Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-18
President Diaz's Successor
Elected Within Six Months

Elected Within Six Months
| MEXICO CITY. May 1s.-During the
| recent diplomatic exchanges between the
government and the leaders OF the revo-
| luton, which resulted yesterday In the
| proffered designations of President Diaz
| and Vice President Corral. agreement on
/ Foreign Minister de la Barra as acting
president. and the arrangement Of a gen
eral armistice as a basis for peace. the
government drafted a new election law
for submission to the chamber of depu-
tics and under which the election of
Diazs successor Will be held.
The measure, so far as is consistent.
follows the French law. under which the
national executive is elected for seven
years by an absolute ma jorty of votes
by the senate and chamber OF deputies
united in national assembly, or con-
gresS.
Mayors Election Judges.
Heretofore the Mexican government
has conducted the elections through the
local mayors. who presided at the poll
ings- The mayors passed on the eligi-
| bility of voters and counted the ballots.
Their powers. linked with their obliga-
tlons to the national administration, gave
rise to charges against the government
| of fraud.
| nder the proposed law the mayors
must Keep their hands off. Candidates
Will conduct their own campaigns, and
| their representatives will control the reg
| istration lists and count the votes The
whole design of the bill is to place the
| franchise completely in the hands of the
voters.
Colors for Illiterates.
| For the benefit of those who cannot
| read. the name 70 each candidate will
be printed in an exclusive color on vari-
| colored ballot sheets. Thus they may
scratch off the colors in which the names
| of opposed candidates appear. leaving
| only the color and name of the voters
choice.
1t is admitted that the first election
under the new system will be crude af-
fair. but il will be, according TO popular
belief step in the right direction
Doubtless there will be some disorders.
but the government hopes that these will
preston.
To Resign by June 1.
According to the agreement reached
yesterday with the insurrectos President
Diaz and Vice President Corral will re-
sign before June 1. and Minister of For
eign Relations de la Barra will become
president ad interim. according to official
announcement made yesterday.
Francisco /. Madero, jr., the revolution
ary leader, will be called to Mexico City
to act as de la Barra's chief adviser, and
to serve as the greatest guarantee pos
sible that every pledge made by the gov
ernment to end the revolution will be
carried out. AS viewed by the public 1t
will be virtually a joint presidency, pend
ing the calling of a new presidential
election.
The cabinet will be reorganized. The
minister of war will be named by de la
Barra. The foreign Office will be in
charge of a subsecretary, named de la
Barra. Other cabinet members will be
chosen by de la Barra and Madero, act
ing Jointly.
Election in Six Months.
A new election will be called within six
months, and political amnesty will be
recommended to the chamber of deputies
The foregoing are the conditions on
which President Diaz will compromise"
with the rebels. They are admitted in
high quarters to be a complete surrender
to the revolutionists.
The resignation of Diaz and the 'joint
| regency of de la Barra and Madero are
SAID to constitute guarantee so COM
plete that the original insurrecto demand
for fourteen governors no longer need be
considered.
The cabinet was In almost continuous
session for two days, despite the severe
Illness of President Diaz. The presi-
dents entire face Is infected from an ul-
| cerated tooth. His upper lip is swollen
far beyond its normal size, and his face
is inflamed. He speaks with the great
est difficulty; but. while he is in severe
pain, his condition is not alarming at this
time, despite his advanced age.
May Quibble Over Reyes.
The one condition over which a bubble
| may occur is said to be that regarding
| the selection of the minister of war
| The selection is left entirely to de la
Barra. He must be, according to the
agreement of the ministers and the presi-
dent, "a general who has the good will
and respect of the army"
Many people see in this an intimation
| that Gen. Bernardo Reyes will be the
! choice. At the time Gen. Reyes left
Mexico there was no man in the army
| to whom this description applied better
| than TO himself. Madero has expressed
open opposition to Reyes and he may still
hold against such an appointment.