The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-05-22
ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1912

ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1912
Venustiano Carranza, elected presl-
dent OF Mexico. March II, 1917, by the
largest vote ever cast in a presiden-
tial election in his country, stepped
from political obscurity to national
and international prominence on the
graves Of the hopes OF General Vic
torianO Huerta, the usurper, and his
followers.
simultaneously with General Huer-
tas coup d'etat and the assassination
of president Madero, the news went out
to the world that General Venustiano
Carranza, elected governor of the state
of Coahuila in 1911, refused to recog-
nize the usurper and would resist him
by force of arms.
"Maderos revolution was political"
Carranza is quoted as having said.
Mine is a social one"
Oefied Huerta
Having detied Huerta, Carranza raj
lied small band of 600 followers
which grew into sizable army when
ne won the support of Francisco Villa.
Carranza's influence spread rapidly,
he military victories of his chief aide,
Villa, rallying the various factions of
northern Mexico around his banner.
Cor time, however, real progress
was slow. Huerta's Vaccinations had
,mbroiled Mexico with the United
States and Intervention imminent. The
killing of w. S. Benton. a British sub
ject, by staff officer Of Villa, further
.Omnlicated the situation,
Then came Villas victory at Tor
reon. the first real success of the war.
Carranza was pressing Huerta hard
when the B c conference to discuss
the differences between the United
States and Huerta was called in Buff
falo. General Carranza refused to
suspend hostilities and declined to
abide by the result of those diplomatic
negotiations. The fighting went on
with the result that General Huerta
resigned the provisional presidency
July IS, 1914, and month later Cen
eral Carranza made his triumphal en-
try into Mexico City Huerta in the
meantime having fled to Spain.
Rifles President Wilson
In the diplomatic exchanges that
ensued between President Wilson and
Carranza, who had been officially rec
ogniZed as the head of the de facto
government by the United States in
October. 1915. he insisted on the re-
spect by the United States of Mexicos
sovereignty and the concession to his
government of reciprocal rights of in
vasion. He maintained his position
despite the crisis caused by the clash
es between Mexican and American
soldiers at Parral and Carrizall, but
when war seemed unavoidable Car
rama succeeded in stemming the tide
by his proposal for the appointment
of joint commission to settle the diff
fculties amicably. The proposal was
accepted by President Wilson and the
deliberations of the commission result
ed in the withdrawal of the AKNrican
army and the restoration of friendly
relations between the two countries.
In the meantime CarranZa had call
ed constitutional congress. which
accepted most of the reforms he out
lined. On March II. 1917. he was
elected president. More than 100000
votes were cast for him. He took the
oath of office May /, 1917.
Was Pro-German
In a message to the Mexican con-
gress following his inauguration as
president. Carranza declared Mexico's
strict neutrality. His note to neu-
trail nations, however, urging them to
declare embargoes against all the
European belligerents. as means of
ending the war; and the warmth of his
language in cQngratulating Emperor
William on the occasion of his last
birthday, aroused comment in the
United States. as did also the publica-
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