Evening star., 1928-11-16
Progress i'm Mexico Revealed
By Trial of Obregon's Slayer

Another evidence Of improved condi
tions in Mexico is found by the Aneri-
can press in the orderly trial and con-
viction of the youth, Toral, who assassl.
mated President-elect Obregon, and the
nun accused of inspiring the crime.
This manifestation of orderly pro-
cedure in spite of intense excitement
and demands for reprisal," in the opln-
ion of the Oklahoma City Oklahoman
paws tribute to the change that Mexico
has undergone Few countries are able
to give more striking exemplifcattor
of orderliness and regularity. A lons
step toward national stabilization was
taken when Gales bowed to the man
date of a written constitution and re-
fused to accept a reelection that was
his for the asking. The orderly tria
Of Toral and Mother Conception give
additional assurance that Mexico Il
emerging from the shadows that have
darkened her from the days of the
viceroys
Mexico has progressed a long way
toward orderly government since the
days when Madero was killed" AYERS
the Buffalo Evening News. whose opin-
ion of the trial is emphatically ex-
pressed: 1T would have been impos'
sible, in any country where capital pun
ishment is authorized, that he could
have escaped the death penalty. There
appears not 10 have been in his case
even so much basis for an insanity
plea as usually can be urged for po-
litical assaSSins. The case is eXcep-
tional in Mexico, however. in that tht
man was not executed Immediately by
order of court martial, but was al
lowed all the outward forms. at least
of fair civil trial"
*
Further tribute to Mexican conditions
is paid by the Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle. which makes the statement
When Gen. Obregon. Prcsident-2lect oi
Mexico, was assassinated In cold blood q
few months ago. relapse into general
disorder and lawlessness seemed likely
result. Mexico being what 1t is. But
what do we actually see? The assassin
Toral. brought to trial with swift and
relentless turns of the machinery oil
justice, his conviction and sentence fol-
lowing with no more public fysteria
than would attend trial Of similar i'm
portance in this country. and with much
less red tape and delay. The Mexican
reputation for explosiveneSs failed to
junction after the Obregon affair. AL
though the crime resulted from the hot
passions that have been seething under
the surface during the Gales admins
tration, there was no general tumult'
such as many prophets OF pessimlsm
had feared"
There was no question as to the guilt
Of the defendant" observes the Kansas
City Journal Post, which adds: The
only doubt was as to his sanity. The
slayer of a public official or one elected
to the highest Office arouses such gen.
eral feeling that fine discrimination Is
not attempted in passing on the pecul-
lar mental quirks of the assassin. This
is true the world over. The
secrecy which attended the trial. with
speeches by counsel, prevents intelll-
gent Judgment as to its nature. The
speeches would have been ruled highly
improper in an American or an English
court, since they were addressed to the
deepest prejudices."
The danger of violence toward Toral
that existed during the trial Is noted
by the Ann Arbor Daily News, with the
comment: That he was given fair
trial, through which he was permitted
to live without lynching by the friends
of Obregon. Is tribute TO the new
Mexico" That paper concludes that
his gulIt was as apparent dS ever Suht
can be. and he merited the extreme
penalty" The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
also holds that Americans generally
will concede that Toral merits the death
that he faces The Eagle. however,
rotes the extraordinary conditions I'M
der which the trial was held, mention
ing the fact that the jurymen wore re-
volvers on their hips during the trial.
and that "they asked for police protec-
tion when the trial was ended"
y y n