Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-10-24
SAYS He WILL
QUIT As RULER
Huera Will Not Serve Even if Elected He Tells Secretary
of SateAso Modfies Offensive Language Used Toward
United StatesDiaz Still in United States Consulate
Diazs Personal Staff Held Personal
Staff Jailed and Some Members May Be Shot.
UNITED PRESS lAAsRD wrRH.1

had gone about as far as they possibly
could go, short of actual fighting, the
Mexican situation improved slightly
this afternoon.
That is to say, Secretary of State
Bryan announced that the administra-
tion had received positive assurances
from President Huerta of the latter s
determination not to remain in office,
even if elected Sunday.
Washington officialdom took this as
surance for whatever each individual
official considered it worth. The ma
Jority remarked, in various ways, that
Huerta has given assurances before
which it would hardly have paid to re-
ly on too implicitly.
Wants to Know More.
Moreover, officialdom wanted to
know what would happen if Sunday s
election should prove resultless.
The Mexican constitution provides
that the winning candidate in presi-
dental election must have a majority
as well as plurality. 1t provides also
that certain proportion of the coun-
try's entire vote must be cast. If no
candidate gets a majority-and with
four in the field, this is very likely--or
if the total vote falls below the re.
quired figures, there must be another
election.
If either of these things should hap.
pen, Huerta has already declared that
he would have to hold over until after
another election. He might delay an.
other one indefinitely.
Still there was CLEAN of hope in
Secretary Bryan's announcement.
Huerta Less Offensive.
And there was another gleam-Huer-
ia slightly modified his declaration Of
yesterday that he would not permit for.
eign interference in Mexican affairs
The declaration, as he made it origin
ally, plainly meant he would not permit
" American" interference. Today he
emphasized the fact that he meant in.
reference by "any uower"
The amendment made his words some
what less offensive, at least to Ameri
cans.
A less pleasing detail was that IIuer
ia was understood to have corrected
himself at the suggestion Of British Min
lister Sir Lionel Garden, Garden s atti-
tude, almost Of hostility toward the
United States, aud Of complacency to.
ward Huerta, is considered here serious.
ly to have complicated relations be.
tween Washington and Mexico City, and
regret was felt at this additional sign
Of influence over the Dictator even
though, in this instance, it seemed to
have been used in the interests of con.
ciliation.
Diaz in u. s, Consulate.
General Felix Diaz $ presence in the
United States consulate at Vera Cruz
was regarded as situation fraught
with peril Diaz asked for the protec.
tion Of the American flag and there was
nothing to do but give it to him. Still,
he was regarded as a dangerous guest,
in view of the serious consequences
which must follow any attempt by his
enemies to do him violence in such a
sanctuary
He received an offer from Huerta Of
a special train to take him to Mexico
City but refused to place himself in the
dictator's power Jose Requena, vice.
presidential candidate on the ticket
headed by Disz was quoted in dis.
patch from Mexico City, however, as
saying he expected the latter at the
capital within - hours
Diaz's Friends Held.
The members Of Diaz's personal staff
who landed with him in Vera Cruz and
a private carload Of his friends, who
were on their way from Oaxaca to see
him, were still held prisoners, and it
was reported they would be deported to
Havana on the gunboat Zaragoza.
The members Of Huerta s own per.
conal staff also remained under arrest,
charged with having been in communi-
cation with Diaz.
Reports were eurrant TINT Monterey