Imperial Valley press., 1923-08-03
By A. L. BRADFORD
Omitted Press Staff Corresponding

WASHINGTON, August 3.-Mex-
leo today is rapidly approaching
another great test of her stability.
The test will finally come in the
presidential elections to be held in
the rich southern republic in Aug
ust, 1924.
Already, the preliminary moves in
the coming elections have created
tense situation in the country be
low the Rio Grande.
A President is prohibited by law
from succeeding himself in Mex
leo, and therefore President Obre
gon is due to turn over the reins
of government to another at the in
auguration in December 1924
General Plutarco Elias Gales,
minister for interior affairs in
President Obregon S cabinet, is at
present the outstanding figure in
the presidential situation. He is
making strenuous efforts to lay
the foundation for his nomination
for president by the cooperatista
party, the strongest in Mexico.
However, Gales is said to be
meeting with strong opposition 1t
is declared that his activities in
the interest of his candidacy for
president are being strongly resist
ed by those who regard him rs too
much of radical.
Adolfo de la Huerta, the minister
of finance in Obregon s cabinet, is
another outstanding figure in the
presidential situation although it is
understood that rs vet he has TAX
en- no definite steps, De Ia Huer-
ta s friends are said to be pressing
him to seek the nomination.
A final clash between the forces
of Elias Gales and Adolfo de Ia
Huerta is foreseen by some quarters
here in close touch with the Mex
lean situation.s However, to avoid
open hostilitieS, Il dark horse
might be selected.
Effect of Villas Death
Also, the assassination of "Pan-
cho" Villa, Mexico s famous ban
dit chieftain, comes at a time when
the daring desperado, although hav-
ing lived as It country gentleman
since the first of President Obre-
gon S regime, was beginning to
have an increasingly important po-
sition in the Mexican presidential
situation.
Villa, shortly before his death, is
said to have sent word to De la
Huerta, urging the latter not to
allow himself to be "bluffed by
Gales, and indicating that he, Vi
la, would support De Ia Huerta. 1t
is claimed that Villa s support
ers and sympathizers embrace half
the northern states of Mexico, with
the exception of Sonora, and that,
therefore, "Pancho' held the bal
ance of power.
Particularly was Villa s position
said to be powerful because of his
military strength. There was
large number of exsOldiers ready
to rally to his banner. Besides,
Villa is supposed to have had large
stores of arms and ammunition.
Villa is said to have declared
not long before his death that If
Gales became president, lie, Villa,
would better leave the country.
In view of the present state of
affairs developing in Mexico and
the fact that already there have
been some armed clashes over the
political situation, it is believed
probable here that both the Hard
ing Administration in Washington
and President Obregon in Mexico
CITY want to have the differences
between the two countries settled |
and recognition extended as soon
as possible because Of the posslbill-
tv that a settlement will become
impossible once a crisis has devel- |
oped over the Mexican presidential
elections.
Sends Gales Away
According to quarters here OPP
posed to the candidacy of Gales
President Obregon about two
months ago, fearing that the pres
ence of his minister of interior
affairs in Mexico City might EN-
barrass the negotiations in the 50.
called recognition conference
there, sent Gales TO San Francisco
on mission.
Gales, however, did not remain
long in San Francisco, soon return
ing to Mexico and going TO the
State Of Nuevo Leon. In the re-
cent election Of governor of that
state there were three candidates,
Porfirio Gonzales, Alfredo Perez
and Aaron Saenz, the last r friend
Of Gales. Gonzales * reported to
have received a majority Of the
votes.
said to have been inspired by
Gales. Saenz contested the election,
and Gales visit to Nuevo Leon
j, declared to have been for the
purpose of rounding up the legls'
Iature TO declare Gonzales election
void. Gonzales is supposed to have
the backing Of De la Hu"rta.
Gales is said to be further en-
bittcred at lack of support for his
candidacy from Prejident Obre-
gon. However Obregon is under
stood 10 take the attitude that ht
will refuse to have any part in
either the presidential nominations
or elections and win give his sup
port to no particular candidate.
But this is interpreted fy Gales
friends as meaning that Obregon is
opposed to him.
Callne Canens xArfnnd nlaSheS