Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-13

military state governors, to cover the
election machinery. Four days before
the election, the senftor said, despite
formal assurances to the diplomats in
Mexico City that he was not candi-
date. election posters were sent
broadcast urging the people to vote
for Huerta. Huerta sent instructions
to his governors, said the senator, to
return the votes favorable to him and
not return more than certain part of
the precincts, thus insuring void
election This program, he said, was
carried out in every detail, and the
Mexican congress, discovering that
less than half the voting precincts had
sent in returns, declared the election
void and expressed a desire that
>Huerta continue as provisional presi-
dent until some future time which
might be fixed by congress.
"Huerta,'' he added dramatically,
still is dictator"
"Cf the % elected governors of
Mexico at the time Huerta seized the
governing powers" the senator said,
"only two at the end of the year re-
NAMED at home attending their duties.
Ten of them. had Joined the revolution,
a nuInbrr had he'd the country, and
one had been null dered by major
general of Huerfa, who tied the gov
erno- of chihuahua on the railroad
track and backed yard engine over
him to teach him Better manners than
to oppose Huerta. All vacancies were
filled by military governors appointed
by Huerta.
''Huerta's federal officers of the
army appear TO Lave been Instructed
to takc no prisoners. Every captured
officer, high and iow. was put before
a wall and shot. most o. the common
soIdiers\ taken prisoners were shot IN
like fashion and few allowed to save
their lives by joining the federal army.
Every members of the cabinet named
for Euerta was removed. Some OF
them fed the country. cn= Cf them was
killed. but not ole vas left In the
cabinet"
During the fall of 1913 numerous
evidences appeared of Huerta trying
to involve the United States in some
act of aggression or invasion. His
purpose in doing this was to stir the
patriotism of the Mexican people,
make them forget his crimes. and in
duce them to get behind him as de-
fender of Mexico against an invading
foe. Finally, April 9, he had the I'M
pudence to arrest soldiers in our uni
form under the shelter of our flag, at !
Tarpico, and march them in derision
through the streets. He knew per-
fectly we'll that his private expression
of regret was no amends to the gov
ernment of the United States for
this international affront anS indig-
nifty.
"Huerta desired to provoke some ac-
ton that would unite behind him the
revolutionary leaders in Mexico, after
which he might obtain his peace, re-
lying upon the benevolence, the dignity
and the patience of the government of
the United States. He has failed. The
United States should not now, under
any circumstances, be content with
anything less than the most complete
and absolute restoration of constitu-
tional self-government in Mexico. Hun
dreds of our citizens have been killed
in Mexico, thousands of them have
been robbed. millions of their proper
ty stolen, and all driven by violence
from Mexico. Huerta has sought to
involve us in complications with Japan
which might easily involve our nation
in one of the bloodiest wars in history,
IL permitted to be worked out.
The president was not only justi-
fed in refusing to recognize Huerta as
president of Mexico and in seizing
Vera Cruz to stop the landing of
ship load of machine guns and 2,OOO,OoO
cartridges, but he would have been
fully justified IN deposing Huerta by
military force as bloody despot and a
reasonable usurper."