The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-04
A MEXICAN ELECTION
One of the Biggest Farces Ever Per.
petrated on an Ignorant
People

Is STU IN power, and, perhaps, even
If he isn't. Mexico will perpetrate
that occasional farce known as a
popular election Huerta has tried
one election. but so few people yot-
ed that he didn't dare to claim the
election valid. But the election July
has been called by the congress OF
Mexico AMI Huerta, if he runs, will
undoubtedly attempt to prove after
i IS over that the election was held
honestly and that the president of
Mexico was chosen by an expression
d the popular will.
It can be said that there isn't any
way TO hold an honest election in
Mexico, under the present election
laws, which are the laws Mexico has
always had since the republic was
esta blished. Let's take the imagin-
airy case of Juan Martinez, a labor
ing man, in the City OF Mexico and
watch Juan go thru the process OF
expressing his will as sovereign
voter. In the first place Juan does
not belong to any party, as John
smith does, in the United States.
Only the folks with collars ana cuffs
belong TO parties, and Juan always
takes his hat off when he's in their
presence. Those collar-and-cuff per-
sons have temporary party head
quarters in some building in the cap
ital, and these headquarters look
exactly like ward, city, county, or
state headquarters in any American
city. It is Uttered with handbills,
posters and pamphlets and filled
with collar-and-cuffed politicians
But you'll notice there is only one
hea dquarters. That's the one that
belongs 10 the party of which the
outgoing president is member. The
outgoing president in Diaz's time
and he will be in Huerta's. too
is always the leading candidate for
reelection. He permits a few other
persons to make believe they are
candidates against him, just for APP
pearances sake, but he knows that
our friend, Juan Martenez, won't
vote for them. The ''outgoing' pres
ident, under the Mexican election
laws. always own the election ma
chinery and there is no way to get il
away from him.
About two weeks before election
day, always man comes around to
Juan's house. Juan isn't at home;
he's away at work, of course. The
man is an election official; he talks
with Juan's wife. He wants to know
she ever heard her husband talk
against the president; Or against the
governor of the state? She never
has. certainly. As soon as the cleo
ton official sees that Juan is just
common, everyday, workaday type of
Mexican, who won't run amuck on
things political, he leaves a certifi-
cate for Juan. This certificate en-
titles Juan to go to the polls to vote
and when Juan goes home at night
and asks the ..Missus" what has
happened during the day; she han is
him the certificate. which Juan tucks
away, against election day. Juan is
now duly registered voter.
At last the Sunday rolls around
election day is always on Sunday in
Mexico. because Diaz, at the request
Of his friends. the great ranch own
ers in Mexico, set the custom so that
the voters would go to the polls in
Juan goes to the polls. The chances
are that he doesn't want to go. But
his boss. who is probably a big fac
tory owner, or big farmer, who
wants 10 stand in with the president
and governor, desires Juan to vote.
So joan turns up at the polls.
The polls usually consists OF table
placed in one OF the big double door
ways which lead from the sidewalk
into the patio, or some business
house or residence N Juan's neigh
borhood Around the table sit men
in collars and cuffs and silk hats.
If there's anything that throws Juan
into panic its a silk hat. There
are thousands Of officials in Mexico
who hold Office just on the strength
OF a high silk hat (which they have
owned for years. with a long coat
thrown n for extra measure Mexico
is very peculiar that way. OF comes
Juan's sombrero; he tucks it under
his arm and looks frightened; he
doesn't know il, but he's a better
man. every inch Of him. from his
sanialed feet to his kindly brown
eyes. and Indian cheek bones, than