Evening journal., 1914-03-09
One YEAR OF
HUERTA RULE
In OLD MEXICO
Huerta Fails to Establish as
Staple a Government
as DiGz
SITUATION TODAY WORST
IN ONE HUADRED YEARS
Written for the United Press by an
American in Mexicol.

Written for the United Press by an
American in Mexicol.
VERA CRUZ. March 9.-Despite
desperate attempts of Huerta to build
up some semblance of the same iron
clad sort of government by which old
Forfirio Diaz had ruled for so many
years, the institution of the Indian
dictator headed slowly grew less
stable. Huerta, however, took cond-
tions stoically. and by the time he
had been in power ten months, a fl
nancial crisis was at hand.
The Banco Central was forced, one
day to close its doors because OF the
rush Of state bank notes. The State
banks, were supposed to keep in the
banco Central sufficient funds to en-
able the central bank to meet pay
ments on the state bank bills But
railroads we're out Of operation;
money could not be shipped, and,
without money the Banco Central
was forced to refuse to recognize as
valid The bills of state banks. A run
began on the bank This run ex-
tended to other banks. Silver disap-
peared as gold had done, months be-
fore. The only money in sight was
OF paper and half of this was made
up Of worthless state bank notes
Huerta tried to solve the problem
by declaring that the state bank
notes were legal tender It was es-
timated that anyone who refused to
accept them might be arrested. But
the public was not put at ease. A
run was started on the Bank Of Lon
don and Mexico one of the largest
hanks in the republic The bank
closed its doors. Huerta, to save the
day, declared a bank holiday and, un-
der this subterfuge, the Bank of Lon
don and Mexico made only small
partial payments on the many claims
upon it.
On January 1, the sum of S32,000,-
900 was due from the Mexican gov
ernment to holders of Mexican
bonds This interest had been guar
anteed by a portion of Mexican Gus
toms taxes. For many months HUI
erta had seen part of the customs in
come set aside to met the interest
and it was money of which he was in
sore need. The temptation was toe
great for the dictator to resist. He
issued a decree declaring that the in
terest payments would not be made
for six months And, at the same
time, he seized the customs taxes for
his own government.
At the end of twelve months oil
Huertaism Mexico finds itself in a
worse situation than it has been in
for half a century. A year Of Hu.
erta's Dictatorship has meant the
slaughter of thousands Of Mexicans
the breaking up of thousands of Mex
ican homes. the destruction of mil
lions of dollars worth of mines, rail
roads. telegraph lines. bridges anC
businesses. which it had taken a thirC
OF a century to build or create.
The year has seen many Mexican
leaders either assassinated, impris
oned or exiled It has seen Mexico'i
debts repudiated: it has seen the
country's financial reputation sinl
from the highest point to the equal o.
the low esteem in which the finances
Of the most unstable of South Amer
ica republics is held.
The only bright spot in it all il
that Mexico has daily seen the near
er approach and inevitable downfall
OF Huerta With all their silence
average man in Mexico hates Huert;
and loved Madero. To him Villa is ;
hero for whom he will wildly chez
Just as soon as he knows that he car
cheer without being slain for his en-
thusiasm
The proof of this fact was definitely
given by the populace of the capita
when news of the raising of the EN-
Ill. Al.
published by the Mexican newspapers
Anti-American riots might have beci
expected by the populace six months
before. But there was not a suggestion
OF anti-American feeling in the capital
The very silence OF the masses shove,
that they favored the action taken b,
the United States.
The next government of Mexico vii
owe its existence to the United States
there will be great friendship betweel
the two governments. In the end Amer
lean business interests. if one cares t
look at the matter in that narrow light
win discover that il has not lost bu
has gained, not only in Mexico. but il
all South America.
The masses in Mexico today favo
President Wilson's policy. They agre
with. his stand that revolutions mus
end. They arc beginning to see wha
President Wilson has preached and acte
upon, that true government means
government of the people for the poop
pie by the people. They were glad t
be rid of Diaz and his expressions; tn
rising of Huerta crushed their hope
for time, but they see the part whic
the United States is playing in putin
Huerta out of their pathway toward
. new freedom and they are glad an
thankful. In one year of Huertaisr
the United States has gained the friend
ship of the masses of Mexico. eve
though it does possess the enmity of tn
small upper class who, for generation
have survived by oppression which al
most apnroachod slaNcr--