Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-19

can who has been colorleSS in such
contest and as the provisional Presi-
dent must be to some extent Identified
with one party or the other, ii neees-
sarily follows that to meet the require
ments of the present situation his
sympathies, which really mark the
man must be with the dominant ele-
ment.
''The effort therefore should not be
to find a neutral, but one whose atti-
tude on the controlling issues would
make him acceptable to the Constitu-
tIonalists, while his character stand
ing and conduct would make him &C
ceptable to the other party.
such a man and only such a man can
reasonably be expected to have the con-
| fdence and respect of the entire country.
IF those discussed do not possess the
requisite qualifications it is only because
we have not succeeded in finding what We
sought. You can quite well appreciate
how difficult it is for us under the cir
cumstances to do more than we have
and to further promise diligently and
earnestly to continue the search. In an
swer to the contention that there could
be no fair elections conducted by pro-
visional President the answer of the
Americans calls attention to the fact
that in the past the elections in Mexico
have been under the supervision of d
sinble cabinet minister representing the
dominant party. BY analogy the next
election should be supervised by only one
officer representing the dominant Consti-
nationalist party. The American plan
seeks to avoid the just criticism against
that method and contemplates that this,
the most important election in the his
tory of Mexico, shall be supervised by
the representatives of both parties.
1T is wholly incorrect to assume that
thus supervised. it will be unfairly con-
Quoted. and you may rest assured that
ALL the influence the United States can
Ieeitimately use will be exerted to secure
an honest election. Indeed, It is the
earnest desire Of our government that
the permanent President shall be chosen
in manner so free from objection that
his title to that high office and the con-
fdenee and respect of his people VIII be
strengthened by their knowledge that ne
represents their free and unfettefed
choice at an election held, not by one
party, as in the past, but by representa-
tlyes of both factions.
IF it is true that the American plan
nronoses that majority of this board
shall be Constitutionaiists, but that is
because they now represent the SENT
ment of the majority of the people OF
Mexico. That, however, does not mean,
nor should it be construed to meah'
that thereby the American government
asks as you say, to rerce an election
in the favor of the Constitutionalsts.
So far from that being true or eNpe-
Renee in this country with Bipartisan
boards leads us to believe that this
is the most efficient method that can
be devised to secure a fair election
and a true count of the ballots
The letter concludes with the state
ment:
1--WE are happy at the opportunity
YOUR note gives us to repeat that the
United States wants nothing except
the good of her sister republic. Ihe
United States is party to the media
ton in the hope that it might lead to
peace and that the peace will lead to
prosperity. The plan which the Ameri-
which we must insist, has been form
ulated solely with that end in view.
Actuated by these motives, we feel
that we may appeal to you and
through you to the other Mexican rep
resentative to read again our plan In
the light of these words.
Most Critical Moment
In view of the opposite views ex-
pressed by the American and Mexican
delegations in their public utterances,
the next conference. 1t was admitted
on all sides, would bring perhaps the
most critical and delicate moment of
the entire mediation proceedings. The
disagreement on names hitherto men,
toned has blocked progress. Though
the Americans have by no means ex-
hausted their list, it is not believed
that the temper of the Huerta dele
gates is such as to accept any suggest
Ell. The mediators intend to submit
five or six names which they have
carefully selected out of big list.
The break between CarranZa aid Villa
has, en- the other hand, given some OBJ
servers the feeling that the American
delegates might not insist now on a
man high up in the Constitutional
ranks, but would urge a man in SYM
pathy with the principles of the rev.
olution, a progressive as opposed to a
reactionary. While the American dele
gates have not entirely lost hope of
the possibility of a change in senti-
ment at tomorrow's meeting the gem
eral feeling was that mediation could
not last much longer, on account of
the irreconciIabie position now taken
by the American and Huerta Dele
gates.
Emilio Rahasa, head of the Huerta
delegation. read the American state
ment. said he was already familiar
with its contents as it was a para
phase of the memorandum that had
been given him by the American dele
gates and added that he would not
decide until tomorrow whether there
would be a reply.
Mr.. Rabasa said the issuance of the
| American statement was not intend
ed as an attack on the American gov
eminent or as an accusation, but