The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-10
DIAzIS DENOUNCED
Sensational Charges Made
Against Mexican President
Before Rules Committee of the
House of Representatives.
POLITICAL REFUGEE
Tells Story of Enforced Flight
and Prosecution.
Holds Ruler of Mexico ReSpon-
sible for $1,000 Deaths.

Washington, June 10.-A tale of en-
forced flight from Mexico and of al
legged prosecution by American and
Mexican officers in this country was
related to the rules committee of the
house today by L. De Lara, a political
refugee.
After recounting his experiences in
Los Angeles, Cal, where he said he
was arrested five times on "trumped
up charges at the instance of the
Mexican government and served more
than 100 days in jail, De Lara ex-
claimed:
81 have been in Jail five times since
came to the United States and have
been subjected to third degree at the
hands of the officers; 1 have been
thrown into a dungeon and kept for
days with nothing to eat but a rotten
potato and neither my attorneys nor
friends allowed to see me. 1 am liable
to be arrested again at any time and
unless you gentlemen help me, they
may get me and hang me-
The committee was considering a
resolution offered by Representative
Wilson, Dem, Pennsylvania, who asks
congress to name an investigating COM
mittee to inquire into the treatment of
Mexican political refugees and of the
alleged acceptance of money from the
DiaZ government by American GUS
toms and peace officers along the bor-
der to act as secret service agents for
Mexico.
Calls Him Despot.
De Lara denounced President Diaz
as "a dirty despot'' who had destroy
ed free speech, free press and the
right of the ballot in that country.
More than 10000 people have met
violent deaths for political reasons
since Diaz took the reins of govern
ment in Mexico" said DeLara. HE
never was elected president. He never
was chosen president by votes of the
people, but has maintained himself by
force. The Mexican government has
caused thousands of persons to be
killed because they resisted the ex
listing order of things in that country
and sought to restore to the poor
people the rights that were taken from
them by force"
DeLara was accompanied to the cap
itol by his wife, an American woman,
and two or three Mexicans.
DeLara related incidents tending to
ment of Mexico was using a system
of espionage in the United States over
political refugees. DeI4ara told how
he himself In order to learn what
his government was doing in that di-
rection, had accepted employment as a
''spy'' in Los Angeles to trace the
movements of OTHER refugees. He said
he resigned after four days.
Was Paid So Day.
"How much pay did you receive for
your work as a spy" asked Repre-
sentative Fassett of New York
II was paid SO a day and gave the
money to poor Mexican women of Los
Angeles the day 1 received it," answer
ed the witness.
How did you earn this money!" in
quired Mr.. Fassett.
II did nothing but stay in the office
and think of my degradation in being
ing the employ of dirty despot.," De
Lara replied. I earned a million dol
lars as far as conscience was con-
cerned.'
De Lara said there were orders IN
Mexico to shoot him because of his
political activities. He said he had
been thrown into Jail in Mexico, but
had been released as a result of a mis-
understanding. He said he had escaped
to this country through the assistance
of friends. In Los Angeles he had
been charged with robbery three times,
the warrant for which was made out
in blank as to date, time, place and
amount of the alleged robbery. Once
the charge was for stealing wood in
Cananea, Mexico, seven years previous
ly he said.
The last time he was arrested was
while speaking on the street in Los
Angeles to a number of his country
men, he asserted. He declared that his
attorneys secured his release on a, writ