The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-06-14
american News Service)

(Americ2n News Service)
San Antonio, Texas, June 14.-1n the
opinion of disinterested students of
Mexican affairs, the Diaz government
has overreached itself badly in caus-
ing the arrest of Francisco L. Ma
dero, presidential candidate of the an
ti-reelectionistas and Rogue Estrada,
his principal campaign manager. The
Mexican administration in taking this
step has definitely gone on record as
opposed to the constitutional rights of
the Mexican people to put an oppo-
sition ticket in the field. This state
of affairs, while not what could be
termed revelation, has become very
concrete proposition for the reason
that in applying the tactics resorted
to, the Diaz party is not dealing with
a political organization aiming to sub
vert present institutions and condi-
tions in Mexico, but with a political
party claiming to stand for the welfare
of the country.
The anti-reelectionistas are. in ev-
cry sense of the word. a group that
stands as much for the good of the
Mexican people as the Diaz faction
does. Senior Madero is not the man
who would be identified in revolution
airy juntas. or who would encourage
violence against the country's govern
ment. He is one Of the largest land
owners in Mexico and several times
millionaire, and above all a well mean
ing patriotic citizen. In accepting the
nomination for the presidency he has
done no more than the man would do
who would head the ticket of an anti
administration party in the United
States.
On the whole the action of the Diaz
government seems to indicate that it
is no longer sure of its power. other
wise SO radical a step as the unwar-
ranted arrest of Senior Madero would
have never suggested itself to it. With
a free hand and fair count the Diaz
clique would have been defeated and
a new regime would have come to the
fore. To this the Diaz oligarchy is
opposed for reasons of his own. Presi-
dent Diaz sees danger in a change OF
administration, but whatever misap-
prehension he has may be said to be
not due as much to fear that an in
competent man would rise to the pres
idency as to the certainty that extern
al influences would endanger the ex-
istence of the republic. 1t is a fore
gone conclusion that any change of
administration in Mexico would re-
suit in better regulation Of the foreign
element and capital which are exploit
ing the country under the plea that
they are developing it. Any effort of
new administration to curb the foreign
sharks would. without doubt, meet
strenuous resentment and opposition,
and most likely would result in Mexico
having a foreign war on her hands.
President Diaz Is being credited with
q willingness to profit by the example
Of the Boer republics. The South At
rican republic and the Orange Free
State went down before similar condi-
tons Large investments by foreign
ers in the Transvaal gold mines led in
their instance to a desire on the part
of the capital interested to run the
whole country. This. the Boer element
resented and war and the extermina-
ton of the two Dutch republics fol-
lowed Mexico. today. is in similar
position. Millions upon millions of for
eign capital have been invested there
and today only government permit
ting the exploitation of the country
could hope to continue in favor. For
this reason President Diaz most likely
against his will. is moving heaven and
earth to keep the foreign investors
satisfied by prudent action. part OF
which is to prevent men less friendly
to foreign capital from getting into
power. In this Diaz plays the role OF
the unappreciated patriot The anti
reelectionistas stand for better con-
troll of the foerign investors and in
this have the support Of practically
every good citizen in the country. Able
to get their constitutional rights. they
no doubt would place their own man
In power.
What Madero would do as president
II problematical. In his dealing with