Evening star., 1939-03-19
DIR. CASTILLO NAJERA.
by A. p, Wide World and
Underwood,

Photos By A. p, Wide World and
Underwood.
though their prospects have shrunk in
proportion to the boom for Avila Ca
macho.
Vying with him for the still undecided
nomination by the p r. M. and the in
dorsement of Cardenas himself-which
the President is carefully withholding
because of its obvious decisive influence
are Gen. Francisco Mujica, former secre-
tary of communications in Cardenas'
cabinet, and Gen. Rafael Sanchez Tapia,
former commander of the first military
zone, which includes Mexico City.
Mujica and Sanchez Tapia, while now
vastly outdistanced, still have several
months to develop their strength in the
P. r. M. Convention. Mujica is a radical
OF much darker hue than either Lorn-
oardo Toledano or Cardenas, and is
credited with inspiring Cardenas to ex-
proprlate the oil companies. Sanchez
Tapla stands somewhat to the left of
Avlla Camacho but not as far as Muiica
or the President himself.
Possibility of bitter showdown fight
between their supporters in the party
convention raises as a corollary the can
didacy OF DR.. Francisco Castillo Najera.
Mexican Ambassador to the United
states and man with more friends
than political connections. Although he
mas striven to discourage any movement
to promote him for the presidency he
looms larger and larger as months 20
by as likely compromise between Avila
Camacho, Mujica and Sanchez Tapia.
Najera Has Won Laurels.
DR.. Castillo Najera during his tenure
IN Washington has shown himself a
diplomat of the first rank and has aug
mented the prestige of Mexico in the
United States Capital. Diligence and
industry coupled with his suave manner
have smoothed out many a rough edge
in American-Mexican relations during
the difficult past year when the Amer
lean Government was under pressure to
take strong action against Mexico be-
cause of the oil appropriations and land
claims.
Such is the field of likely administra-
ton candidates. The opposition, how
ever, has shown no disposition to hurry
the selection of its nominee.
Anti-administratio forces are rally-
ing around the National Anti-Com-
munist party, composed of Fascist-in-
clined army leaders and industrialists.
1t Is aimed at the radical tendencies in
carnated in Lombardo Toledano and his
coterie of intellectual leftists. Organized
by Gen. Manuel Perez Trevino, the party
is headed by Gen. Francisco Coss, who
recently spent few days in Jail for al
legedly insulting President Cardenas.
The opposition comprises large num-
ber of old revolutionists who fought in
the purely political uprising against
Dictator Porf1rio Diaz, but who have
never grasped the implications of the
social revolution embodied in the 1917
constitution.
Only two men, both army generals,
hold the spotlight as possible opposition
candidates in 1940 and only one of those
is deemed likely nominee.
Fascist Is Likely Candidate.
Gen. Andrea Almazan, veteran of the
revolution against Diaz and now In
charge of military operations in the
state Of Nuevo Leon, where he has built
up formidable political machine, is an
openly. Fascist reactionary who, because
Of his strong social and economic ideas,
is regarded as a potent menace to the
social revolution.
Almazan has played a shrewd game,
giving no hint as yet that he will be a
candidate, although his colleague, Gen.
Joaquin Amaro, has launched a bitter
campaign against the government, not SO
much, it is believed, in the interest Of his
own candidacy, as in the effort to test
public sentiment preparatory to the
emergence of Almazan.
Such appeared to be the motive of
Amaro's recent broadside against Car
denas' policies. In his manifesto, dis.