Evening star., 1903-12-19

PRESIDENT O1aZ.
man was an army officer. The family
gathered around DiaZ and pleaded that dis
missal from the army IN disgrace would be
sufficient punishment
Consider" they said, ''he is of our fam
fly"
punished" Diaz declared. If l do not
punish my own relatives when they do
wrong how could l punish strangers?'
Treat All Alike.
Another story is told in Mexico of how
Diaz punished close relative. The young
man became mixed up with a gang of dis
solute gamblers and political frebrands,
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
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 cam
paigning 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
and he was arrested by my men. presume
your exceIlency wishes us to let him 60"
Certainly not" replied the stern old
lItSlNtAN Stllu MIN " li4e IiOIi4cT WIFI
the others. He will have a chance to re-
deem his reputation there"
There is another version of this story,
which says that on the evening OF the ra' d
DiaZ sent an aid-de-camp 10 bid this par
tcular relative dine with him.
Tie man came. After dinner D!az de
tained him to play billiards. Presently the
telephone bell rang and the President
talked over the wire for few minutes. As
be hung up the receiver he turned with
smile to his guest and said:
You may go home now. The chief of po-
lice has just been telling me that he has
made most successful raid upon that
saloon you are so fond Of visiting"
He Got His Lesson.
The young mans face turned pale for he
had no idea that Diaz knew about his bad
habits. He tried to stammer a few words
of apology and explanation but the presi-
dent cut him short
Il wish to hear nothing Let this be a.
lesson 10 you. All your comrades have been
arrested, and they will start at daybleak
FOR the southern frontier. where they will
enter the army and probably die of disease.
If you had not been my guest tonight you
would have been among them. Good n 'ght."
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 n re-
sponsible position under the Mexican gov
ernment Although DiaZ has been an auto
crat for tw twenty-eight years welding abso-
lutte sway over all the affairs of his country
he is unspoiled by power. His mind IS broad
and his views liberal. He is not above tak-
ing advice or admitting that he has made
mistake
This was shown not long ago in n dIsnute
which he had with one OF his "'iefe politI-
cos or local commissioners. a centena-
rian patriarch who had ruled over a small
Indian tribe for more than eighty years.
Diaz took the old man to task for relaxing
some OF his laws in Difference TO the super-
stitions and prejudices of the Indians
My people would not have endured them
in the shape you ordered the patriarch re-
Piled. There would have been a revolt.
The laws were unwise'
Diazs face darkened and his eyes flashed
He is not used TO being spoken to in that
way.
He Saw His Error.
Il too. am an Indian" he declared ho,Iy
'Dou you think l don't know how to rule
Indians? Don't YOU suppose 1 know them
as well you do?"
No the old man replied You don't
know my tribe. at any rate as well as
do. l was ruling them when you We're a
boy-when you were a baby-before sou
were born. How you know them as
know them?"
Diaz considered this point OF view for a
moment; then his face cleared, and he put
his hand affectionately on the old mans
shoulder.
You are right, old father" he declared
land | am wrong. Do with your people
as you wish You have ruled them wisely
all my lifetime, and It is not for me to in
terfere with you. But tell me my faul s
and mistakes when you see them. l wish
other people would do the same"
President DIaz is now seventy three years
old. but he looks little more than fifty. He
has always led a healthy, open air, vigorous
life, and time has dealt lightly with him
His eyes are bright, clear and keen. hia