The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-11-21
.HUERTA EXPLAINS
ACTS TO CONGRESS
Reads Message to Both Houses
Convened in Joint Session
is GUARDED BY TROOPS
New Assembly Shows Many Faces
Familiar During Days of Porfirio
Diaz-No Demonstrations

Mexico City, Nov. 2O.-His face
showing none of that whimsical I'M
NOR, which some times characterizes
MN, President Huerta this evening
appeared before the new Mexican
congress and read his message. Few
Mexican presidents have read at the
formal opening sessions of Congress
| shorter messages and few have CON
lined themselves so entirely to ono
subject. 1t was nothing more than q
terse explanation of his motives for
dissolving the old Congress, most of
Ihe members of which are now in the
penltenuary accused of sedition.
The senate and chamber Of depu-
ties met in joint session and Congress
was formally declared convened at
$50 o'clock in the evening.
THROUGH LINES OF TROOPS.
President Huerta came to the Con
gress through lines of troops and the
| small crowds which gathered were
not demOnstrative.
There were no eXtraneOuS frillS to
the session. 1t was more in the ma
ture of little business meeting of
the President and the men converted
into lawmakers during the recent So
called elections. The message Cen
eral Huerta bore them was in it's es-
Sence an admonition. The incident
he related to them of the dissolution
of the previous Congress was one by
which it was intimated the chamber
might be guided.
The reply Of the speaker, Eduardo
| Tamariz was brief. Not all the CON
gressmen were present. Twentv-sey-
EN- OF them failed to put in an ap-
pearance and most ofthese were
m hers
which Tamariz belongs. 1t had been
announced that the Catholic members
had held meeting and decided not
to participate in the session and this
gave rise to the baseless rumor that
! the speaker himself would not pre-
side.
MANY FAMILIAR FACES.
The new Congress showed many
faces familiar during the days Of
Porfirio DiaZ-so much so that the
eNiled ruler would have felt entirely
at home had he stepped into the
chamber. The Congress is cOmpOsed
for the most part of a quiet lot of
men, representative of the older and
more conservative element, and Cen
eral Huerta appeared to realize this
while reading to them his message i'm
grim, straightforward manner, such
as had not been witnessed i'm the
chamber in recent years
He indulged in no eloQutionary eff
fort, but now and then used char
acteristic little gesture with one
hand; nor was he Interrupted by ap-
plause. He was applauded only upon
his arrival and departure, when the
members of Congress and the specta-
tors arose to their feet and added
'vivas" TO the hand-clapping. One
young deputy, more enthusiastic
than the rest, called for a cheer for
the man who is maintaining the ma
tional dignity"
General Huerta drove from the
palace to the chamber through files
of soldiers, most of whom were de-
tailed from the crack Twenty-ninth
regiment, whose men participated in
the coup d'etat at the palace in Feb
ruary. He entered the building while
the bands were playing the national
air.
Acknowledging the plaudits and
ivah of the congressman and specta-
tors as he moved down the aisle by
a series of military salutes, instead
OF grave bows which characterized
his old chief, Portfirio Diaz, General
Huert looked a stern figure. Like
the congressman, he was in evening
clothes, the only touch of rank be-
ing the tri-Color across his breast
UNITED STATES ABSENT.
The only country not represented
in the diplomats gallery was the
United States Nelson O'Shaugh-
messy. the Charge d'Affaires, acting
under Instructions, was absent At
least two diplomats did not see fit to
follow the advice and the example of
the United States. The Charges of
Cuba and Brazil were reminded by
Mr. O'Shaughnessy that their gov
ernments had not recognized that of
Huerta and suggested that they re-
main away
1t was carefully selected audi
ence. Tickets were necessary to pass
into the building and a fair part of
the space was occupied by police and
plain clothes men.
Technical violation of the law
created comment. General Huerta's
stan filed in, wearing side arms 1t
is specifically provided that no armed
soldier shall ever appear on the floor
Of the house and custom has ordain-
ed that officers appearing in uniform
must do so with empty scabbards.
SOLDIERS ON GUARD.
Outside the building, throughout
the session, a strong force OF soldiers
guarded all the approaches, patrols
rode the streets for several blocks
around and still other troops were
stationed in small detachments fur
ther out. None of these, however,
had trouble with the crowds.
From time TO time, as President