The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-07-22
STORY OF HIS FALL
RULE OF PRESIDENT HUERTA HAS
BEEN UNEASY

wilson Pulls Him Down
Refusal Of American President to
Countenance the Dictator's AS.
sumption Of the Murdered Madero's
Power Causes the Downfall Of
Huerta After Long Delay.
Victoriano Huerta took oath as
provisional president Of Mexico Feb
ruary 19, 1913, the day after Fran
cisco I. Madero had been arrested at
the national palace. Three days later
Madero and Jose Maria Pine Saurez,
vice-president, were shot to death on
a midnight ride under guard from
the palace to the penitentiary. The
satisfactorily explained.
One Of Huerta's first acts as pro-
visionaI president was to telegraph
William H Taft, then president OF
the United States, the following mes
sage: II have the honor to inform
you that I have oyerthrown this gov
ernment. The forces are with me and
from now on peace and prosperity
will reign"
The republic Immediately was
plunged into civil war again notwith-
standing Huerta's issuance Of a proc
lamation Of general amnesty. The
Sonora State congress officially repu-:
dated the provisional government be-.
fore Huerta had settled himself COM
fortably in the presidential chair.
Zapata,. revolutionary leader to the
south of the capital, after negotiating
a few days with the new regime,
went back to his guerilla campaign.
Salazar, one of the highest gem.
erals in the army, denounced Huerta.
Carranza, Constitutionalist leader In
Chihuahua, assailed him in a bitter
statement made public at San An.
tonic. Francisco Villa announced
himself an adherent Of Madero and
joined the ranks Of the Northern
army. OF the clan Of northern reyo-
lutionaries Pascua1 Orozco was the
lone notable figure among the disaf-
fected who declared for the new gov
ernment.
President Taft, nearing the end Of
his term, left to his successor the
oolem of adjusting diplomatic rela-
tions with Mexico. To Woodrow VIII
son, Huerta sent fluctuations on the
day of the American presidents inau-
guration.
Hampered at the outset Of his adj
ministration by the refusal Of the
United States to recognize him,
Huerta soon faced growing difficulties
in raising funds to run his govern
ment. His uneasy hold upon affairs
was weakened by minor Constitu-
tionalist victories in the north and by
recurring rumors Of a break with
Felix Diaz, nephew of Porfrio Diaz
and Huerta's ally in the overthrow
of Madero.
On May 1 Huerta announced he
would urge congress to call elections
in October to choose his successor.
The congress selected October IS as
the date Of the election and decree
to that effect was issued by Huerta
on June 8. Felix Diaz, who had an
nounced himself as q candidate for
the presidency, was sent to Japan on
July II.
Henry Lane Wilson, the American
ambassador, was recalled to Wash
ington and Nelson O'Shaughnessy,
charge d'affaires, was left in charge
of American interests in Mexico.
Early in August it became known
that President Wilson intended to
send John Lind, former governor Of
Minnesota, to Mexico as his personal
representative in an endeavor to ar
range a basis for the republics peace.
Huerta announced he would not toll
crate interference.
Nevertheless Mr.. Lind delivered
his note from President Wilson.
Huerta refused all proposals made by
the American, chief of which were
the suggestions that he resign and
that he not me candidate on cleo
ton day Relations between Mexico
and the United States became acute.
President Wilson proclaimed his poll
icy in an address before congress.
Huerta was attacked in the Mexi-
can Senate on October 5 by Senator
Dominguez who spoke what was In
the minds Of himself and some Of his
colleagues. Dominguez disappeared.
To this Huerta's reply was dramatic
and swift. He marched a column of
troops to the chamber and threw 11o
deputies into prison. Next he dis
solved congress and took unto him
self the legislative authority, calling
for an election of new members on
October 5. Through Mr.. O'Shaugh-
messy, the United States made repre-
sentations against violence to the i'm
prisoned deputies.
When it became certain the cleo
tions had resulted IN no constitu-
tional choice because of the failure Of
voters to go to the polls; the Ameri-
can government peremptorily called
on Huerta to resign. In statement
to the diplomatic corps on Novem-
Der 9 he announced that he would de-
clare the result of the election null
and order another election. On
November 13 Huerta refused to &C
cede to the American demand for his