New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-26
Intends to Hold Office Until Death, Bellev-
ing That Destiny Has Made Him
Mexico's Savior.
EXPECTS TO WIN CONFIDENCE OF U. S.
Elections for July and Distribution OF Iooooooo Acre
of and Among Poor Part OF His Dream as
Told Tribune Correspondent.

. in battle. cannot pacify these rebels, his
whole programme. no matter how ar
GENTLY he desires 10 bring about order,
will collapse. He may try 10 hold cleo
lions i'm the hope that the beligerents
will fan into line, but these elections
will never he honest, as we understand
honest elections i'm the United states.
and no other sort Of elections will sat
iSfy President Wilson.
The politicians here are opposed TO
Huerta's plan for a true democracy
This is not alone because they know it
would he hard 10 bring about but be-
cause Of the power they now enjoy
over the great body Of Indians. who are
densely ignorant. When they vote it is
as their employers or the soldiers die
tate. They are not ready for honest
government. To obtain even a slight
similarity to honest ballotng it would
be necessary to place United states
soldiers at every polling place.
But before anything is done with the
lower class it will be necessary 10 train
the upper class in civic virtue. The
good lesson that President Wilson is
giving 10 the Mexican politicians must
certainly result helpfully 10 Mexico.
when Mexico learns two things. She
must realize that honest elections will
eliminate most OF her trouble, and she
must realize that no matter what the
result this result must he respected.
Many Self Seeking Politicians.
\ fair sample Of how results were
treated was given after some Of the
elections for Governor held under Ma
dero, which came closer 10 being alb
solutely fair than any other contests in
the history of the country. When the
voting was over the defeated candi-
dates went on the warpath TO demon
strate that bravery and not the ma or-
ity Of votes was the requisite for good
leadership.
As for the revolution itself, il is a
startling fact that just about per
cent Of the population Is engaged in
the struggle. while the rest Of the peo-
pie are made to suffer through warfare
waged by sclf-seeking politicians. APP
proximately 10000 men are under
arms i'm Mexico. 4 great many OF these
patriots" were pressed into the ser
vice by force in the north and the
south. They were content TO remain
out OF the conflict. They sighed for no
honors and bullets Of the battlefield.
but they were not permitted TO remain
enlisted They arc always seeking an
opportunity to desert
In the last week fully $500 men were
picked up on the streets and compelled
TO enter the ranks. Even women are
forced to go along with the soldiers 10
look after the food and other supplies.
So there is little real patriotic spirit
among the soldiers. and there cannot
be in a war provoked and continued to
satisfy the ambitions of few selfish
men. The strong men engaged in the
conflict are remaining in the back
ground. They seem to fear to speak or
make any move that will result i'm good
to Mexico. AS an American student of
the situation remarked, Mexico is like
a big balloon; It is full of gas but there
aren't enough men in the basket to
guide it,"
Huerta's whole attitude is interest
ing. He is endeavoring TO the utmost
10 maintain the friendliest relations
with the United States. and have met
no one who will admit that he heard
Huerta indulge in any violent criticism
of President Wilson. He seems par
ticularly eager to protect Americans.
on more than one occasion he has or
dered the release Of imprisoned Ameri-
cans merely on the unofficial request Of
Nelson O'Shaughnessy. the United
states chars ianaires here.
Personally Hue.ts gives one the i'm
preston ~ great courage. knowing
80 well az any other person that the
city u.s. FUN of Mad ristas and others
who hate hn. whole heartedly and
would chcerful.r tssasslnate him were
the opportunity 90 escape afforded. he
goes about freel, visiting all the prin-
cipal cafes and rc.fautants without the
slightest apparent fear Ills daring
seems 90 be enough to awe 'lls enemies.