Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-09
LIFE STORY OF PRESIDENT DIAz

LIFE STORY OF PRESIDENT DIAz
Iron Man of Mexico Identified with |
the Nations HistOry.
| Porfirio Dia3 was born September IS !
1880, on the anniversary of Mexican inde-
| pendence. Oazaca was his birthplace His
father was a Spaniard and his mother was
of Indian extraction. His mother at first
intended that he should enter the church,
but finally yielded to his desires, SO that
he pursued the studies then required for
q lawyers career
While thus engaged, the invasion of
Mexico by the American troops occurred
and young Diaz, with other fellow students,
offered his services to the governor Of
oazaca. The governor accepted their
patriotic offer. but did not require the
students TO go into the battlefield.
Daz served in the revolt against General
Santa Anna, and supported Juarez in his
war Of reform, which began in 1856 and
ended in 1865 At the age of % he was
general of brigade, fighting the French,
when Napoleon III tried to place Maximil-
ian on the Mexican throne. Macmillan
and his generals were captured by him in
1857 and soon after Mexico City capitulated.
Diaz was regularly elected president of
Mexico for the first time in 1877. He was
succeeded at the end of his term by Gen
eral Manuel Gonzales. His browning
achievement in the Gonzales administra-
ton was the abrogatlon of the law against
presidential reelection, and in 1884 he was
elected president for the second time.
There has been no other president in
Mexico since then, and until last summer
the opposition to him never attained SER
iOua DrOD0rfiOua HA alaofad
for the eighth time June 26. 1910.
President Diazs first wife. a daughter Of
DR.. Ortega Reyes. died during his first
administration In 1852 he married Camen
Romero Rubio daughter of Manuel
Romero Rublo, a noted lawyer and states
man. He has no children by his second
marriage. His children by his first wife
are: Armada Cdrs. Ignacio de la Torre).
Lieutenant Colonel Porfirio Diaz and LUZ
(Mrs. f. Rincon Gallardo).
Although the political campaign brought
to light much dissatisfaction with his con-
tinued rule, the disturbances which culmi-
mated in the present insurrection did not
arise until after his opponents found them
selves beaten at the polls.
, Francisco 1. Madero, member of one of
Mexico's wealthiest families, was candi-
! date for the presidency against Diaz the
principal plank of his platform being anti
reelection. In November. 1910. Madero
was convicted Of melting the people to re-
: bellion and put in jail
He escaped into Texas. and called upon
J his followers to join in a general revolt
on November 90 Already there had been
; scattered disturbances throughout the re-
, public, but the instruction took its first
I definite form on this date. The Madsrists
e Issued a manifesto in which they said the
r recent election had been enforced at the
point OF the bayonet, charged Diaz with
responsibility for the uprising and declared
: his election null and void The principle
. Of non-re-election was said TO be the SUI
t preme law OF the republic and Diaz was
a declared an usurper.
MaderO Claims Presidency.
This manifesto was dated October 8. and
was circulated privately for more than a
month before It became public. On No
: vember %, Madero proclaimed himself pro-
visional president Of Mexico and was
: formally inaugurated on MS estate at
Coahuila on December /, the same day
that Diaz began his eighth term.
On this day Diaz made his first over
lures TO the rebels, sending a commission
to Chihuahua, offering terms, but deolar-
ing that the penalty of continued rebellion
would be death These terms were re-
jeeted, The most important battles were
fought on the northern border, but the In
surrectos showed fighting strength In
twelve states
The next formal efforts TO secure peace
so far as the general public knew, occurred
on February 26 but these. too, failed. On
March s, Senior Limantour. the Mexican
minister OF finance reached New York
, from Paris and spent several days in eon-
ference with the father and brothers OF the
rebel leader.
Meanwhile the United States had masssd
5000 men along the Mexican border. while
the fleet was ordered to rendezvous off
Guantanamo on the east cost and off san
Diego and San Pedro In the Pacific.
Orders for this mobilization went out
March Z, and the immediate activity
OF the insurreotos showed they were en-
eouraged by the Importance which this
government attached TO their movements.
The fruits OF Limantour's conference with
the Maderos In New York were never
definitely displayed. So far as an inter-
rupuon OF hostilties was concerned how
ever. they had immediate effect. the
rebel occupation OF Aqua Prieta and the
movement on JuareE following soon after
Limantour returned TO Mexico city.
Late In April the activity OF scattered
attachments Of the rebels near the capital
itself indicated the Diaz administration was
in more critical position than had been
supposed.
On April 3, when Francisco Madero with
his army was eneamped at the gates OF
Juarez threatening immediate attack an
armistice Of five days was declared &c
enable Madero 10 treat with ENJOYS sent
from Mexico City. On April . the armistics
was extended five days longeg
At that time the rebels we're practically
In control in the states OF Sonora. Chi,