The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-09-08
MEXICO IS TO
ELECT PRESIDENT
Obergon is Only Candi-
date in Storm Tossed
Republic !.

| WASHINGTON, Sept 4.--Mexico
has had plenty of presidents in the
last ten years, but few elections. The
presidential. election to be held to.
morrow, September 5, therefore, is
of widespread importance not only
because Mexico will choose a chief
executive, but because the manner
of his choosing Is expected to bear
directly on recognition Of the Next
can government by other nations.
This election is the second to be
held since 1910 to choose president
for the full term provided by the
constitution. An executive will be
elected for four years, beginning De-
cember 1, 1920.
General Alvero Obregon, former
minister of war, who broke the
power of Villa at Celaya and who is
the idol of the Mexican army, is the
only announced candidate at this
election. However, the Mexican bal
lots do not bear the names of can
didates. These must be written in
by each voter, Voters are therefore
able to express their preference for
any citizen qualified to become
president.
In the last ten years Mexico has
had nine presidents. Their terms
ranged in length from forty-five min
utes to three years and three months
but sooner or later, the job slid from
under each like birch bark canoe
from summer boarder. Two were
assassinated. Five fled the country
to escape arrest, one went into hid
ing within the country and one is in
office. Only five are now alive.
The period of unrest for Mexico
rulers began with General Porfirio
Diaz. After riding the cushions" Of
the presidential chair for many
years, he suddenly found his seat un-
tenable. He had been elected for
six-year term ending in 1916, but
scarcely had he taken the oath Of
office when the Madero' revolution
broke out and Diaz was forced to flee
to Vera Cruz and Spain on May rs,
1911.
AS minister of foreign relations
and ranking member of the Diaz
cabinet, Francisco de la Barra be-
came provisional president until
elections could be called. He held
the reins of office until October 2,
1911, when Francisco l. Madero was
elected for six years. Madero took
office December /. After few brief
months, brought to climax by the
revolt started by Felix Diaz, nephew
of the former president, treachery
thrust Madreo from the shanky chair
and he with Vice-President Pine
Suarez were arrested and assassin
ated February %, 1918. e- H
General victoriano Huerta, who
was Madero's military commander,
seized the executive power. To give
his claim the semblance of legality |
he had Pedro Lascurain, member of
Madreo's cabinet, succeed to- the !
fLascurain then turned /
over the office to Huerta, whom he
had appointed minister of war. Las
curain warmed the presidential seat
less than forty-five minutes in all.
On Huerta's accession, Venustiano
Carranza raised the standard of re-
volt in the north and as result of
/ long campaign obtained control of
I'll the northern and western sections
If Mexico. Huerta held form of
election on July 5, 1914, but it was
10 evident that he had lost control
hat ten days later he fed from
Mexico City to Puerto Mexico, where
le boarded the German cruiser
Bremen.
He left francisco Carbajai, a
member of his cabinet to become
president and turn over
he capital to the Carranza forces.
,arbajal remained in office twenty
light days when he also fed, making
lis way to the United States. ..
Carranza assumed the executive
but did so under the
title Of first chief of the constitu-
armies in charge of the ex-
cutive power. He declined to call
lections until the country was fur
her pacified. In the meantime, the
arious Constitutionalist chiefs met
t Aguas Calientes in the summer of
915 in an effort to compose their
differences and selected Eulalio
Gutierrez as provisional president.
1utierrez, who failed to satisfy the
demands of Villa and other leaders,
asted twenty days when he also fed
or his life.