Evening star., 1932-10-02


i without preliminary bloodshed.
/ To the time of this writing, at
least, all has been peaceful
This qualification is necessary in
writing of Mexican politics, where the
expected, though sometimes delayed,
I has seldom failed TO happen. So far,
I however, the transition from the presi-
dency of Pascual Ortiz Rubio to that
Of Abeiardo Rodriguez has been as un-
e-entful as a midterm resignation of
President of France. One cannot COM
pare it with any similar event in the
United States, for no American Presi-
dent has ever resigned his Office.
! On September President Ortiz Ru-
bio addressed the opening session of the
Mexican Congress, reviewing the state
of the nation and the events of the last
year, according to presidential custom.
Runlors of his impending retirement
were current and made more plausible
! by the resignation the night before OF
his entire cabinet. But no allusion
| thereto appeared in the presidential ad-
dress. A few hours later, however. the
President made public his resignation,
giving Ill health and political difficulties
as his reasons.
| The next day caucus IN Congress
OF the National Revolutionary party
4 tAlS Willy POA1llScl l6l W INV Al tAlotCllI-
/ in Mexico-coasidered ostensibly, four
andidate.-Aiberto ]. Fani, the veteran
offceholder in Mexico's political life,
recently recalled from the ministry in
/ Madrid to his old pos. as secretary Of
the treasury: Gen. Joaquin Amaro. head
OF the War College ard former secretary
of war under Obregon and Gales Gen.
Juan Jose Rios, secretary Of "goberna-
c:on," the cabinet post deemed Of an
importance second only to the presi-
dency, and Gen. Abelardo Rodriguez
secretary of war The caucus picked
the last of these. The next day the two
houses in joint session-following con-
stitutional procedure when a presiden-
tial vacancy occurs-elected Gen. Rod
riguez Provisional President to fill out
the six-year term expiring February 5,
1884
Within a few hours the 'tren olivo'-
the Presidents private train. so-called
from the greenish color of its paint
was conducting the eX-President to the
border, across which. for reasons Of
health, he is to remain indefinitely
Mexican elections-like Latin Ameri-
can elections generally in the remote
past, but again in recent months-have
been traditionally episodes of turmoil,
determined by bullets rather than bal
| Aoeo. AAoiiA LilC Ody VI 1IuI UlUe, ulUt-
pendent Mexico's first ruler, who pro-
claimed himself Emperor. assumption
OF the executive power has followed
military defeat of all opposition. So
with Mexico's second President, Vicente
Guerrero, who drove out his elected
rival, Gomez PedraZa. So almost with
out exception for half a century of
/ turmoil which included the reigns of his
self-styled Serene Highness." Gen,
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the
] tragic interlude Of the empire of the
French bayonets. So until the genera
tion Of Porfirio Diaz's dictatorship.
Under him force continued to express
'voX poouli''; seven times this absolute
ruler had himself "re-elected" in elec-
tions which scarcely even pretended to
preserve the constitutional forms.
Then came the revolution of 1910,
headed by Francisco Madero, and di-
rected, supposedly against precisely
such electoral abuse and Self-perpetu-
alton In office. Effective suffrage and
no reelection" was the revolutionary
slogan. Yet it was foregone conclu-
sion that the first presidential election
would ratify Maderos successful leader
ship of the revolt. He was, of course,
the nations idol, and would have won
in any kind of free ballotirg.
Victoriano Huerta's election in 1913.
however, merely ratified his counter
revolutionary victory and assassination
of the martyred Madero. So, likewise,
was it inevitable that when Venustiano
CarranZa assumed the title of First
Chief" CT the Constitutionalist forces to
oust Huerta from power he would be-
come President were he to achieve VIC
tory in the field. He had first. however,
| - ~ fIa -, in,
camp-the bandit "Pancho" Villa and
the agrarian leader, Emiliano Zapata.
When Carranza, disregarding his
revolutionary pledges to allow free
election, in 1920 attempted to impose
as his successor the unknown Ignacio
Bonillas, recalled from the ministry In
Washington, Carranza's leading military
supporter, Gen. Alvaro Obregon. revolt
ed. Assisted by Gen. Plutarco Elias
Gales and Adolfo de la Huerta-the
famous Sonora triumvirate-he routed
the President in the field. An interim
presidency of six months OF De la
Huerta was followed automatically by
the election of Obregon. Again. how
ever, he was undeniably the nations
choice
He appointed Gales secretary of 60
Dernacion and De Ia HueTta secretary OF
the treasury Gales, head OF the cabi-
net as well as the admittedly strong
man" of the group. was next picked for
the presidency. De la Huerta, more
over, had had that office for six months.
De la Huerta's motives are unfathom-
able-certainly to any non n-Mexican-for
he was undoubtedly slated for the presi-
dency in 1928 But he revolted, backed
by a considerable portion Of the regular
army and the discontented generally.