Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-12

regrets profoundly the necessity Of re-
sorting to means so extreme. The condi-
tionS now, however. are such that ne
deems the safeguarding OF properly Oh
such great Importance that II 1ustihes
recourse to the extreme provisions oil
the constitution.
Death When Caught in the Act.
Under the measure 1t Is provided that
where the offender is arrested in the
act the men making the arrest shall
need no other proof than the fact OF the
ofYense TO shoot him.
In cases where the evidence OF guilt ~
not so apparent the accused SHAH have
eight days for trial. This trial shall be
the arrest. The first seven days shall be
devoted to hearing such evidence as may
be produced, and the eighth da ysentence
shall be passed. If the penalty be death
and the authorities are left no other
choice in most cases. the execution must
not be delayed. except to seek executive
pardon. This right is granted.
Uses an Old Weapon.
In reviewing this provision of the
Mexican constitution, President Diaz is
preparing to use again that weapon
with which he whipped his country into
order many years ago. state of at
fairs bordering on anarchy then pre-
vailed. The problem of dealing with
outlawry in it's many forms had to be
solved.
Ignorance and cupidity, combined
with viciousness. caused widespread
movement of ROBBERY. assault and Will
full destruction of property, especially
railway property. and Gen. Diaz met
tho situation by the Drastic method he
has again adopted. Indians through
out the republic in those days fire.
ouenliy cut the telegraph wires and
carried away yards of the metal for
the simple reason that they could use
the material about their farms. For
the same reason they went to the rail-
roads for their supplies of iron ana
brass and timber. The state or analrs
demanded extreme measures
The reason for the destruction or prop
erty this time is different but Gen. Iraz
believes that what was efficacious then
will be so today.
In its application this law VIII nj the
foreigner as it will the native. In the
ranks of the rebels there are numerous
Americans and a few of other nationali-
ties. Should any of these soldiers OF lof-
tune be captured while blowing up
bridge or even pulling a spike. they Will
not he entitled under this clause of the
constitution to any more mercy than is
accorded TO the Mexican revolutionists
Guards Will Be Doubled.
Although the mere announcement or the
fact that the government intends to deal
mercilessly with persons detected in acts
of outlawry, according to government Of
flcers will have beneficial effect, Minister
of War Manuel Gonzalez Cosio believes
that the full force Of the measure will
not be felt until it is actually applied.
1.-The immediate efficiency of the sys-
tenn will begin to be felt said Minister
Cosio, discussing the measure. when the
first scars are inflicted on the persons
OF those arrested in the commission of
crimes
Minister Cosio was discussing that
clause which provides that those detected
In the commission of any one of these
acts for which the death penalty is pre-
Scribed shall be executed Summarily by
the arresting force.
The war department expects to CO.
operate heartily in carrying out the pro,
visions of the special ruling. The min
lister said that in order to make more
efficacious the action of the executive in
reviving this long unused provision of
the constitution, the guards along the
common highways as well as along the
railroads would be doubled and that the
provisions of the measure would be car
ried out to the letter.
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