Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-26

Mexico City, March 25.-After year
in office General Huerta appears in
better health than when he undertook
the Presidency The difficulties he
has encountered have left no stamp
upon his features. Six months ago
some of his friends and most OF his
enemies predicted early physical col
lapse and there were some who would
not have been surprised had his intel
lect suffered as the result of the enor-
nous odds.
Take things as they come" seems
to have been the lifelong philosophy
of Huerta, tempered always, however,
with the belief that all things come to
him who waits, especially to him who
waits for and seizes the big opportun-
ity. Worrying has never been one OF
Huerta's failings. Nor is he crea-
ture of routine. Regularity does not
characterize his methods. He does
his work when and where it suits his
convenience and all members of his Of
fetal family, the public, and his priv
ate family as well have to yield.
Long ago he tired of the regular
cabinet meetings and announced that
conferences and his ministers would
take place whenever he summoned
them. and there would be no place re-
garded as sacred to that ceremony.
And so 1t has come about that ques-
tions of the greatest import are as
likely to be discussed in his private
home as in the National Palace and
not at all infrequently he sends word
to his ministers suddenly that he
would like to meet them that very
morning in the woods about Cha
pultepec castle.
To the famous and ancient park in
which the castle is located he drives
in his automobile. His ministers, also
arriving in their ears, wonder in just
what part the president is going to see
them. Their chauffeurs or aides sight
the presidential car ahead on one OF
the many drives and there begins a
chase which may come to an end be-
meath one of the great shade trees, or
beside the lake. Ministers and presi-
dent alight. sit on the benches or walk
along one of the intersecting footpaths
and there talk of affairs which per-
haps are of international Importance.
Back of all is the presidents whh1.
He NAV be late. The ministers wait.
He may have altered his mind regard
ing affairs of state and the ministers
are told to meet him later in the day
or night at his home.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy lately was
the innocent cause of forcing the min
listers to waste what doubtless was
valuable time. They were walking
with the President in the Chapultepec
grounds when the American charge
d'affairs drove by. The President
recognized his car, and remembering
that there was something that he
wanted to talk to the American rep
resentative about. signalled him TO
stop. O'Shaughnessy alighted, Joined
the official group and was preparing
to continue his drive when the Presl-
dent asked him to get into his car
with him. The two drove off together,
leaving Ministers Banquet. Alcocer
and other councillors of the President
staring after the car. Half an hour
later Huerta set O'Shaughnessy down
near his own car and resumed the IN
terrupted cabinet meeting.
IL is not uncommon for the Presi-
dent to summon his ministers to
meeting during the middle of the night
and cabinet meetings, or what would
pass for cabinet meetings, have taken
place in cafes.
Huerta does not indulge in physical
exercise as a means of recreation. he
derives his recreation in talking as
tronomy with any enc who can inter-
est him in the subject-and the man
who does must be an exporter In
dining and visiting with his intimate
friends. The time he retires appears
a matter of indifference, as does his
arising in the morning. Usually he Is
up early. The lightest kind of break
fast, coffee and rolls, he gets as soon
as he is awake. A little work, If he
thinks of anything to do, and then
almost every morning walk up ana
down on the sidewalk in front or MS
house in the district known as San
Rafael After that more breakfast and
then lot of work. He may go to the
Chapultepec woods or to the National
Palace but it is just likely he will do
his morning work at his home, sum-
moning to him there all who may have
business with him.
Without much routine and with ex-
ecutive mastery, showing all he can
onto his subordinates, he ploughs
through the days work until or .
o'clock, when he is ready for dinner,
which may be in his own home or in
that of one of his friends. Huerta's
ideas of democracy do not prevent him
from dining where he pleases-very
likely in one of the public restaurants.
There is one central restaurant that
has received the greater part of his
patronage. Here the entrance of the
President, accompanied by one or two
of his aides, perhaps a personal friend
or two and possibly member of his
family. has long since ceased to be a
novelty In the days of Porfirio Diaz
the visiting of public dining place
was something of state ceremony.
His coming and his going was care
fully staged and those privileged to
witness it were reckoned among the
fortunate. To the music Of the Ma