The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-03-22
American Living in Vera Cruz Tells OF
the Reign Of Terror Since
Huerta Took
Charge.
PAYING THE SOLDIERS
Expense is Just the Same Even IT
Five Hundred Are
Killed in
Battle.

Written for the United Press by an
American in Mexlco.]
VERA CRUZ, March 21.-With the
two Maderos and Suarez murdered,
and countless others who opposed
him "mysteriously missing" Huerta's
dictatorship developed into veritable
reign of terror. Huerta's only hope OF
holding his bloodlbought power was
!, to shed more blood.
The house of deputies, not realizing
to what lengths the new presidenh
would dare to go, began to protest
against Huerta's methods. One even
ing at 6 O'Clock, Gordon of soldiers
surrounded the house of deputies
while other soldiers entered and ar.
rested 100 OF the leading statesmen o.
Mexico The were herded to jail
like common prisoners and they were
hardly locked up in their cells before
Huerta declared himself dictator OF
the country. He called an election.
It was held. A new house of deputies
was chosen, every man Of whom was
Hucrta'J servant. At previous make
believe election, Huerta had been
chosen president, but the votes were
SO few and so obviously controlled
that even Hu.Ita didn't dare to cali
himself elected.
And so, with infinite craft, he or
dered his new house Of deputies to de-
clare tEat the election was void and
that another election be held on the
fifth of 1.-y, 1914, and that, in the
meantime, Huerta be considered pro-
,isional president. This congress also
voted to Huerta dictatorial powers
and then adjourned, leaving him in
sole possession OF the government, in
a situation that made his word and or
der as strong as any laws that both
houses might pass.
In the meantime rebel victories
multiplied: shortly, every northern
state was in rebel hands. Francisco
Villa, who had been one Of Madero's
generals. took the field with Carranza.
1t is true that Pascual Orozco went to
Huerta's side, but blight seemed to
be placed on all his former prowess,
and defeats met him at every turn.
How to get money and how to raise
an army were Huerta's problems. He
set about to do these things, but every
dollar he raised by taxation only made
him new enemy and every peon
whom he forced into the army only
he could not depend. BY the seventh
month Of his rule he had built up a
large army, and had distributed 1t
about the country but he could not
pay it.
you must pay those soldiers" he
ordered the business men and farm
ers of the various districts, 'or | will
withdraw them" In many cases the
business men and farmers chose not
to have the federal soldiers in their
localities They preferred. indeed, to
have the rebels rule over them, for
the federals were men of low class,
many OF them conscripted criminals
turned loose from the jails, heartless,
cruel and Unsuitable for money, women
and alcohol Neither could Huerta
trust his officers He said once in
burst of confidence to Nelson
O'Shaughnessy, charge d affalres in
the American embassy, Il can't trust
my officers. I only wish / mad about
$50 American captains down here. I'd
clean these reoels out in a short time"
Graft prevailed in every corner OF
this army "One trouble is that nc
body in my army ever dies said
Huerta on another occasion Death
never causes any changes in the Fay
roll. Five hundred soldiers may be
killed in a batt1s, but the pay roll
never shows it, And so what money
Huerta was able to gather together
in various ways was va:nly spent. In
the main 1t was like pounding sand
into a. rat hole: he didn't get HE
moneys worth in military Effort at
any stage of the game. Even il the
United States had recognized him.
however, and he had been able to Sc
cure all the funds he wished for,
Huerta could not have crushed the
revolution against him. Proof of this
is the fact that Porfirio Daz, him
self. with s62 100000 in his treasury
and means of securing much mere,
was forcei to yield to Maderos de-
nands that he resign. Diaz knew
that 1t was not money he needed, but.
men; AND he knew that the time had