The Detroit times., 1910-06-24


ment in Mexico Democratic parties
ofNthe past had been crushed by the
police, but the new one dared to hope.
for Diaz had publicly said Il shall not
serve again"
The Democratic party OF Mexico
was organized In January, 1909. lts
platform provided for the restoration
of those ordinary political rights such
as we here accept as a matter or
course. Its original purpose was to
elect a successor TO President Diaz.
But when President Diaz decided TO
continue in power, II accepted the sit
uation, nominated him for It's presi-
Dental candidate. and In order to pro-
vide for the nations future In case OF
the death OF Diaz, 1t nominated Ber-
nardo Reyes for vice-president.
On the assumption that 1t would not
- iuterfered with the Democratic
hrty launched upon national cam
paign in favor OF Reyes.
Uses Ruthless Methods.
That 4eanipaisH w6s entirely peace
able and devoid OF seditieus acts or
utterances. But as soon as II became
evident that the party would sweep
the country, as soon as Diaz saw that
the official candidate for the vice
presidency, Ramon Corral, would be
overwhelmed In case OF an election. he
proceeded to destroy the Democratic
rarity by as ruthless methods as have
ever been employed by despot.
Diaz's first move was to nip the
propaganda for Reyes that was be-
ginning in the army. A dozen army
officers who were favorable to Reyes
were severely punished. On the othe-
hand. numerous army officers were
permitted to engage actively In the
campaign for Corral.
Some students in the national
schools of Jurisprudence, mines, meci-
cine ana the preparatory school OF
Mexico City were encouraged In form
Ing n club to further the candidacy or
Corral. But when the students OF the
Jalisco state schools of law and medi-
cine formed Reyes club they were
cypeIled. so many of them being ex-
RELIED that the schools were compelled
TO close.
~ Killed, 35 Hurt. 1000 Jailed.
Some of these Jalisco students at
tended a Corral meeting in theater
in Guadlaja and Kissed the govern
inent speakers. Squads of reserve po.
lice were thrown upon the students
with barred sailors. One newspaper
account places the list of the killed
at ~. of wounded at So and OF the
arrests at 1000.
The students made no resistance,
but were cut down with sabers and
shot down with pistols. Following the
riot the city was filed with troops
end every person known to belong to
the Democratic club was thrown IN
jail. A student. VIM. de la Pena, was
subjected, to the ley fuga. That is.
Rurales called at his home, led him
away, shot him OIL the road, and left
his body Hing there.
Action was taken against members
of the national congress who espoused
the Democratic cause. Congressman
Urueta and Lerdo de Tejada, Jr., and
Senators Jose Lopez Portillo and
Herfberto Barron were among the
first TO be deposed from their posi-
tons. A member of the secret police
escorted Barron to Vera Cruz, put him
upon a Ward liner and compelled him
to sail for New York.
Frederick Palmer, a:wel known
Englishman, was sent to jail for 30
days for merely remarking In a sa-
loon that he believed Diaz had been
president long enough
Following such action the leaders
of the Democratic clubs throughout
the country we're thrown In jail The
charge in tmost cases was "sedition,"
the sedition consisting Of the nero
fact that they were officers Of the
Democratic clubs.
At Petate. Oaxaca, there was
massacre OF Democrats by regular
troops. At Tepames, Colima. Demo
Gratis were compelled to dig their own
graves, were shot so that they fell
into the graves, when they we're COW
cred over by the executioners. At
Tehuitzingo, Puebla In April, is citi-
zens were summarily executed.
Newspapers Suppressed.
Every Democratic newspaper In the
|country was suppressed, all except
lone between the months OF July and
December. 1909. In each case the
editors and proprietors were thrown
IN jail and in some cases all the other
employees OF the papers were thrown