The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16
Angrily Repulses Mediation
of Spanish Minister in
the Revolution
DIAZ IS GAINING
AND END IS NEAR
Presidents Hatred Of His Foe
and Determination to Die
Rather Than Surren-
der Prolongs War

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 15.-President
Madero declined this evening to abide
by the decision of the senate which de-
manded his resignation by a unRni-
nous vote. He angrily repulsed the
mediation of the Spanish minister. and
said that he would die rather than sur
render the government to piaz
After avoiding all day "A deputation
of senators, who sought to- convey to
him the will of the upper house. the
president finally refused TO admit the
deputation to the national palace. Ills
soldiers enforced the refusal with their
bayonets. The senators. angry and
embittered over the insult to their of
fee, withdrew to the chamber of dep
uties to consider whether they have q
lawful right to declare the presidency
vacant.
Madero's rebuff OF the senate and
his renewed futile and costly attacks
upon the arsenal actuated the senate
to announce that it had received au-
thoritative information that American
troops had been ordered to- the cap
ita1, and that II was this information
which impelled II TO demand the pres
idcnt's resignation
General Camacho, 81 senator, inf1am-
ed the people with a speech this af-
ternoon from an automobile in front
of the government cable office.
Diaz Gains Steadily.
In renewed hostiiities, which lasted
most of last night and the greater part
of today. General Diaz gained steadily
and defeated the Madero forces all
along the line. At4:3eFs. Nj. the fed
erals suffered the severest repuise of
the weeks fighting. General Huerta,
reinforced by seven hundred troops
| from General Banquet, made a des-
perate attempt to capture the arsenal,
but Mondraron's machine guns
Slaughtered the government troops.
and drove them in wild retreat Diaz
Is now admittedly in contrci of the
situation. Madero is running out OF
ammunition, and his soldiers are de-
sorting.
An American was killed, and three
Americans were injured this after
noon in front of the Hotel Porter.
r. NJ Meredith of Troy. Ohio, rep
resentative of the National Cash Reg
lister company. was killed when a
shell burst within the hotel
TWO Americans We're wounded Sc
verely. An American boy was hurt
in another part of the city. The CEN
ter of the city was subjected again
to destructive Smelling, The federal
troops have failed in every attack
upon the arsenal, and Diaz is in a
stronger position tonight than at any
time since the beginning of the re-
volt. 1t is now conceded that the
federals with not be able 10 drive Diaz
from the arsenal
Matter of Few Hours.
Madero's downfall is believed to be
only a matter of hours. His refusal
to stand by the action of the senate
after he had agreed TO take the sem
ate's advice has weakened his cause
materially. All dispatches received
here from the provinces say that the
country generally is demanding Ma
! dero's resignation, and is rising for
Diaz. Federal troops have raised the
standard of revolt I'm many OF the
principal cities,
In this crisis, the diplomatic corps
. is attempting to arrange truce for
certain hours every day; also that the
people can venture into the streets
for food General Diaz has practi-
caliy agreed to such respites' but Ma
dero has returned unsatisfactory an
swers. The president is said to he
taking the advice of his uncle, Ernes-
to Madero. and of General Huerta.
without whose support his govern
ment's resistance would undoubtedly
collapse
AT nightfail the fighting was still
over the.c city, DiaZ WAS Smelling the
national palace, and the federal guns
were firing at the arsenal.
Hatred OF Diaz the Cause
President Madero's implacable ha-
tired for Felix Diaz. his stubborn re-
solve TO conquer Diaz. or die in the
attempt and his vaeillation defeated
today. the efforts of the Mexican sem
ate, of Francisco de La B2rra. and
of the diplomatic corps 70 secure
peace. The situation here this after
noon seemed more tnextricably tan
gled than at any time since the revolt
began q
With General Diaz steadily victori-
GUS with the provinces actively join
ing the revolution, or frankly SYM.
pathetic and with the inhabitants af
the city praying fer the resignation
or ousting of Madero, the state Of af-
fairs Is further complicated by dis
sention in the government Many
leaders who had ~loyally supported
t Madero are now aifnest ea 1he point,
OF taking arms against him In order
to bring peace to miserable ana
half-ruined capital
Negotiations Begin.
The negotiations which brought
hope to the people began ON Friday
afternoon when truce was arrived
at through the efforts ot the dlpio-
| matte corps, Senior de La Barra ana
/ Madero's generals.
Madero was first averse to a truce.
/ but he was told by his own generals
Athat Diaz's position in the arsenal waS
/ impregnabie: that the failure of the
government to quell the revolt within;
! few days was probably fatal. The
president ragged against Diax. saying
that he preferred death to surrender
ing. Finally at about 8 r. NJ. after
the British minister and SENIOR de IA
Barra had lab0red with him and had
ltirged the possibility OF intervention
by the American government. Madnro
reluctantly agreed to resign. proNtaee