El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-26

CnleI executive power - ArApLA ApA-
i eigners from Mexico without trial
Rebel agents said Bonillas was a citi-
zen OF the United States
ewes Of the Flor De Te and his
panegyrists. The Bonillas party
found il a difficult task to address
the people The orators had TO hold
heir noses with one hand while they
famed the air with gestures from
the other. And when, under this
handicap. Cen Candida Aguilar, the
soninlaW OF Carranza. began TO eX-
pound, with military eloquence. the
superiority OF civilian rule and the
necessity Of suppressing militarism,
his hostile brothers in arms gave up
the offensive they had begun with
in smelling ammunition and started
another with foul language
BOniIIas and Party Retreat.
In n loud ordinations they in
weighed against the virtue of the
mothers OF the men in BOnillas' party
Indies whom they had never seen
and finally the candidate and his
partisans. tired Of hearing them
selves called sons Of this and sons
Of that. appealed TO the police, who
were anxiously waiting for the word
And the disturbers OF the meeting
were hurried off to Jail
From that moment things hap
pened with great rapidity. Obregon
infected with an oratorical fever,
started through the states in a
whirlwind campaign in favor OF his
candidacy. He did not mince words
IF I am not elected president" he
said, 1T will be because Don Venu-
stiano has decided 10 block ne at all
costs. But before / let that viejo
barbon trick me out OF the presi-
dency, I shall take the field against
him"
And the beyyhiSkered old gentle
man. who has n temper Of his own,
retaIiated by sending the police TO
break up the meetings OF the Obre-
EOnistas and beat mp their followers
Ordered Arrest Of Oregon.
Moreover, Carranza got hold Of
certain letters in which it appeared
that Oregon was in alliance with
the chiefs OF certain bandit bands
that had been defying the consti-
tuted authorities. Taking these as
evidence. Carranza issued an order to
have Obregon brought to the cap
ital and courtmartialed, and he was
on the point Of sending him to jail
when Obregon escaped
I believe that in the last days Of
his rule Carranza took special pains
to harass Obregon for the purpose Of
precipltatlng the revolution which
the latter was preparing. HIS policy
was to provoke an abortion. If they
intend TO rise against me-" Carranza
figured, ''the best thing I can do is
to drive them to it at once They
Will be less prepared to fight
BoniIias Does Carrunza Bidding
During the electoral struggle be-
tween Obregon and Carranza senior
Bonillas, the innocent cause OF the
political duel. kept IN the back
ground, limiting himself to obeying
the instructions Of Monies, the presi-
who, in his turn, took orders from
Don Venustiano.
The i'll starred candidatei on
many an occasion I saw him in the
hotel at lunch. surrounded by crowds
II enthusiastic admirers" who came
from the provinces TO get their first
Glimpse Of him. At other times
found him alone with his son. a
young student whom Boniilas' wife
and daughters had undoubtedly
ordered to accompany his papa in
this adventure.
Try to Kidnap Candidate.
Exhausted by the campaign activi-
ties. which were a novel experience
to him. Bonillas used to go out on
some afternoons for an automobile
ride in the vicinity Of Mexico City.
One day at dusk a group Of mounted
Obregonistas, hardened old gueril-
leros, tried to kidnap him. TO put
him away until after the elections.
A battle fit for the movies ensued I
for the moment between the would
be kidnapers and the police who
we're escorting BOnillas IN other au-
-omobiles. In the melee an Obre-
sonist general was captured. an old /
ranchman who nappede to find him /
self by accident on the scene OF /
the fight
You were attempting to kidnap /
Bonillas." the chief Of /
police told the Obregonist general. /
To kidnap that poor devIll" the /
rural chief replied What for7
What could do with him2 II Il had /
been Don Venustianoi"
BOnillaH Goes in Hiding.
From that day on I never saw
3onillas again His partisans feared ]
Tor his life The hotel was not a |
safe place, and, therefore, his cam /
1aign committee, laying hands again /
IN the public funds at their disposal, !
him in a private house.
The candidate, showing praise
worthy cOolness in the presence Of !
hangers which his followers proba-
by exaggerated, gave constant proof /
y great loyalty and obediencs to /
carranza-
Where are you taking me today7
Where does Don Venustiano wish me
% gof' he would ask
At first he attended several meet 4
ngs in Mexico City, packed with
veil trained adherents Of the gov
srnmenL Later on. he was obliged i
o 90 to the capitals OF several states
o counteract with his presence the
stfects Of Obregon's campaign And /
hat was where his real sufferinrs
Ind dangers began.
Cut OFF Speakers Retreat.
II seems that the personnel OF the
Is largely Ohreroufsfa.
borrower, Mexieans do not need TO
'elong to the railway union to learn
low to cut a railway line. To blow
- train with dynamite or to de-
troy in short order n dozen miles OF
o Of railroad tracks. has come to he
nntionnl art within the reach Of
everybody. Ten years Of revolution
ave provided ample schooling for
he purpose.
The Bonillas train endured the
most romantic trials and tribulations
n its journey over the interior
tates. In one place the locomotive
you'd come to a stop barely in time
o avoid rushing over a section Of
anished track; at another point the
rain would narrowly escape plung-
ng into pit; later still. it would
e totally wrecked. with loss OF lives
mong the military escort.
Finally, the Obregon coup sur
rised Bonillas while he was con-
ucting his campaign IN the state OF
alisco. The enemy cut off the re-
reat Of the train by lifting a few
ais, and the Carranza candidate had
o return over the rough country
o the capital in an automobile.
Revolt sidetracks Campaign.
AFTER this, Bonillas disappeared
ntirely from the public eye He
ontinued to reside in Mexico City.