New-York tribune., 1920-08-09
ate of Mexico
Is i'm Hands of
Four Leaders
DE la Huerta, Obrcgon, War
Minister Gales and Gen.
Hill Are Keeping Nation
in Peaceful Condition
Crucial Stage Has Passed
Country Is in Better Shape
Than Since 1910; The
Future Has Its Problems
By George E. HYDE

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 1.-The govern
ment of President Adolfo de la Huerta
has passed through it's first crucial
stage and is now entering that period
of slow development which, to use a
military expression, comes between the
counter attack and the counter often
sive. 1t has stood up we'll under the
counter attack. The country to-day is
virtually at peace, and this has not
been true at any time since 1910. All
previous administrations have been op-
posed by military forces throughout
their hold on the reins of government.
In order to understand Just how this
has been brought about, it may be we'll
TO take a look a. the composition of
the administration. Four men hold the
destines of the country in their hands.
They are Adolfo de la Huerta, General
Plutarco Elias Gales, Secretary of
War and Marine; Alvaro Ohregon, can
didate for the Presidency on the Lib
eral ticket and the military head of
the revolution which overthrew Venus
tiano Carranza, and General Benjamin
Hill, commanding the garrison of the
capital.
General Gales is the~ strongest of
these men, He has had the job of
establishing peace in the country
This not only involved bringing into
the fold hundreds of petty leaders
in all parts of the country but also
trouble makers who might try new
revolution. He has had to do this with
an army honeycombed with graft and
of doubtful loyalty. The task of purg
ing it is not yet over, but much already
has been done With this army as his
only weapon he has forced leader after
leader to come to terms, and one by
one they have disappeared as real fac
tors in the situation. There has been
little bloodshed, because all Mexico
knew that Gales was ready to start
letting blood at moments notice.
Gales Method
The incident of General Pablo Con
zales is in a manner characteristic
OF Gales. Gonzales had been granted
an indefinite leave of absence from
the army and had retired, presumably
to private life He still had with him,
general commanding IN the field and
retained his guard. This guard was
composed of 400 picked men command
ed by brigadier general. The lowest
ranking enlisted man in the organiza
ton was a sergeant, first class. 1t was
force to be reckoned with. The
anomaly of civilian wandering around
the country with a personal guard of
this description was obvious and Gales
lost no time in putting q stop to it.
When Gonzales's completely in a pro-
jected revolt was a matter of common
gossip, Gales tried him, convicted him
and then turned him loose. To-day the
whereabouts of Pablo Gonzales is
matter Of Indifference to the public
in general. If he makes a false move
Gales will shoot him and no one will
care.
The situation has repeated itself on
a smaller scale almost daily. Scores
of little political generals have been
rambling over the country, each with
his guard his staff and his military
train and one by one Gales has taken
them in hand. Then, as he himself
says: "If they do not behave them
selves, l will send policeman out and
have them arrested"
Gales is and has been the iron hand
of the President and the present pa
cific state of the country is his work.
1t will depend upon him whether such
q state continues OF not, and those who
have come in contact with him and
have seen him handle men have no fear
but that he will prove equal to the
task. With few exceptions. the trained
and experienced officers of the army