The Washington herald., 1913-12-28

the Huerta regime, but the washington
authorities showed little disposition Il
follow their example. Huerta's promise
of a fair election had not been fulfilled
Revolutionary fighting was going on IL
different parts of the republic. All for
eign business interests were in greai
jeopardy. As yet the new government
had given but faint promise of stability
| Ambassador Wilson's active champion
ship of Huerta became so embarrassing
to the administration that he was re-
called, his resignation to take effect iT
| October the Mexican Embassy being lef
| in charge Of its very competent secre-
tary, Nelson O'Shaughnessy. The next
step was the sending of John Lind, oi
Minnesota, to act as adviser to Mr.
O'Shaughnessy. Mr.. Lind arrived at the
Mexican capital August 10, and was in
formed officially that II he were not pre-
pared to recognize the Huerta govern
ment his presence in the republic was
not desirable Nevertheless, he was not
molested, and he proceeded to carry out
the instructions OF his government.
Mr.. Lind and Senior Gamboa, foreign
minister in the Huerta cabinet, then en-
tered upon a series of negotiations which
resulted in nothing definite. The Mexi-
can demanded recognition as prellmln-
airy, and Mr.. Lind insisted upon the hold
ing of a constitutional convention and
the assurance that Huerta would not be
candidate for office.
Meanwhile the revolutionary leaders
were making it hot for Huerta. The
uprising in the north Of the so-called con-
stitutionalists, led by Venustiano Car
rama, was gaining ground, and there
were numerous dissensions in Huerta's s
official family. Gen. Felix DiaZ, who put
Huerta into power. disagreed with the
dictator and finally left the city. Every
thing pointed to the more or less speedy
falling to pieces of the Huerta fabric.
American interests in the republic were
daily becoming more involved in peril.
Huerta failed to make il evident that he
would be able to Withstand the storm
which was approaching.
Early in November, President Wilson,
through Charge d'Afaires o'Shaughnessy,
made a demand upon Huerta for his
resignation. No attention was paid TO
this nor to the earlier demand that no
election should be held under Huerta' s
supervision. The dictator proceeded to
carry out his original intention. the new
congress was convened, Mr.. Lind's final
proposals were rejected and Huerta as
sumed an attitude Of defiance. On No
vember Il, DR.. William Bayard Hale. one
of President Wilson's unofficial agents,
Constitutionalist leader, which did not
result in any special advantage. The
administration policy Of nopinterference
was arhered to strictly. Gen. Villa and
the revolutionis ) controlled the north
and Huerta's position became critical.
On December 9, the Mexican Congress
declared Huerta President ad interim,
to hold office until next July.
A Model for Warning Republics.
On March 4. without the slightest
sense OF shock in the transition, and in
admirable contrast with a change Of gov
ernment in the republic 10 the south OF
us, the Democratic party came into
power During the previous month. forty
legislatures were in session and the do
ings of some of these legislative bodies
are Of national Importance. Most Of
them were committed to reform and
progressive measures to a degree hith-
erto unknown in State legislation. In
Pennsylvania, election-reform bills were
considered In Ohio, the adoption OF a
new constitution the previous year de-
manded much serious work and fine
achievement In Indiana, the progress
sive movement in legislation was also
III l4lO
body was in a deadlock through the
month of January, which finally was
broken by a combination of Democrats
and Republicans in the selection of
William Mckinley Oem-) as speaker of
the lower house. The inauguration OF
Gov. Dunno followed, but il was not until
March Is that James Hamilton Lewis
Dem.) and Lawrence Y. Sherman
CRep.) were elected to the United States
Senate.
One of the last official acts of Presi-
dent Taft was to veto the sundry civil
appropriation bill on the morning of his
successors inauguration. On the same
day, the voters of Vermont changed the
date of the State election from Septem-
ber to November. 1t was also in the
closing hours OF the Congress, March 4,
that President Taft signed the bill which
created the new Department OF Labor.
This measure was against his personal
Judgment and he had intended to veto it,
but when he learned that his successor
was in favor of this tenth department
he agreed to it as a matter Of courtesy.
On April the Sixty-third Congress met
in special session to revise the tariff.
Mr. Underwood Oem.), chairman Of
the Ways and Means Committee, intro
duced the administration tariff measure,
which included provision for a tax on
incomes. There followed long and ex-
haustive discussion Of each section of the
measure It was not until September
that the Senate Democrats in caucus
came to an agreement on income tax
rates. The exemption line was fixed upon
as 5000. incomes from 1900 to $4,000 pay
ing ! per cent, surtaXes of from to
per cent being imposed upon larger in
comes On September 9, the Senate passed
the Democratic tariff revision bill by a
vote of A TO 81. On September Ii, the
Democratic members of the conference
committee of both Houses began work on
the adjustment of differences in the tariff
bills. With the passing Of the tariff bill
by the Senate the great work for which
the new Sixty-third Congress had been
convened by President Wilson was vir-
tually completed.
The work of the tariff conference COM
mittee was finished on September % and
was approved by the House on the Iol-
lowing day and in the Senate three days
later. President Wilson signed the bill
O. the evening of Friday. October 8, at
a few minutes after o'clock, in the pres
ence Of his Cabinet, the Democratic lead
ers Of both Houses and few friends
The Presidents reason for signing at
such a late hour was to make sure that
the business day had ended at Pacific
coast ports so that there could be no dis
pute regarding the application of the new
rates to any wares passing through the
custom houses on Friday, October .. Con-
gress had provided that the new tariff
should go into effect at the moment when
the bill was signed.
Perhaps the most exciting work of the
Sixty-third Congress-not even excepting
the revision of the tariff-has been the
consideration of the currency and hank