The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-17
.zELAYA RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY Demand of the People Is loo
 Strong to Resist MADRlZ IS AN ASPIRANT No Other Course Was Left For Zelaya But to Give Up His Office and
 Country Will Be Without
 Ruler Awhile.
MADRlZ IS AN ASPIRANT

Managua, Nicaragua December 16.-Jose Santo Zelaya has resigned from the pres idency of Nicaragua. He placed his res- ignation in the hands of congress this morning
 Apparently there was no other course for him to take.
 The people were at last aroused where their incense knew no bounds and the revolutionists threatened the life of the incumbent The warshps of the United States at the time rode the waters of the port.
 Managua has been seething for days. The spirit of revolt has spread even to the gates of the palace
 senor Zelaya surrounded himself with an armed guard.
 The populace unchecked has marched through the streets. Many demanded the end of the old and the proclaiming of the new regime.
 l Who will take up the reins of govern ment no one knows. 1t is declared, but it is added that Zelaya, as the dictator, will be relegated to history.
 There is no doubt but that congress will act quickly upon his resignation. Demanded By People.
 The people demanded the resignation. Dr. Jose Madr1z. judge of the Central American court of justice, located at Car tago, who has been close to Zelaya, and is now said to be his choice for presi- dent Is on his way here.
 senor Madriz will arrive Saturday. He has his following, which Is said to be strong and influential even among the revolutionists, but admits he is chagrined over the continued inactivity and passive attitude adopted by the American naval contingent present in the harbor.
 General vasquez' troops at Rama, it is said, retain their mobility. Estrada's word will bear weight in the choice of g. president at this time, it is said.
 zelaya has known, too, that Madriz is not acceptable to the United States and he has sought to learn who would be looked upon with favor by that govern ment as his successor.
 ZeIayas Message.
 Accompanying his resignation Zelaya sent the following message to congress-
 "The painful circumstances in which the country is plunged call for acts Of ao- neeation and patriotism on the part of the good citizens who are the witnesses or the oppression of the republic by the heavy hand of fate. The country is stag gerine under a shameless revolution which threatens the nations sovereignty and a foreign nation unjustly intervenes In our affairs. publicly providing the rebeis with arms which has only resulted in their being defeated everywhere through the heroism of our troops.
 ITO avoid further bloodshed and for the reason that the revolutionists have declared that they would put down their arms when I surrendered the executive power, hereby place in the hands of the national assembly the abandonment of the remainder of my term of office, which is to be filled by substitute of three choosing, ith the hope that this will result in good to Nicaragua the estab- lishment of peace and particularly the suspension of the hostility of the United States, to which I do not wish to give pretext for intervention"
 Commission Is Named. ] commission of five deputies was ap- pointed to draft bill looking to tho ac- ceptance of Zelaya's resignation, which Is now considered mere formality. News of the Presidents action spread through the city and soon great crowds moved 1 through the streets shouting for the United States and the revolution.
 Held in control for years by the strong hand of Zelaya, the people have been quick to break through restraint when it was certain that the dictator could not breast the tide that has been rising around him. During the latter days Zel- aya has resorted to all the known tricks and contrivances to hold the people of Managua with him. Reports of . gov ernment victory at Rama have been free ly circulated and rumors that . massacre of revolutionsts had occurred were al- lowed to spread unchalenged and un- denied. It finally became known that these were without a shade of truth and they rebounded like . boomerang.
 First one deputy and then another took up tho denunciation of Zelaya in the chamber and later in the public places, and soon throughout the city dsmonstra- tions were held in which open revolt was voiced. Last night. however. . pro- 1 Zelaya demonstration marked tke session | of congress, but this had no effect out side the walls of the house. Tho rising was more marked today than ever, and the President decided discretion ts be the better part of valor and withdrew from