El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-27
GEN. TERRhZAS
MAKES REPLY
To Attacks Of Enemies and
Declares He Has Never
Sought Office.

CHIHUAHUA MEXICO, Feb. 20
/ Cen. Luis Terrazas has given out here
! a letter which he wrote some weeks
! ago to the editor of FL DlaTlo- IN
> Mexico City. for publication VI Iate
! The sentiment has been generally eN-
I messed hero that Gen. Terrazas, as a
| soldier and citizen VINO has done great
deal to build up the state OF Chihuahua
! and to serve his country. deserves ap-
/ preciatiVe recognition tor Two years
! Silvestre TerraZas Ono relative OF the
/ general) in the newspaper, Ill Correo'
said to be controlled by governor Con
raIes has carried on campaign or de-
-InciatiOn of Cen IerraZaS when mas
Zen generally criticised for its vio-
lrnce and injustice But TINS Is the IlrSI
time that Gen TerraZas has ever con-
descended to notice in any way the as
saults of mis- political enemies For TINS
reason. the letter is being read with
keen interest.
Gen. TerraZas won friends by his
tact in leaving the state and remaining
away during most of the GOnzales-Ma-
dero regime in order to escape any
imputation of interference, and more
ever the people are beginning to reallze
that, whereas during the Terrazas state
government all industries were boom
ing and peace prevailed, under the Ma
dero- Gonzales regime there has been
almost constant disorder and mines anu
Industries have been greatly hampereC.
Gen. Terrazas desires the widest pub
LEFTY for his reply to III COrreO, anu
his letter is sent to The Herald at his
7e0uest so that his friends and the
public generally may be informed as 10
his position upon certain mucn QlS-
cussed public matters The letter 1ol-
lCws:
Sought to Avoid Controversy.
Editor of FL DiariO, Mexico. ID. h:
For a long time past FL Correo, q
daily published In the city OF Chlnua-
hua has imposed upon itself the task
of. attacking me in q most violent ana
likewise unJustifiaDle manner Inc
charges which it makes and continues
10 make are against acts of mine while
governor Of this state, and as private
citizen 49,
not to provoke any controversy, TO
which I am adverse and furthermore ]
not to direct the attention of the pubic |
to my humble personality But as FL !
CorreO' continues irritating itself not
alone against me. but also against my !
family. I find IL impossible to remain
mute any longer. as I fear that such |
might be taken to mean that accept /
as well founded the charges OF III Cor
REQ Notwithstanding that the whole 1
state of Chihuahua is well cogn1Zant OF ]
my acts as a public officer ana VIII 40 i
me justice.
Often RESIGNED GOvernOrship.
"T appeal to all my cO-citiZeus to bear
witness and to say whether on any &C
casiOn exercised direct or indirect m
flueRce in order TO be appointed gov
ernOr of this state, or II at any time i l
was lacking in the 1uIflIment OF my
duties as a public officer Everything
to the contrary. upon several occasions
resigned from the high office with
which this federal entity invested me,
in any way soliciting the same,
and Of which fact am well cOSnlzanI-
In reference TO this particular. beg
TO make the following explanations:
IN 1860, during the Three Years
var while mayor Of this city, the state
was invaded by the sOcalled Gen Calen.
[ managed, together with the PUBIC
elements disposable, 10 organize force:
and the cOnserVatOrs being successful
and the capital Of the state being re
taken, I was appointed governor OF the
I Immediately resigned the high
honor conferred upon me; but COM
nittee from congress called upon me
md requested me to withdraw my
-6signation. to which acceded in view
# the circumstance
Gave Service Freely. /
afterwards and during the french
and the meritoriouS pres
lent of the republic Lie. Don Ben1tO I
rUarez, being here in Chihuahua, was
elected governor. by popular vote, ana
aking into consideration the terrible
"Reminiscences through which the cOun-
ry was passing at the time, and win
ne object of serving my faCherland
With my humble services IN those cruel /
moments I occupied the high station |
md furthermore in consideration OF the D
,enUry in which the whole country and
he state was, I ceded my salaries IN
rider 10 assist IN the expenses OF the
.atiOnal eXchequer-
I was again elected the next term,
nd prior to the termination OF the COT
titutiOnal period I presented NY resig-
.atiOn. After which other parties &C
upied the state government
Later Col Don Miguel Ahumada oc-
upied the position, and on account OF
lis reSigning,- was again elected gov
ruor which position held for a. little
aOre than a year, when requested an
Indefinite leave Of absence, and did not
gain take charge. I
Paid off Large Debt.
ST must here state that during the latter
eriOd ] paid off more than 100000 OF | I
he states Indebtedness, over $4,000 OF
be city's Indebtedness, and left con- ;
iderable amount in the state treasury. / I
"On all the occasions in which, 1 re- !
eat, without soliciting the same. was
Iected to the first mag1Stracy OF the a
tate by entirely voluntary election of
" co-citiZenS. I insist never gave
ny Indications of such desire to my
-iends, nor did 1 ever bring any pres I
1re Of whatsoever nature to bear upon :,
nose whom I might have considered as =
Never Pursued Opponents. II
ct have always acted In like man d
ct with my rivals and adFersaries. 1t ! h
public and notorious that while in
sarge of the government Of Ch1huhua | -,
1riner the Three Years war and the ! =
rench Intervention, once the good | a
sUSe had triUnphed, never did I prose | %
lite the enemies Of La RefOrma, 1 "
lr the adherentS OF intervention IN any F
ay. as might have done If had seen
t to revenge myself against my pO- v
teal or personal enemies.
During all the terms in which I held
flee as governor of the state, 1 pre- p
nted, as the constitution of the same \
Quires. my accounts to the legisla- n
re, which saw fit to approve the q
me. n
Z likewise endeavOred, il all cases n
here 1t depended upon me, that the 81
bile employees, and especially those II
the treasury department. which is "
ch a delicate charge. should be per- f.
rs Of well known prObity and hon a
ty. an
Challenges Proof. ~
I do not In any manner pretend to / nj
We committed no errors as governor. Fl
e all know that human infallibility ! %
es not exist. But I do harbOr the
nviction that I never did execute an n
justifiable act. and if FL Correo'
INKS that I did. IL should adduce before /
bic opinion the proofs it pretends to til
We. m
Both as governor and as a private Bi
lien, FL COrreO' accuses me of hay VI
3 been a despOiler. I likewise appeal / fl
the same respectable tribunal of my CT
citizens; for them to say whether W
her in the discharge of the govern m
mt OF the state or as a private citi- "a
D. have ever committed an act out bU
lie OF the limits Of honesty or that of 4 IA