The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-04
HUERTA, DICTATOR
Dtsn's Fighting Tiger, Betraycr Of Wa
dsro. who Deaes the Unites states.

DtsH% Fighting Tiger, Betrayrr 81 VIA
dsro. who Deaes the Unites states.
Just plain Indian"
That is the way In which victorieno
Huerta describes himself He will say
that he Is "yo SOY Indio' with the
same boastful nonchanlance that the
"self-made' man speaks of his own
modest beginning. In this he initiates
his old chief. Porfrio Diaz. But though
he retained him in his service as one
of his ablest fighters Diaz disliked and
mistrusted him, knowing him as cold
blooded and INSCRIPTIONS. Yet he was
faithful to Porfirio. when Diaz abdi-
Gated Huerta escorted him to the
steamer which bore him away and
ordered a salute to be fred in honor
of the departing dictator. Upon the
ascendaney of Madero Huerta was still
retained in service. his pay as general.
however, being cut In half Madero
cherished q hearty dislike for the
blood thirsty old Indian. but felt com
PEELED to keep him in service. Three
times Huerta was dropped by Madero,
only to be taken on again when q
fighting commander was needed.
For Huerta was regarded as first
rate lighting man. He has been
soldier from his boyhood Joining the
army when general and his forces
passed through the little village where
he was born. Huerta had learned to
read and write at home and the gem
eral took him away to be his secre-
tary That was more than forty years
ago. He was an ambitious youngster
and his general brought him to the
attention OF President Juarez. who sent
the boy Huerta 10 n military training
school and gave him a military eduoa-
ton General piaz took him under
his wing and he served under him
for more than thirty years. taking
part in n score OF compafgns.
The years in which Huerta was not
fighting we're When he did leave
the field. however. it was TO take up
the business of selling builders and
contractors materials. a very prohtabie
business ION the Side.
when Madero became president he
found Huerta the most competent or
the commanders in the old army,
| Under Madero he conducted a sue
cessfui campaign against Zapata in
Moreles and then put down the urozco
rebellion In Chihuahua.
Although three times dropped from
his service. Madero was not blind TO
the fact that Huerta was tho best
7 fighter. When the hnal reoeiiioh
| against Madero came. in February or
last wear Huerta was sent for again
70 crush Dfaz and Reyes. He took up
I the command Of the federal forces in
I Madero's defense and pledged himself
! To the defense OF the president But
within few days he was secretly
I treating with Madero's enemies. Lnder
/ the pretense of ending the useless
sacrifice of lives" he and General Felix
/ Diaz were brought together. they
made secret pact and few hours
later President Madero was prisoner
/ in the hands Of his minister OF war
and the general who had promised TO
/ give his life to defend him. On Feb
! ruary IL. 1913. Huerta took office AS
I provisional president. Five days after
! Madero and Vice President Suarez were
I killed though It was Huertas DUTY to
/ protect them as prisoners In his care.
/ The Maderistas denounced MN as
( traitor and n murderer.
I The pleas OF Sonora Madero Tor her
( husbands life and the murder or the
I dsposed president seemed 10 produce
no effect on Huerta. He and his palace
! clique were feastlng few hours ar
: terward uuconcerned, When the Amer
I lean guns were pounding at Vera Cruz
Huerta went around enjoying the band
concert and his official dinner AS II
! he had not endangered his country
and done his best to bring on bloody
war He never has attempted 10 con-
4 coal his hatred Of Americans or his
I contempt for their peace policies
Though some who know Nun deny II,
general report has IT that Huerta
consumes vast quantities of cham
I pagne ana mescai and enjoys nothing
more than drinking bout
! when people have been surprised AT
his stoical demeanor in the midst of
I the turmoil that has ragged around him
he has explained with grim smile.
| II am an Indian. I am soldier Dur
ing the last week. when the fghting
4 was going on In Vera Cruz and the
American battIeships were threatening
his ports, Huertas son was married,
and the general took part in the wed
I ding eayeties as IT there were nothing
In the world 10 disturb him. Ills
friends say he is q fatalist, who Will
/ take stoicany whatever comes. HIS
enemies call him a cold-blooded mon
ster. who has no feeling for the sur
fering And distress Of others. But most
of his sixty years have been spent
In camp and barracks. He is used to
bloodshed and strife and enjoys the
power OF the dictatorship, probably
taking grim satisfaction in forcing
! the hated irir1ree s2--t --its--fts4iF
fleets and armies TO bring him TO terms