Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-14
0ne-Time Bandit Hopes to
Head Mexican Government,
Says Close Friend.
DUTY OF CARRANZA TO
PERFECT CIVIL DETAILS
Chihuahua Resigns Itself to an In
definite State of Revolution.
Terrazas Without Hope.

CHIHUAHUA, Mexico, March 14-'vil-
la, the one-time bandit. will be the next
President of Mexico. That is his ambition
and despite all reports to the contrary it
will remain his ambition until he either
is dead or president"
This declaration was made today by a
friend SO close to Gen. Villa as to give
authority to the assertion. 1t was
prompted by reports that the coming to
Chihuahua of Gen. Carranza. recognized
as the civil head Of the revolution, is to
bring about conditions more satisfactory
to foreign governments and to place in
the seat of authority better advisers than
Gen. Villa appears to have in handling
complications growing out of the killing
Of William S. Benton. British subject. .
ihat Villa and CarranZa might meet
and that they might publicly embrace as
an evidence of their perfect harmony
was given out as a possibility. Carranza
Is now on his way overland from Sonora,
and magnificent marble building has
been prepared as the official residence or
capitol, in which lie is to perfect the de-
tails of government. But it was stated
emphatically that the coming of Carranza
is not to lessen in any way the power
now welded by Villa, who for months
- to Remain Supreme Chief.
Gen. Villa will remain supreme COM
mander through the progress of the re-
bellion," said one of his advisers. His
succession of victories against the federal
army, his sweeping away of the Huerta
soldiers from the north of Mexico. while
CarranZa remained in comparative OBJ
scurity on the Pacific slope, have SO ex-
! allied him in the minds of his soldiers
as to make his subordination to any one
else improbable.
Gen. Villa could not afford to go
south at the head of his troops in the
attack on Torreon before he had first
satisfied himself that his going would
not result in the loss of any of his
power"
Gen. Villa intended to move southwark
| Immediately, this city. the largest in
rebel territory, apparently has resign
ed itself to an indefinite state of revo-
most normal The military band dis
courses operatic music in the plaza,
| crowds promenade in the gay light. a
wandering Tarahumare Indian garbed
only in a blanket, a pair of boots and
| a silk hat joins the parade and an
enterprising merchant opens a soda
| water fountain.
4
| The silent disappearance Of suspects,
| the reports of executions and the gen.
| eral knowledge that many people for
months have been hiding in the base
rsents of buildings form another aspect
OF life little mentioned. The man on
the hill,'' Gen. Villa, who resides on an
elevation a few blocks from the United
| States consulate, is the one man who can
| pronounce life or death for any of those
| who stroll in the plaza or hide in the
| Easements. Residing in his own marble
| home not far from the plaza, but held a
prisoner, is Luis Terrazas. jr.. son of
one of the richest families in Mexico
under the Diaz regime. AS he PAGES up
and down the tiled floor of his patio, not
l knowing what moment he may be called
| to face the firing squad, Terrazas can
hear the cathedral bells and at night the
| military band.
When seen today the prisoner appeared
| to be utterly hopeless of his release. He
has been confind here ever since Gen.
Villas army entered the city last De-
| cember When told that his father, now
a refugee in Ell Paso, was making every
| effort to procure his release the prisoner
merely shook his head. More than once
| since his detention he has been subjected
| to tortures to reveal places where Ter
razas money was supposed to be hidden.
AS understood here TerraZas is being
| held by the rebels for three purposes
These are: So that money may be ex-
| torted from the Terrazas family; so that
uy threatening the execution of the pris-
| oner the cientifico party may be dis
suaded from invading Mexico from the
north and that the prisoner may sign
documents turning Terrazas property
| over to Villa.
I