Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-21
TRACES THE GROWTH
Of REBELS POWER
Charles M. Pepper Declares
Constituencies Government
Is Going Concern.
CARRANZA RECOGNIZED
AS LEADER OF FACTIONS
Seizure of Border Customhouses an
Aid-Foreign Relations Deli
cate Subject. :
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER,

Special Correspondence -i,.
CHIHUAHUA. Mexico. May 1s.-Con-
stitutionaEst government is going
concern In the literal sense as well as in
its own estimation. 1t keeps on the
move. The theory is that wherever tenn
porarily located it has been the real
government of Mexico since the usurpa-
ton of Huerta.
Basis for their claim is laid in the
fact that Gen. Carranza - sometimes
called the supreme head and sometimes
the first chief-waS the constitutional
governor of the state of Coahuila with
unquestioned title. and that constitu-
tionalism in the Mexican nation survived
through one of its states.
When Gov. Carranza was notified by
Huerta that he had assumed the presi-
dency the governor refused to recognize
him, and his refusal was ratified by the
legislature of the state, which placed
funds at his disposal The Legislatures
of the Mexican states usually follow the
wishes of the governor, just as the ma
tional congress falls i'll line with what
the president wants.
About half a hundred men were all
that went into the field with Carranza
when he had TO take arms to maintain
his contention that Huerta was q
usurper.
Recognized as Head.
Though Huerta's military governor &C.
cupied the seat of authority. the num-
Der of those who refused to acknowledge
him grew. Carranza became the recog-
nzed head of the movement, and as such
had varying success in parts of Goa
hula and neighboring states. Several
advantageous positions were taken and
held for time, such as Torreon, but
the federals managed to regain control.
In the field and in defeat, as well as in
temporary success. the framework of
an established government was kept up,
on paper at least.
Villa at this time was operating main
1y in Chihuahua and had achieved no
marked success. though it was recog-
niZed that he was the one man who
in the end could drive the federals out
of that stale.
He was. therefore, left to do as he
pleased, and Gen. Carranza and his fol-
lowing crossed the Sierra Madres into
Sonora.
Indians Aided.
Federal authority. as represented by
the government at Mexico City. always
has been weak in Sonora, and Huerta
was not able to maintain his power
long. There was some fighting. but the
rebels. or constitutionalists, won and
established themselves at Hermosillo,
the capital
They got control of most of the state
but not of Guaymas. the seaport on the
Gulf of California. The Yaquis and the
Mayo Indians supported them in their
campaigns.
From Sonora the campaign was push
ed into the neighboring state of Sina-
loa, and Culiacan, the capital. was
taken. Mazauan, the seaport of Sina-
loa- still remained in the hands of fed
erals. but the larger part of the terri
tory between the Sierra Madres and the
Pacific became constftutionalist territory.
Nogales, in Sonora, across the street
from Nogales, in Arizona. became the
headquarters of the constitutionalist
government, both for civilian and for
military purposes. There was no dis
position to get far from the American
border line.
1t was at Nogales that Cen Carranza
was visited by President Wilson's spe-
cia1 confidential agent and by various
cial character
Seat of Government.
IL April the headquarters were moved
to Juarez. just across the river from Ell
Paso. Gen. Carranza and his officials
with an escort of several hundred
troops. crossed the Sierra Madres on
horseback, since 1t was not practicable
to make the journey by railway
through the territory Of the United
States
Villa and his troops turned out to
honor them on their arrival at Juarez.
After a fortnight in the border town
Gen. CarranZa moved the constitution
alist seat of government to Chihuahua
The claim is made that constitutions
government has been fully established
in all the states from which the fed
erals have been driven out, proper Off
Gals having been installed from the
military governor down. to the alcaldes
or mayors who discharge the function.
OF civil authority so far as the con
ditions permit the exercise of tcivfl
power.
Control of the border customhouses
was an important gain for tho con.
stitutionalists. since it gave them reve-
nues and enabled them to levy expor
taxes which are permissible The 81.
port tax on cattle was one Of the i'm.