The Washington times., 1913-10-26
IN MEXICO TODAY--AND TOMORROW.

Il w.
/ This is election day in Mexico Under the Mex
lcan constitution If less than one-ird of the elec
tors take part in the polling the election is failure
and the existing regime will continue in power. The
constitution is not very sacred to the Huertistas
except when it serves their purposes; and this pro-
vision plainly does. General Huerta cannot consti-
tutionally be candidate to succeed himself; but he
can, because he has the military power prevent the
required proportion of the voters from going to the
polls Or if they 60, control the counting and have
such returns made as may be to his liking.
On the of the balloting, the general expecta-
ton was that there would be legal election The
| ant-Huerta elements consider that the form of an
election is merely travesty, and will take little
part Ii Is stated that in the whole state of Sonora
there will be no baoting outside of one community.
In Mexico City machine guns, regular troops, and
police were all so disposed in effect to people
that they would not promote their own safety by
taking too insistent a part in the election
In the closing hours of the campaign Huerta
summoned the candidates to his dictaoral presence,
and after a conference issued statement that all
had agreed that should there be no legal election,
all would give loyal support to Huerta pending a
new and legal election! If it not difficult to justify
the guess than when the candidates received their
sumnonses to the palace they went with minds full
of gruesome visions of the fate that befell Madero
and Suarez with thoughts of Diaz, recently pal of
Huerta, now under surveillance if not practically
prisoner; with contemplations of the fact that REL
atives of Francisco Madero have been arrested
recently wherever found, and locked up; with vivid
realization of the tragic end that came to one men,
Der of congress, at least, who dared say from his
place what everybody was saying in private about
the Huerta reign of assassination. Going to their
conference with these cheerful reflections it is easy
to believe they relieved and all too pleased to
get away with whole skins and the promise that, if
there were election, they would all sustain Huerta
But what farce it makes of the election !"
A farce, but also tragedy.
At the same time that these things we're trans
piring in Mexico City in the last hours before the
polls were due to open President Wilson was sound
ing anew his pledge that this Government would not
give countenance to any government based on SUBJ
version and assassination. That means nothing if it
does not mean that Huerta is not to be recognized
if he attempts to retain power through the failure
of the election.
Huerta, of course, intends to do Just that. Per-
haps he finds legal quibble to sustain the claim
that after this election shall have failed, the
stitutional barrier to his election will be removed so
that he may call another polling and have himself
shot and counted into the presidential chair. The
pledge of President Wilson is broad enough to
insure that after that formalty Huerta cannot
get recognition here. :.
For some weeks the American Government has
not taken the election any more seriously than the
Mexicon constitutionalists have taken it, The con-
stitutionaliss have indicated their contempt for the
procedure by redoubling their military activities and
attaining some notable successes. That they have
taken the important town of Monterey seems salts
factorily authenticated.
The United States Government is not going to
intervene. No conditions have developed thus far
and is foreshadowed in the crisis of today
which the Administration believes sufficient to force
that move. Neither does the Administration fear
that Europe will make any trouble to add to the diff
cultles of adherence to this program.
The next move at this Capital following the fail
of the election and the renewal of Huertas grip
on the reinS of power, will probably be the lifting
Of the embargo and munitions This will
open the way for the constitutionalist forces in
Northern Mexico to equip themselves for more
effective operations than they have been able thus
far to carry
Disafection in the federal forces appears more
widespread and serious than ever before The
need of money grows more acute with every
week, and the prospect of getting it grows
worse. The collapse of the Huerta dictatorship
is the probable next development in the situation
Mexico City is in grave situation than it was
sixty days before the Madero consttutionasts took
possession of it. Its fall before the Carranza forces
is not at all unlikely within sixty or ninety days
After that can Mexico produce strong man to
take the helm and make himself, so to say, con-
stitutona dictator? That is what the country needs
man who can keep order with iron fist, but vet
keep within the limits of decency, civilization, and
reasonable respect for constitutional FORMS Such
man, with understanding and sincerity enough to
make himself supporter of those reforms which