Bisbee daily review., 1911-04-08
THE POSITION OF DlAZ.

OF DIAz.
 The message of President Diaz to lAe Mexican congress. September 16 l9ie. took note of one unsuccessful attempt at instruction in Yucatan ia June of last year. but otherwise reported condition of internal peace. and commercial and induc trial progress. n the coneludiE.. passages the president declared ths. his review proved that the presen condition or ,he republic justified tEe executive m looking forward to '- smooth and prosperous future Tn. message Of the preceding april had
 sen equally hopeful in tcae. and equally conventional in its exprss- Ssons of. satisfaction at the eouztry's .rogrcss in many directionr
 n his message of Sat1rday last S-esieent Diaz takes note e state fl civil war. end proclaims the exist enee of armed insurrection in the states of Sonora. Chihuahua and Du- rango and also of armed opposition 10 the government in other states, So far from assuming that the con. dition of the country is safe enough to justify expectations of "a smooth and prosperous future he urges a. reform in the election laws to enable all citizens to take part in elections, 2 right accorded to all citizens b. the constitution of 1924, and one which, theoretically. all have been permitted to enjoy. In his s1st year, and almost in the beginning of his eighth term as president. General Diaz thus officially admits that cleo tions in Mexico have not been open and free. He announces his plan of breaking up the vast landed estates of the North, at present generally uncultivated. and distributing the land among small holders. and pledges himself to urge upon con sress bills to secure the complete in dependence of the courts. He also proposes that no president of the republic shall hereafter be eligible for reelection
 The present term of Diaz will not end for five years and nine months. He makes no promise to retire from the presidency before his term is finished. and he condemns the lead. CTS of the revolution as men who, having placed in the field at the last election candidates receiving only a few votes, have resorted to arms 70 gain their ends But he practically admits that elections have not been free. that the courts have been cor rupt and inefficient. and that a so- lutioD of the land question is urgent, says the New York Times. It is therefore a remarkable message, and if it fails to satisfy his countrymen. nothing will satisfy them short of a complete change of government General Diaz has met the demands of the opposition step by step. The ministry has been changed The best hated members of the group have practically retired from public life Elections are to be free, if it is possible to have free elections in Mexico. The Judges are to be look ed after, and the land question Is temporarily to be settled. though 1t seems that a much better plan than the enforced purchase of unimproved tracts by the government would be the institution of an equitable sys- tenn of land taxation which would compel the land owners to give up their now useless holdings.
 The world must feel that Porfrio Diaz has done his best His fortunes have visibly fallen since the Sep tember festival in his beautiful cap ital, but he faces the crisis. erect, with unimpaired dignity and cour- age, an impressive and pathetic ag'