Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
THREE.CORNERED RACE
STTRS MEXICO POLITICS
Gomez, Serrano and Obregon in Bitter
Contest for Presidential Chair;
Campaign On.

following his retirement.
| The campaign which Gen. Obregon
is carrying on was opened, it will be
remembered, by proclamation which
stated among other things, that
wall Street" capital must be kept
out of Mexico, although other kinds
of American capital would be vel
| coined, and offered a number Of other
more or less ringing campaign slo-
gans Some observers here have been
inclined to regard this as an appeal
| for support in this country. but others
hold that it is merely a stirring-up of
the public which reads the newspa-
pers in Mexico and which will inter
| pref these phrases as soundly patriotic.
Obregon has been accused in the past,
however, of keeping a weather eye on
Washington, and some accused him of
carrying on his campaign, prior to
| his first election as President of Mex
leo, chiefly in the United States and
through the United States press. He
was said to have a great appreciation
of the importance of the support of
| this Government
Reelection Issue Important.
The reelection issue is. however,
probably the one of the greatest
actual and potential importance. Re-
cent information from Mexico City is
to the effect that a strong fight is
being made against Gen. Obregon on
this issue. The former President APP
parently has the support of the Gales
government, although officially the
political neutrality Of the Mexican Off.
cial world is strictly maintained. The
action of President Gales in having
the law amended so that Gen. Oregon
could run is explained, in this ,rela.
ton, as being an act of complete neu-
trality, as otherwise Gen. Obregon and
his not inconsderable following would
not have had chance at the election
Together with the alleged govern.
ment support is said to go the sup
port of the army, which is-again sup.
posedly-controlled by the executive.
If this We're literally true, however,
the election would not present many
difficulties for such a strong and able
political leader as Gen. Obregon. Here,
however, the whole question takes on
a new def1niteneSs. If there is any
detection from any Of the candidates,
any change in the lineup, it seems like.
ly that the loss would be to Obregon,
who has now. apparently, his maxi
mum strength, with time working
against him, unless some new ele.
ments should enter into the situation.
The anti-re.electionist group is seek
ing now 10 bring Gomez and Serrano
more closely together, and a meeting
OF the party leaders is to be held in
Mexico City in December to decide
definitely between the two. That does
not mean that the other will neces-
sarily withdraw his candidacy, but
81
re-electionists will be given to one of
them.
That movement, against reelection,
is another important factor that is
working against Obregon. mo re-
election" was one OF the battle cries
OF the revolution that overthrow Gen.
Diaz, and all who have received Of
fetal letters from Mexico remember
the red-written line, reflective suf-
frage and reelection" which closed
every official communication. EFF.
fectlve suffrage" is somewhat Of an
abstraction, in Mexico, where so rela-
lively few can read and write, but mo
reelection" is not an abstraction, but
fact that the dullest Indian had
drilled into his thought and heart dur
ing the days Of revolution. Diaz did
nothing for him, he was told, and yet
he was elected and reelected, and the
alleged abuses of his rule were all
linked, in the minds of the lower as
well as Of the higher classes, with the
evils of reelection. The cry is
potent one in Mexico and is certainly
being raised against Obregon today,
and promises to increase. Such bat.
tie cry, if past experience is a cri.
terion, Is ca pable. certainly, of raising
the humblest and dullest peon to ac-
ton looking. at least, to making suf-
frage effective
ObregOn's Record.
The enemies of Gen. Obregon point
out also, that when, in 1920, there was
danger Of his promised election fall
ing through, he marched on Mexico
a cropper-with marked success. This
is one Of the factors which are cited
as threatening the peace of Mexico
On the other hand, Gen. Obregon's
rule was one Of the most effective in
recent Mexican history, and he stands
in position Of peculiar strength both
as regards his own people and the
outside world. Those who know him
best are surest that he is doing moth
ing Intellectual and vain in entering
on the present campaign. They say
that the danger which threatens
Mexico is that of a struggle between
the two "anti-re-election" candidates,
Gomez and Serrano. Out of the
division in that party Obregon would
emerge victorious, his supporters, hold,
and at the same time they count on
the official government support as of
tremendous importance. President
Gales. the "Obregonistas" assert, is
deeply conscientious and loyal, and his
support to Obregon, while in no viola.
ton of his official neutrality, will so
look toward a well balanced election
that Obregon must necessarily win
as they count noses now.
It is reported that the new
governors who are assuming office
in various of the doubtful
states are men of unquestioned loyalty
to President Gales and able to handle
any situation that may arise. The
recent clerical troubles make such
men necessary, the friends of the
Gales government point out, and
their presence will insure that the
election is carried out successfully,
and what is probably most important
to the foreigner and to the future of
Mexico herself-without the generally
expected outbreaks.
Net of Regulations