Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-03
DIAZ PROMISES REFORMS
President of Mexico Sends in His
Message to Congress.
WOULD DIVIDE BIG ESTATES
chief Executive of Mexican Republic
for First Time Departs from Ordi-
nary Course and Suggests
Special Hesitation.

gram -President Dlaz is ready to step !
aside and let another take his place as
chief executive Of Mexico II the people !
think he ought TO do II. He will accept /
i, the dictum of congress on this issue as the
voice Of the public. This declaration is the
most important message which he sent to
the opening Of the Twenty-fifth congress
here last night.
After recommending a number OF gen
eral reforms. the president made the prop
osition that hereafter no citizen should be
eligible to reelection as president He
urged q reform OF the election laws, In or
der that al the citizens Of che country may
hereafter be able TO take part in elections.
further reform suggested by the presi-
dent was the breaking up of the great
landed estates Of the country, the ground
being distributed among small farmers, 20
be worked by themselves and their fami-
lies for their Own benefit
The president also guaranteed the COM
pleto independence Of the courts OF the re-
81 public and pledged himself that If bills
affecting these reforms were introduced
in congress they would have his hearty
support and he would sign them when
acted.
Abuse Of power by jefes politico. another
of the crying evils complained Of by
residents IN the rural districts through
out Mexico. Is to be abated, according to
the plan outlined by the president
Audience Intensely Interested.
The public, knowing that the president
would in this message to the Twenty
fifth congress. depart from the ordinary
course and suggest special legislation has
shown intense interest. This feeling of
expectancy found expression in the mem
bers OF congress and from the minute the
deputies until the last word Of his mes
sage every man on the floor well as
those persons In the galleries listened in
tentIy Every available seat in the
1 galleries was occupied either by diplomatic,
y -public' officials or by those fortunate
enough to have obtained cards of adj
mission.
President Diaz appeared no more aged
tonight than he did when he read his mes
sage in September and in spite of the fact
that the reading today required more than
an hour, his voice was as strong at the
conclusion as at the beginning.
Applause only Once Heard.
Only once was the president interrupted
by applause At the mention Of reforms
there was a spontaneous clapping Of hands
for one brief minute and then no more
was heard. until the close when the big
auditorium resounded to hand clapping and
cries OF viva" The audience followed the
reader keenly. Now and then some one
would cough or shufflng of feet would
be heard and instantly scores of frowning
faces were turned toward the origin OF
the sound and low chorus of Kisses, the
signal for silence, would arise.
After reviewing at length the progress
of the nation In the last eight months and
briefly the events leading Yp TO the re-
bellion and its progress, the message con-
tlnued: Recent expressions Of public opin-
ion OF various questions of governmental
policy have attracted general attention and
for this reason the executive sees fit Il
make known the measures which he be
lieved ought to be adopted and the views
by which he viii be guided in his endeav
ora TO warrant the confidence which thu
country has rdposed In him.
The change OF ministry just effected
aims, for example, at satisfying in prac
tice one very general aspiration which 4
that the political personnel be renovated
from time TO time. have not hesitated L
part with the services Of capable, loyal AM
honest advisers who for a greater or les
length of time had given their value
corporation.
MY single aim has been to set tn
precedent OF not carrying on the govern
ment indefinitely with the same cabine
however high may the merits of the per
sons composing it be, and to show tina
\ room shoald be made from time to time t
7 new energies in the direction of publ
affairs.
Furthermore, measures win be take
that will demonstrate a firm purpose I
give heed to reasonable complaints tha
are made against some of the authorities
especially those who are in close touc
with the people,
1t is to be hoped that in this policy n
federal government viii be seconded
tho governors OF states, which by reaso
\ OF the administration instrumentalities d.
pending on them are better able to remed
the eva in question.
No Recollection Approved.
''The principle of no reelection for e,
eostive functionaries. elected by popul'
suffrage had not Of late been preached
any OF the legislative assemblies OF the r
public and for that reason the FEEDER
executive had not thought proper to e
press an opinion as 70 question. whi'
by It's nature. falls within the province
those assemblies, but seeing that the iss
was recently brought up In some OF the sta
legislatures and discussed In the press, q
executive takes this occasion TO mantle
his hearty assent to the principle in que
tion and to declare that II bill is broug
before congress providing for the periodic
renovation OF the functionRries referred
the administration will give to such mea
ure its earnest support.
Intimately bound up with the adopti
OF the principle OF no reelection is I
question Of the reform OF the electoral Law
inasmuch as the long continuance in pow
OF certain functionaries is believed TO
ia part attributable 10 the defects OF tho
laws, Il Is Indispensable without delay
amend them, to ensure the elector activt
OF those citizens who are considered car
bic or ruling with fun consclousn,
OF what they are doing.
In view OF the not very satisfacto
results OF the measures hitherto taken
bring about the division Of large rival
tates terms that would be fair 80
concerned, 80 as TO render those esta
available for tllsge, the executive is
- a