Arizona republican., 1911-04-04

If the leaders of the Mexican in
 surrection can be convinced that tn,
 reforms promised by President Dial
 are promised in good faith, ther,
 should be no difficulty in bringing
 the rebellion to speedy close.
 In his semi-annual message to the
 Mexican congress, General Diaz urges
 such sweeping reforms that their ex- ecution will transform the very na-
 ture of the government The aged president proposes a radical change in the election standardization Of the ballot, under proper qualifications for voters. He proposes that all elective officers, from the president down
 shall be restricted to one term. He proposes reforms in court procedure and a curtailment of the power of minor officials. He proposes the cut ting up of the large haciendas. so that the people can acquire homes. other suggestions along these lines are made, but we have mentioned the principal changes which the president urges.
 In making these proposals, the president goes beyond the initial grievances of the insurrectos. They have laid stress mainly upon the de- nial of free elections. Although they resented the repeated reelection of the president under forms which made his election a farce, they would have made little impression upon the coun- try, in all probability, if they had confined their opposition to General Diaz personally, for the great major ity of intelligent MeXicans would be more than satisfied to have him con- tinue in office to the end of his life. And the one serious mistake made by the government last year was in denying to the Maderist faction the privilege of putting up an opposition candidate for the presidency. If a free hand had been given to Madero in his campaign for the presidency. he would have made such a poor showing at the election that the pres tige of DiaZ would have been inn mensely increased. But Madero was thrown into jail, and opposition clubs were suppressed at the point of the bayonet. It was not difficult to arouse discontent, followed by armed rebel lion, when it was pointed out that not only was the presidential election a farce, but the elections of govern ors were equally farcical.
 A reform which will be readily un- derstOod by the masses is the pro- posed curtailment of the powers of minor officials-the jefes politicos particularly. Under existing condi- tions the jefe politico of town or district is a satrap of almost unlim- ited power. answerable only to the governor and to the federal govern ment. The jefe politico may say, Bind" and his enemy is bound and thrown into prison; he may say "Unloose," and his victim goes free It goes without saying that such tyrannical power is frequently abused Such power is not even understood in a land where the Anglo-American right of habeas corpus prevails.
 As we have suggested, the coming of immediate peace will depend. in all probability. upon the degree of faith which the leaders of the insur- rection may place in the govern ment's program of reform. Forum ately for Mexico. there appears to be faith of the great statesman who sits in the presidents chair He has called around him a cabinet of new men. younger in years, and imbued 1 with the modern spirit. To the i'm portant post of secretary of gober- | nacion he yesterday called Governor Dehesa of Vera Cruz, one of the most | progressive men of the republic De- hesa almost stupefied the intelligent | public of Mexico last summer, by dar- ing to announce himself a candidate for the vice-presidency against Don Ramon Corral. The prediction was freely made for a time that he would | soon find himself under arrest, but he was not molested. He now suc- ceeds the vice-president in the de- partment of gobernacion (although Corral remains president, while Corral not only retires. but goes to Europe flor his health"
 Every good American wishes for Mexico an uninterrupted peace and prosperity and it is to be hoped that peace is in sight.