The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-18
FORMER MINISTERS
IN NMADERO CABINET
ANSWER HUERTA
Say He Is Not Spokesman of
Mexican People as Long
as He Is Silent on
Madero's Death

New York. April f7.--Iptil General
The question of who WAS responsible
for the death of Francisco Madcro. II
will be impossible for the law abidinc s.
and reaccable citizens of Mexico to
accept General Hucrta ms their leader
or spokesman, says "A signed statement
issued here today by three former min
listers In Madcro's cabinet. They arc
Pedro Lascurain. Rafael 1. Hcrnandez
and Erncsto Madero.
The statement was issued in reply TO
one by General Huerta in which he de-
MED responsibility for Madero's ''execu-
tion," said he knew who was RESPONSE
BILE, but was keeping it as the profess
sfonal secret of a soldier
"On the day following the murder of
President Madero.e reads the ministers
statement. "Huerta, through his man.
Mr.. De LaBarra. explained it as the re-
suit of fight between the escort that
was taking Mr. Madero to the prison
and his own followers who tried to res
cue him. Sometime afterward, one of
the Huerta ministers, Mr.. Lozano, said
that the truth was that Mr.. Madero
had been assassinated by Felix Diaz.
Now Huerta, rejecting explicitly both
official explanations. speaks of some
professional secret that he cannot re-
veal.
Might Prove Innocence
1--WE are now compelled to express
our profound admiration for the notable
reticence which leads Mr. Huerta to en-
dure, further undeserved odium for the
reputed responsibility for President
Madero's death, when by only word he
could prove not only his complete in
nocence but his historic greatness. I'm
fotunately. the bond of honor which
he says seals his lips make It impossi
BILE, until this matter is fully cleared
up, for the law abiding and peace low
ing citizens of Mexico to accept Mr..
Huerta as their leader or spokesman
General Huerta's attacks on the Ma
dero government are declared in the
statement to be false and slanderous.' .
His various charges that Madero
brought on the revolution which placed
him in power through the help OF liber-
ated criminals. that he annihilated the
union. destroyed. the credit of the coun-
try, prosttuted the discipline of the
army and dissipated the surplus. of the
treasury are taken up in detail and
counter charges made in refutation.
"At the time that Huerta treacher :
ously overturned the Madero govern
ment, Mexico was well night pacified. .
the three former ministers declare.
There was only one source of unrest,
has continued for more than two years,
that must be attributed to Huerta' $
usurpation of power.
Deny Charges
cit is false that the Madero admins.
tration annihilated the national union.
At the time of the downfall of that ad-
ministration the government dominated
the whole country, controlled all its
ports. both maritime and those of the
border. all the railroads, and every
state of the republic was represented in
Congress. Annihilation of our union
came as a result of the treason that cul-
minated IN Mr.. Iiuertas rise to power
because honest men who could not ap-
prove of such usurpation of the presi- :
dency revolted against the usurper
|and the country was again thrown into
unrest
THE statement made by Huerta that
the Madero government prostituted the
discipline Of the Mexican army is. sur
prisiDg from the lips Of the man thas
as the head of the army committed trea-
son against the government which ap-
pointed him for it, defense.