Evening star., 1932-12-27
RODRIGUEZ, NATIVE OF SONORA,
IS PROTEGE OF GEN. GALES
New Mexican President, Born In Border
Town, Understands Viewpoint of
American Business Men,

As have many OF the strongest and
most remarkable men in the history OF
Mexico. Gen. Abelardo Rodriguez. the
new President of the Republic, comes
from the State Of Sonora.
That state, in recent times. also pro-
iuced Plutarco Gales and Gen. Obregon
and made them Presidents Of Mexico.
Gen. Rodriguez promises to be fig
ure of equal fire and strength. To know
the man, it Is necessary to understand
his background-to know Sonora.
Sonora fills the whole Northeastern
corner of Mexico's map 1t runs along
the American border from the noun
to the sea cost.
Romance and Adventure.
It has always been land of romance
and adventure. Its road dust covers the
footprints of Cabeza de Vaca, the first
man to cross the American continent
and that on foot after weary journey
of eight years The stones of these old
roads have heard the click of the hoofs
)f the war horses of the Spanish knights
who with the gallant young Francisco
Vasuuez Coronado rode through Sonora
in 154O-searching for the Seven Gold
en- Cities of Cibola. whose people lived
in golden houses and ate with tools
made of turquoise. He went back bro
ken hearted. not having found the
promised land-only having discovered
Colorado. Utah, New Mexico Arizona,
California.
From Sonora in 1880 came the great
est Of all early-day explorers. Father
Kino. who made Is expeditions into the
dread land of the cruel Apaches and
Pimas 1t was he who first discovered
that California was not an island but
a part of the mainland.
From Sonora came the dashing young
cavalier, Capt. Juan Batista de ANA,
leading the first expedition to cross the
desert, bringing with him along the
greatest march ever made by men and
horses the colonists who were to found
the city Of San Francisco. and brought
with him the first women-the pioneer
mothers of California.
In later years, Sonora has been
drenched with blood, torn by revolu-
tions. It was the chief stamping
ground and the home Of Pancho Villa.
Born in Border Town.
It was one of these revolutions that
made a great national figure OF Abel
ardo Rodriguez.
He was born In the border town Of
Nogales, a good place to be born IN II
you are contemplating an international
career. It IS a twin-town. On the
American side it is a typical Arizona
town-with the Rotary Club meeting
on Wednesday in the Congregational
Church and the Chamber of Com
merce giving banquet every time any
celebrity comes to town. A chicken
wire fence separates it from its Mex
ican twin.
On the Mexican side Nogales is as
Streets with tostada peddlers cooking
on tin cans In the cutters, and the
dulce sellers walking down the side
walk with their tables carried on their
heads.
For the greater part of his child
hood young Abelardo's family lived on
the American side. He played with
American boys and Mexican boys alike.
He learned English as early as he
learned Spanish. Back and forth across
the border he played.
When he was older he was sent to
the University Of Arizona at Tucson.
about 80 miles to the North.
Among the friends of his father was
young school teacher, q quiet, studi-
Gus fellow who had little district
school at Aqua Prieta, just across the
line from Douglas. His name was Plu-
tarco Gales. A revolution made him
President of Mexico; more than that,
the Mussolini of Mexico. Young Rod
riguez grew up knowing Gales. Grew
up also knowing Americans.
Star Base Ball Player.
At the university he was q good
student and a star base ball player.
ond baseman in the history Of the uni
versity's base ball team. There are no
doubt many readers who will wonder
why anybody wanted to be President
Of Mexico when he might have been q
major league second baseman.
Young Rodriguez held many small
government jobS-and army jobs. Al
though Mexico Is now slipping away
somewhat from that tendency, every
aspiring politician was soldier In his
young days.
There came time when Gales sim
ply had to have a reliable man whom
he could thoroughly trust as governor
of the northern district Of Baja Cali
fornia-Lower California.
It is one Of the great prizes Of Mexi-
can politics. IL mas great American
owned cotton plantations, pearl fish
cries and the Mexican Monte Carlo
II Juana, with its great gambling con-
cessions where Hollywood stars risk
prodigal fortunes on the tables.
Always 1t has been an embarrass-
ment to the Mexican government. Once
get q governor in there and he could
not be dislodged. He could collect and
keep the taxes, lingering his nose at
the government. There was no way to
get at him, except by shipping troops
through the United States.
Rodriguez established his seat of
government at Mexicali-in the heart
Of the cotton country. He became the
most popular governor that turbulent
place ever had. The Americans who
had great interests there found him
reasonable. He understood the Ian
glage and angles Of American business
Just as well as they did.
Rebuilt Military Force.
The business men Of Los Angeles BE-
came well acquainted with him. He
often came lp to dinners and banQuets