish strangers?'
Another story is told in Mexico Of how
Diaz punished a close relative. The young
man became mixed up with gang OF dis
.solute gamblers and political hrebrands
who held their meetings in one Of the low
est saloons in the City of Mexico. At first
the government treated the gang with con-
tempt, but eventually 1t became such a
center OF mischief that Diaz ordered the
chief of police to raid the saloon, arrest
everybody found there, and sent them to
the frontier to fight in the army, then
campaigning against the Yaqui Indians.
About midnight Diaz was summoned from
his bed by the ringing of his telephone bell.
The chief OF police was at the other end
of the wire.
Your Notwithstanding the man-"was
at the saloon with the Others" he said.
land he was arrested by my men. I pre-
sumo Your Exceilency wishes US TO let
him CO."
Certainly not" replied the stern old
president. send him to the frontier with
the others. He will have a chance to re-
deem his reputation there"
A DIFFERENT VERSION.
There is another version Of this story.
which says that on the evening OF the raid
Tafaz cent an ofde-da-oonor 10 hid thfs par-
ticular relative dine with him.
The man came. After dinner Diaz de-
tained hfm'to play billiards. Presently the
telephone bell rang. and the president talked
over the wire for few minutes. AS he
hung up the receiver he turned with a
smile to his guest and said:
''You may go home now. The chief of
police has just been telling me that he has
made a most successful raid upon that
saloon you are so fond Of visiting
The young mans face turned pale. for he
had no idea that Diaz knew about his bad
habits. He tried to stammer few words
Of apology and explanation. but the Presi-
dent cut him short.
III wish to hear nothing. Let this be a
lesson to you. All your comrades have been
arrested and they will start at daybreak
for the southern frontier, where they will
enter the army and probably die of disease
II you had not been my guest tonight you
would have been among them. Good
might"
The incident happened several years ago
and Mexicans are divided as to which OF
these two versions is correct. Anyhow, the
relative is reformed now and holds a re-
sponsible position under the Mexican gov.
eminent.
Although Diaz has been an autocrat fol
twenty-eight years, welding absolute sway
over all the affairs OF his country, he is
unspoled by power. His mind is broad and
his views liberal. He is not above takine
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