El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-11
MaderO OverthrOws Diaz
Little Man Crosses Rio Grande and
Declares Himself provisional
President of Mexico"
: By Frederic J. HaskiI
: r AsHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. IL

Grande from the United States, and
about a week before general Diaz be-
gan to serve his seventh term. He
said:
Now that the people of Mexico are
alive TO the situation and understand
perfectly the danger which threatens
them in the continued dictatorship
which has tyrannized for the last 80
years, they should prepare to conquer
or die The time for the struggle IS at
hand and should it be required let the
last drop of blood be shed to overthrow
Twenty-four towns were in the grip
of the revolution by nightfau and the
revolutionary army was SWeIled Dy re-
cruits from every district in the north
ern states and by assertions from the
federal army. At times the fighting
was desperate, but more often the
revolutionary successes were easy.
From Mexico City came frequent as
surances that the outbreak would soon
be crushed, but the once potent iron
hand failed to choke the enthusiasm
which the reform doctrine OF the quiet
little man had aroused among the plain
people who were weary Of military
autocracy Little restraint had been
imposed upon the fermentation Of the
revolution on the American side OF the
line, and the reYOlutioniSts experienced
little difficulty in obtaining the arms
which the funds of the MaderO family
purchased in the United States News
of the revolution periodically appeared
in the first pages Of the metropolitan
newspapers, but the American public,
accustomed to the failure of efforts
to dislodge president Diaz, looked for
no new result on this occasion.
American Troops Sent to Border
Suddenly, on March s. 1911, the coun-
try was started by Washington de-
spatches announcing that 10000 troops
had been ordered to the Mexican IRON
tier, while divisions of warships were
ordered to mobilize at Galveston anu
San Diego, the nearest ports
Merely maneuvers," remarked the
general staff when besOught by news
papers reporters to give the eXplana-
ton of this most extensive movement
OF forces since the Spanish American
war. It came out of a clear SKY ana
although within few days the Mex
lean situation was acknowledge 10
have been the cause, il remained Tor
president Taft's subsequent message TO
congress to make clear the situation
al 1t actually existed, when on Marcn
s. 1911. Henry Lane Wilson, american
ambassador to Mexico, called at the
white house.
"He reported to me-" wrote the pres
ident, that conditions in Mexico were
much more critical than the press
Diaz was on a volcano of popular up
rising; that the small outbursIs Wnlcn
had occurred were only symtomatic or
the whole condition; that very large
pathy with the insurrectiOn; that
general explosion was probable at any
time, in which event ne feared that the
40, 600 or more Americans resident IN
Mexico might be assailed and that the
very large American investments
might be injured or destroyed
After a conference with the secre-el
tary of war and of the navy, thought
it wise to assemble an army division
Of full strength at San Antonio, Tex,
a brigade of three regiments at Cal
weston. a brigade Of infantry IN the
Los Angeles district of southern Cal
ifornia together with a squadron OF
battleships and cruisers and transports
at Galveston and a small squadron OF
ships at San Diego. At the same time
through our representative at the city
of Mexico. I expressed to president
Diaz the hope that no approximations
might result from unfOunded conJec-
lures as to these military maneuvers
and assured him they had no signifi-
canoe which should cause concern to
his government"
That president Taft deemed the stu
alton grave. but that, from the first,
"noninterventiOn" was the cornerstone
still in the possession of major general
Leonard Wood. chief of staff. The
president wrote:
1T seems my duty as commander in
chief to place troops in sufficient num-
Der where, if congress shall direct that
they enter Mexico to save American |
lives and property. an effective move |
ment may be promptly made"
Fighting Along the Border.
Fighting along the border caused /
the next crisis, careless gunfire from /
embattled federals and revolutionists 1
opposite Douglas, Ariz, wounding five /
demanded that the Mexican govern |
ment check this criminal negligence, ]
sent a warning to the rival COM ]
and stood ready to order /
American troops across the line to I
drive the combatants from the border, /
as he telegraphed to the /
governor OF Arizona, he felt that this i
might lay American intentions open to ]
Misrepresentation and possibly react {
in injury to Americans in remote !
parts Of Mexico where aid could not /
quickly be sent. Fortunately, the warn !
ing sufficed.
The Mexican government speedily 4
awoke to the peril of its situation The /
entire cabinet resigned on March "a, I
and Francisco de Ia Barra, ambassador 4
at Washington, was recalled to be min 4
ister of foreign affairs. To congress /
in April (1911) president Diaz recon- !
mended reform of the election laws /
free franchise, reform of the judiciary /
and no reelection of president, limita-
ton of the power of local authorities /
and division of the great land holdings /
by the wealthy among the small l
farmers.
Concession Is Too Late.
DuA THIS COlCESSAOn 70 the newly Qt-
veloped public opinion came too late.
By April IS the revOlutionists had
taken Aqua Prieta. General Madero
threatened to take Juarez on April 20 I
unless president Diaz resigned the fol-
lowing day. President Diaz did not re-
sign and MaderO occupied Juarez as
MS capital on May 10. Peace negOtia-
lions were begun and resulted in the
resignation of president Diaz on May /
3, 1911, and his secret departure for
Europe probably never to return. There |
ne has remained, taking no outward
part. at least. in Mexican politics. al
-hOugh various efforts have been made
20 invoke his influence.
Elections were called for Oct. I and
senior de Ia Barra was made provisional !
Desident until that time. MaderO ap- /
u owed three members of the pro-
7isional cabinet. The government
agreed to settle all debts contracted by
he revolutionists, grant amnesty to all
'ebels and pay pensions to the insur-
gent wounded and to the dependent
survivors of the dead.
MaderO Nominated.
The Progressive Constitutional party
IN Aug 81. 1911, unanimously nom
mated senior MaderO for president and
-dOpted a platform that breathed the
pirit of the plan de San Luis Potosi"
is important "plankS" were:
To establish the dignity of the con-
making effective the duties
md rights which it prescribes and. /
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