The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-12-19
GENERAL HUERTA
FORMER MEXICAN DICTATOR is
LIVING QUIETLY WITH HIS
FAMILY IN SPAIN.

triumphs and defeats. Gen. don Vic
toriano Huerta, once a dictator OF
Mexico, today lives quietly in a little
dwelling half an hours drive from
the center of Barcelona.
His surroundings are not those of
a man of wealth. and he explains that
he has barely enough money to keep
his family in comfort. He moves
about quietly and without ostenta-
ton in any form. Every afternoon
he may be found in a prominent
cafe. drinking with some of his trust
ed %lieutenants and talking quietly,
but he never is in the spotlight.
III Huerta plans a return TO Mexico
he does not admit IL. In an interview
recently he declared that only on con
dition that his country needed him
as a soldier to help repulse an at
tack would he return to it. His ply
sicians have advised him to go to
America, but he refused TO heed their
advice. Spanish society has not e.
tended him welcoming hands. due, he
SAYS, to foreign influences, but he
likes the climate OF Barcelona. so he
will remain here and educate his
eight children.
The generals house Is in a small
garden and there are other similar
little homes on all sides. When the
Associated Press correspondent call
ed by appointment to talk with the
general, the front door of the house
was wide open. One of the several
men planting palm trees-small and
poor trees with which IL seemed the
tenants wished to recall tropical veg
etation-remarked that there was no
servant to open the door. A ring
would bring someone.
A muscular young man who turned
out to be one OF the generals aids.
answered. He knew of the appoint
ment, but remarked that the gen.
erals dinner was at that moment
ready. The hour was 3 D. IN. The
reception room was a tiny one and
all the furniture about the place APP
peared to be OF the simplest and
cheapest kind. Four rooms to be
seen from the hall were empty. One
OF the generals daughters came and
took several chairs from the recep-
ton room for the dining room table.
The general came out Immediately.
ne was Dtouttl hah " bitiAs aAAo
wore a new overcoat with the collar
turned up, as he seemed cold. His
health, however, appeared perfect.
Upon the correspondent exeusing
himself from dining. the general
made an appointment to talk over
Mexican affairs at the Cafe Maison
Dore, one of the principal cafes in
Barcelona. The general goes there
every afternoon and remains several
hours. Later he was found in one
corner OF the cafe surrounded by ten
or twelve men with dark faces,
cleaning eyes and turned-up mus
taches. On the table were water
glasses half filled with cognac. The
entire party went into a back room
for greater privacy. The general or
dered more cognac. Ii was slow In
coming and he was impatient. Gen.
Suarez, Gen. Huerta. who is nc kins-
man OF the former dictator, and Col.
Chaves were among the six generals
and three colonies of the party.
They were all young men. They
were extremely deferential. When
Huerta took a cigar from his pocket
two or three of them lit matches and
HGiu LOW lih -
Huerta's IONS were also there.
'What is your opinion OF the Mex
ican situation" the former dictator
was asked.
"A letter just received by one oil
my aids describes the situation" he
replied. Houses are being sacked
highwaymen pillage everywhere. nc
one nor anything is safe. There Is
burning, robbing and numbering. Nc
one respects Carranza. There Ii
neither order nor authority. Such
situation ought to come to an end
I formed an army and would lave
restored calm to the country had II
not been for the Intervention OF the
United States. Bandits have taken
possession Of my property, that is. Of
my wife's, for / have nothing"
The general spoke Of the great flu
ture OF Mexico in which he said there
was room for Spain. Portugal
France and Germany to be placed
and vet there would be unoccupied
space. 1t must, however. have order,
he said, and he could not predict
what was likely to take place.
Are you acquainted with Gen
Gutierrez"
mo. I have never een him. All
know of him is that he was formerly
a miner and that he had in Mexico
city a rather unpretentious supply
store. / know that he has succeeded
in bribing the assembly and that the,
named him provisional president. He
will probably last just seventy days
do not know anything OF his per
sonal abilities. Since he has been In
command. rascals keep on getting
hold of the money and have made
themselves masters of the situation.
do you itend to return to Mexi
COZ"
mo, | do not wish to return.
left the command in the hands o.
Carvajal in order that I might not b'
a hindrance to the ~pacifcation of m,
country, and that it might be seer
that / was not seeking personal ad
vantage. / shall not return unless
my country should need me as a sol
der, not as a president. II my coun
try was threatened. then yes
"You would return in case tn
United States should attempt inter
~vention?"
"No, I say in case of any DANCE
whatever. am nc enemy of tn
Iyrstnd cfatoS save as thew are enc