Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-12
MEX|CO'S new OFFICE
Ramon Corral Made Vice
President.
WILL SUCCEED DIAz
CONTINUATION OF POLICY OF
PRESENT EXECUTIVE ASSURED.
Sketch of the New Official - Clericals
Are Prevented From Doing
Any Mischief.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
While the United States has been in
dulging in the prelminaries of the election
of President and Vice President the neigh
boring republic of Mexico has fixed Its
rulers for the next six years. American
investments in Mexico are now so large and
so many people in this country are inter-
esting themselves there that they Will feel
almost much concern over the result as
over the election at home.
But everything Is reassuring for them
and for the progress of Mexico. A political
revolution has been worked in that rcpub-
lie, but it was revolution which was mi
tiated and carried through by the govern
ment of President DiaZ. AS an outcome
Mexico has got little closer to the United
States in its system of administration and
has made some approach to popular insti-
tutions. as much of approach as the
people there ready for at this time.
The political revolution began two years
ago, when measures were taken to amend
the constitution so the term of the president
should be six years instead of four and
also that there should be a vice president.
The machinery of constitutional amend
ment in Mexico is almost as complicated as
with us, but it works more smoothly and,
therefore, more rapidly.
Importance of the Vice Presidency.
The extension of the presidential term
to six years was not of special Importance.
for 1t is very we'll known that Gen. Diaz
will continue to be the chief magistrate
of Mexico so long as he lives or cares to
hold the office But there much i'm
portance in the provision creating the
office of vice president. The functions cor
respond to that office in the United States
but in Mexico hereafter the actual influence
IL,
be much more pronounced. He Will De Iar
more than a presiding officer or pros
pective successor to the president
Until the constitution was changed Mex
leo was like most of the other Spanish
American countries In having deslgna-
do" or temporary vice president whose
functions in the event of the death Oh the
chief executive were limited TO adminis-
tering the government until an elecuon
could be called and a new president chosen.
This meant that a presidential elecuoh
might be precipitated at any time Inc
wisest and most patriotic men in Mexico
saw that this was a dangerous Situdtion ioi
their country.
President Diaz is now we'll past seventy
He is vigorous and strong: L saw MIN
few months ago. and noted as every one
did. how much stronger he seemed to be
than when the Pan-American congress was
in session two years ago. But in the course
of nature no one can say what ms neaitn
will be two or three years from now. 1t is
ton, that his long rule shall be followed
by the continued peace under which alone
is possible the complete fruition of his pol
icies The way to secure this was by leaV-
ing no doubt about the succession in case
of his death. That is secured by the pro-
vision for a vice president, who succeeds
the president permanently. or. rather. for
the term for which that official is chosen.
The nationalistS are the dominant party
in Mexico. Their opponents. the conserva-
tives or clericals. take little part in politics.
.iV, Nlxr hn1d ho
chance for reactionary plans. So they did
not bother themselves about the vice presi-
dency.
Wanted Ignacio Mariscal.
The nationalists held a convention to
nominate a candidate for vice president.
Two candidates were suggested. These
were Ignacio Mariscal and Ramon Corral.
Mr.. Mariscal is the minister of foreign
relations. He is the ablest diplomat that
Latin America ever has produced. He has
been the right arm of President Diaz for
twenty years or more. He is said not to be
popular with the Mexican politicians and
he does not affiliate particularly with the
scientific circle. which is composed of
score of very able men in the capital city.
But he has the respect and love of the
Mexican people, though his career has not
been a military one. AS early as last jan
uary, when talking with some prominent
Mexcans, l was informed that Mariscal
would be the man for vice president. in
spite of the slate which had been fixed for
some one else. But / knew better.
Minister Mariscal is as old as President
Diaz, and his health is not even as good.
Domestic affction also has come upon him.
and his disposition is to retire from public
affairs as far possible. But, like Gen.
Diaz, he is intensely anxious that the fu-
ture of Mexico shall be assured, and that
the turmoil and uncertainty of an uneX-
pected presidential election shall not take
place. 1t was certain that he would not
allow himself to become a candidate for
vice president when every consideration
pointed to the wisdom of a younger man.
Yet when the nationalist convention met
there was determined effort to stampede
it TO him, and, in spite of his own attitude,
he received Y votes out of 1870.
Ramon Corral Nominated.
The nominee of that convention was Ra-
mon Corral, who had ITO votes. Suisse
quent to the nomination another movement
was started in behalf of Minister Mariscal,
and several newspapers insisted on sup
porting his candidacy. Minister Mariscal
vetoed this effort and urged his friends to
support Corral, which they did.
The new vice president is not exactly a
young man, for he has just turned fifty, but
he represents the young and progressive
element in Mexican national life. He comes
from the state of Sonora of which he was
governor. His profession is that of jour-
nalist and lawyer, the two often being COM
bined in the Latin-American countries. He
Is vigorous writer, with very Independent
opinions, which he sustained with ability.
He went from Sonora to Mexico City and
became governor of the federal district,
which is something akin to the District of
Columbia. 1t was during his term in this
position that he secured a change in the
system and succeeded in modelling Mexico
City after the city of Washington His
most notable achievement while in control
of the federal district was in restricting
and limiting the pulque curse. Pulque is