The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-18
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

XXTAsH1NGTON, July 18.-As-
w sassination of President
Elect Obregon may jeopardize the
peace of Mexico to which American
business and political interests are
closely related.
This is the thought uppermost in
the minds of Washington officials
today, shocked and grieved by the
tragedy south Of the Rio Grande.
But, while recognizing this dan
ger, there is no disposition here to
overestimate the Mexican crisis.
The United States Government
and the Latin-American diplomatic
corps look upon President Gales as
a firm man, who will do his utmost
to steady his people and prevent
the panic and excuses possible in
such emergencies.
But where can Mexico find a man
to replace Obregon That is the
question troubling the friends of the
southern republic.
EQQllllY
barely passing out Of a long revolu-
tionary period, slowly creating the
conditions under which peaceful
progress is possible. Will the habit
of eight years of comparative order
under the Oregon Gales admins
trations prove strong enough now
to prevent recurrence of counter
revolution in the time of crisis, it
is asked.
Il
/ DEACE in Mexico has been pre-
l. served in part by the prestige
Of Obregon and Gales. BY his spec
tacular military service in the So
called indicating resolution Of Car
rama, helping first to unseat Huerta
and then to rid the country Of Villa
banditry, Obregon won the con-
hdence Of the people and the fear
of the old regime. Later as presi-
dent he put down the revolt of
Adolfo de Ia Huerta, further estab-
fishing his reputation for making
counter revolution improbable and
unpopular.
Gales as Obregons minister of
war, and then as Obregon's success
sor in the presidency, carried on this
short tradition of strength and
order. By crushing in a week the
abortive military rising under Ser
rano and Gomez last autumn, Gales
settled Mexico more securely on a
constitutional peaceful foundation.
1t was felt in Mexico and here
that, if that country could have
the breathing space Of a third
peaceful transition Of power and a
third constitutional administration
sufficient progress could be made in
economic reconstruction, political
experience and popular education
to assure a happy and stable future
For this reason many Mexicans
and many foreigners turned to the
experienced and trusted Obregon
who had retired to his farm. After
the military revolt of his opponents
Serrano and Gomez, he was elected
a fortnight ago as the only can
didate.
Z q
THE same logic which turned
Il MeXicans and foreigners to
| Obregon now makes them look to
Gales as one of the few strong men
perhaps, they say, the only one
who can preserve the fruits of the
Mexican revolution by maintaining
peace at home and abroad.
But to prevent a self-perpetuat-
/ ing dictatorship Of the Diaz sort.
against which the revolution was
fought, the Mexican constitution
does not permit a president to sue
coed himself.
Recently under Gales the con-
stitution was amended to extend the
presidential term from four to six
years, but continuing the prohibi-
ton against consecutive terms.
Since there is no vice president
to succeed the president-elect, the
constitutional procedure is under
stood here to be for congress to
meet and call a special election to
choose another president to take
office in December, when Obregon's
term was to begin.
But who is there to choose? on
the one side are so-called counter
reyolutionistS, charged with being
Identified with the Diaz type of re-
action and oppression. A large sec
ton. Of the Mexican people, already
enraged by Obregons assassination,
would resort to civil war rather than
permit such transfer of power, it
is believed.
In the Obregon group, aside from
Gales, are Aaron Saenz. former
Gales foreign minister and Obre-
CONS campaign manager, and the
Gales minister of industry and
commerce, Morones. Saenz is not
generally considered to have as
wide popular following among the
army and the land and industrial
workers as may. be necessary.
Morones, head of the Crom or
Mexican Federation of Labor, may
be too radical to be acceptable to
the coalition of which he represents
the left wing, Gales the center, and
Oregon the right wing.
II a non-partisan is sought who
has won public confidence by emf
nent national service, it is sug-
gested that Manuel Teller, Mexican
ambassador here under both Obre-
gon and Gales, may be considered.
Meanwhile, there is much specu-
lation regarding the possibility that
Congress may attempt to amend the
constitution to permit Gales in the
emergency to succeed himself.
= II
WTHILE the Washington Govern
w ment will continue to pre-