Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-21
GOV. CANTU OUT
. AF TER BE INC IN
|. OFFICE s YEARS
Was Always Able to Keep
AIoof From Disturbances
In Mexico City As Well As
+ Along the u. S. Border.

ny MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiHE1
Mexicah, Lower California, Aug.
Cool. Esteban Cantu, military
and civil governor of the northern
district of Lower California, but
who has relinquished his office,
maintained his supremacy since
1914. while in other parts of Men
ico governments rose and fell, His
friends said he remained in power
because he kept aloof from various
disturbances in Mexico City and
along the United States border.
Internal dissatisfaction in Lower
California with certain policies of
the Cantu government and what
was described as departure from
his course of alOofness led to trou-
BILE for the governor in 1920. Manv
residents of his district opposed
Cantus licensing of gambling and
liquor and his order permitting
Chinese immigration. The Cantu
government received large revenue
from both the immigration and
from the licenses, which were is
sued, mainly, to persons operating
along the border.
Cantu's position had grown less
secure because of these factors be-
fore the overthrow of President
Carranza. He had expressed his
allegiance to that regime and was
slow, after its overthrow, to de-
clare himself in accord with the
de facto government headed by
Provisional President de la Iluerta.
When he finally did recognize the
new regime, 1t has been said, his
power began to wane.
Determined 10 Remain.
General Obregon. representing
the provisional government. sent
Bald0nero Armada to MeXicali TO
succeed Cantu as governor. The
latter publicly announced he would
yield to Senior Armada, but follow
ing a demonstration by persons
who wanted him to remain in. Of
flee, he changed his expressed in
tention and determined to remain.
Thenceforth relations with the pro-
Visional government grew more
strained until finally each side is
sued a proclamation, the provi-
sional government declaring Cantu
traitor" and announcing cam
paign for his removal, and the gov
ernor severing his relations with
. the de la Huerta government and
announcing that he proposed TOT
stand on his rights as a Mexican
citizen and hold his office.
Diplomatic negotiation for set
Element falling, the provisional
government undertook its military
campaign against the Cantu gov
eminent.
Cantus former attitude toward
Villa and CarranZa was the same.
Before the constitutionalist COnVen-
ton was held in Aguas Calientas,
May, 1914. Colonel Cantu indicated
that he would not oppose the ap-
pointment of a villa adherent as
jefe politico (political chief for
Lower California, northern district
providing the appointee would de-
vote himself to helping keep order
in the peninsula and make no de-
mands on the people of the terri
tory. Gen. Balta2ar AvileZ was
sent by Villa to Ensenada. then the
capital of the northern district of
the territory. but his administra-
ton was short lived. ending with a
few months, and followed by his |
indictment by a federal grand jury
at Los Angeles, Calf. on a charge
of promoting a revolution in Mex
leo.
Progressive and Fair.
Throughout his stay on the pen
insula Colonel Cantu maintained |
his headquarters at Mexicali, a Dor
der town, twin of Calexico, Calf,
and in the years he directed ar
fairs, Mexicali grew to one of the
most pretentious towns of Lower
California. With a population OF /
1900, including 1000 Chinese |
farmers, merchants and laborers,
& boasts of q concrete and adobe
government building, started two
years ago and still unfinished a
stone barracks and several sub
stantial frame buildings used for
government purposes-all Of them
built under Cantus direction with
revenue derived from import duties
and local taxes Americans with
business interests in Mexicali and
in the Imperial valley below the
border praised him highly for his
progressiveness and fair dealing.
In addition to the erection of the
government buildings at Mexicali
ne pushed to completion a canine
(road) from Mexicali to Ensenada,
on the west coast, more than
seventy-five miles in length and (
which in many places had to be ;
blasted out of solid rock, Parallel
ing this road he installed tele-
graph and telephone equipment,
connecting up the two towns and /
smaller ones for the first time with