Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-04-27
FELIX DIAZ LACKS NERVE.

DMIRFRS of Felix Daz nephew Of the great presl-
A dent is said to have few admirers in the Mexican
Ia capital Even his friends assert that ne LACKS nerve
and nerve is the principal requisite for Mexican
statesman if he would control the mob OIL poems Wnch
constitutes the principal part of the body polite
Norman in Mexico has had more opportunities to make
something of himself and to take hand in desnes OF
Mexico than Felix Diaz for though ne was only the
nephew of old President Diaz the president felt even
more kindly to Felix than he did to his own son. who was
thoroughly incapable of assuming responsibility OF any
sort a tried to make him statesman, tney say ola
Porfirio remarked of Felix, and he wasn't big enough
for it. tried to make him nancier and gave HIM every
chance in the world but he couldn't rise to the opporun
ity tried to make him soldier, but ne failed Then
gave him the little job of being chief of police OF Mexico
City and he was happy"
Felix Diazs seizure of Vera Cruz before the downfall
of Madero is story that is full of instances OF his IN
ability to make the most of opportunities In the custom
house. when Felix Daz gained control OF the town. was
the sum of 100000 Daz never learned 1t was there un-
til after he had been captured by Madero and his revo
ton had failed "FoO cried old Porro Daz In Paris,
when he head of this incident Felix was always ready
to steal from the poor but he wouldn't take money from
agovernment he was trying to overthrow"
There were 10000 rifles stored in Vera Cruz which
Felix might have seized but with his usual superfciaity
he didn't know of their presence until twas too late and
he was in need of rifles and ammunition at that moment
From military standpoint Diaz also made character
istc and fatal mistake when after Selling Vera Cruz he
did not send out scouting parties to cut the railroad lines
between the capital and his seaport stronghold Over
these lines within few hours after his revolution troops
were rushed to overthrow him. and Felix Diaz wound up
in Jail with death sentence hanging over his head.
Mexicans like all other folk the world over, love a
winner But they have seen Felix Diaz fail in everything
he undertook and they not surprised to Huerta
after Madero had been overhrown seize the presidency
and send the weak Felix away foreign mission Al
most everything is fair in and Mexican politics. but
there are thousands of former supporters of Felix Diaz
who have been able to forget that after Madero had
saved Daz life Diaz turned about and assisted in taking
the life Of Madero Among all classes in Mexico, except
for few politicians who might profit by his success the
opinion is general that almost any candidates for the
presidency who might be selected from the Mexican lead
ers would be more efficient than Felix Diaz
Just now almost everything concerning Mexico is of
interest in this country Along this ne of the
pOndents of the United Press who located for
time in the capital of the republic, tells how the child
ishness of the Mexican ndan-and there are 100000
of him in Mexico, against 100000 real Mexicans-is
Illustrated at Easter time by the in which he
derstands the Easter story.
His whole idea is not to mourn the death of Christ
much to express his hatred of the who brought
it about Good Friday which in other lands is day of
mourning is given over by the Mexican to showing his
hatred OF Judas.
sold in the cities ndvlages These eges are ynched
in village street with great shouting and eers Then
for hours afterwards and boys throw sticks and
stones at the effgies until they are torn to bits
In the camps of all the soldiers Friday and Saturday
before Easter whether the soldiers were rebels or fede-
ais it safe to say that fighting forgotten for space