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FEBRUARY 21, -1913
The Commoner.
Serious Times in Mexico
The. situation in Mexico is serious and is
described in brief in dispatches to tho St. Louis
Republic as follows:
Order of intervention must come from con
gress by decision of President Taft and his
cabinet.
Thirty-five thousand men of the army, navy
and marine corps are in readiness for movement.
Six dreadnaughts are steaming to the trouble
zone, carrying 6,000 jackies and offlcers.
n enn 0ther "Shting ships await orders with
9,000 men. Five other ships are within wire
less call to action.
Diaz releases 5,000 prisoners from Belim jail.
i in1? 1AmerJcal11 woman, Mrs. H. W. Holmes,
killed by a bullet and Mrs. Percy Griffith mor
tally wounded. Allie Bland, American, shot
through the arm.
Ambassador Wilson with German and Spanish
ministers demand battle cease, but Madero re-
2.US6S.
Battle resumed in early morning rages all
day, with hundreds dead.
Is Sndeer fir "' by SheU and BrItIsh "on
Madero's minister of war notifies Diaz unless -he
abandon use of heavy guns no quarter will'
be given him or followers if captured
Arrival of Alfonso Mirandtf and Geneveve de
la O with Zapatista forces to aid Diaz spread
terror as looting and brigandage is feared.
Food supplies failing and suffering among
poor Is apparent. fa "UIOUb
In Hneeof fir AmerIcans seek ref u&e directly
Following are Associated Press dispatches-
C? MexiC0' Feb .-Mexico City, the
Sfflnfif thf? repubc' a c"y of half a mi i on
K? fISn . "i10 anC.ient cItadel oi the Montezu
mas, tonight is again swept by shot and shell in
the most desperate fighting ever witnessed in a-
great municipality since the FrenrrevolutTon
Revised estimates are that 1,000 persons were
killed and 1,500 wounded in yesterday's baTues
in the center of the historic city. It 1b believed
that an equal number of dead and wounded fell
toptoST ,n thG 8treetS and from S hous "
Today's 'battle still is waging at midnight and
MEDIATION RATHER THAN INTERVENTION
'WwhlnJton n r ?at0,do Pre8s dispatch:
vvasnmgton, D. C, Feb. 13. Mediation in
Mexico rather than intervention by the appoint
ment of a pan-American commission was u?Ked
today upon President Taft. Senator cSuom of
the foreign relations committee and I Representa
tive Flood of the foreign relations committee by
cannuniorn.ett' director-eenel of the Pan-Aeri-The
commission, which it is suggested should
seek to bring about a readjustment of Mexican
thfvknt Cmp0Sed of a teaman from
the United States, an eminent Latin-American
diplomat now in Washington and an influent
Mexican. Mr. Barrett suggested for the com
mission such men as Senator Root or William
J; Bryan, Senor Calderon. minister from Uru-
SST' an,d S?oi:De,La Bar of Mexico, former
ambassador to the United States er
The mediation proposal was made after con
ferences with members of the senate and hoSse
and following renewed assurances from the
f T? ?at there is no flnt inten
tion of departing from the established policy of
dealing with the situation in Mexico.
fh2mmi!on', he sueeests, should investi
gate the situation in Mexico on the ground and
make recommendations to Mexico wWch shall
andUsLbi!ity!Uati011 faVr f per P-ce
"Above all things," he adds, "it will brine
for the moment peace to Mexico, the actu a!
protection of life and property of- foreigners
which should in due time develop into permanent
peae, stability and prosperity for the Mecatf
government and people without striking a bW
at Mexico's independence and with evidence to
HtnH?ierICa thai.the United States seeks no ter
ritorial aggrandizement."
Mr. Barrett expresses the opinion that this
government would find the Latin-American gov!
SSKX? ? Blumtay wIth thiB PaQ. that the
selection of either Senator Root or Mr. Brvan
would be satisfactory in Mexico and other Latin
American countries as well as in tho United
States, and the other possible members he named
would be agreeable to all concerned.
Later Mr. Barrett issued tho following state
ment: "Without the slightest intimation, direct
or indirect, from tho president or the secretary
of state that they were displeased, as reported
in tho newspapers, with my suggestion of tho
appointment of a pan-American commission to
adjust the Mexican situation, I have, of my own
freo will and cheerfully, expressed to them my
regret that I had unintentionally violated tho
conventions of diplomacy in not previously sub
mitting to them my plan before it was made
public The cause In behalf of which I am work
ing pan-American commerce and comity Is
too big and broad to bo checked or handicapped
by any failure on my part to correct a mistake
in procedure resulting from my enthusiasm and
devotion to its welfare. I was so anxious to
help head off what seemed impending disaster
to pan-American accord in Mexico, that I made
public my plan without the slightest thought that
it would displease tho state department or em
barrass tho American colony in Mexico."
Following are Associated Press dispatches:
Mexico City, Feb. 14. Tho resignation of
Francisco I. Madero from the presidency Is be
lieved to be in the hands of the Mexican con
gress. It was authoritatively stated that Madero
agreed to resign If the senate so wished. The
senate was called Into session at 7:10 o'clock
tonight to take action on this important phase
of tho situation.
At the British legation, whore Senor de la
Barra took refuge Thursday, it was stated that
Madero's resignation practically had been
arranged for and that do la Barra probably
would succeed him In tho presidency.
Later Senor de la Barra', while proceeding
through the streets In an automobile, stopped
and made a brief address, assuring the crowds
that a peace settlement was certain and prob
ably would be reached before morning.
De la Barra had been In consultation with
both Madero and Diaz regarding a quick settle
ment in order to avoid intervention.
At 6 o'clock tonight General Huerta, the
federal commander, gave the order to cease
firing. Soon detachments of federals were seen
marching from their positions to tho govern
ment base near the palace, their guns slung on
their backs.
The laws of Mexico make it necessary for the
resignation of the president to be submitted to
the congress and for this reason official an
nouncement of the resignation of Madero may
be delayed considerably, even if already de
cided upon.
Mexico City, Feb. 14. The senate called a
session at 7:10 tonight. Senor de la Barra, on
his way to the senate, made a brief address, as
suring the citizens who crowded around that an
early settlement was assured, possibly before
morning.
Washington, Feb. 14. The news of Francisco
I. Madero's voluntary relinquishment of the
presidency of. Mexico brought relief to official
circles in Washington, in which the situation in
the last few days hourly has been growing more
tense. The announcement, coming at tho close
of a day in which the situation steadily had been
turning against President Madero, hardly was
surprising. It served instantly to clear the
horizon of the storm clouds which came nearer
as the prospect of armed Interference on the
"part of tho United States seemed Inevitable.
Later Madero announced that he would not
resign and fighting was resumed.
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
Washington, Feb. 17. Two army transports at
Newport News were ordered tonight by the war
department to proceed empty to Galveston, Tex.,
immediately. The order was given, it is under
stood, so that transports might be ready in case
of serious developments to convey troops from
the border to Vera Cruz.
Henry Lane Wilson, American ambassador to
Mexico, sent to the New York World the follow
ing dispatch: The World should know that tho
specific regulations of the department of state
prohibit diplomatic officers from informing news
papers relative to political situations. To relieve
general apprehension, however, I may say with-'
out transgressing this rule that everything pos
sible is being done to insure the safety of Ameri
can lives and property in this city, and that as
neither tho government nor the revolutionary
forces seem able to afford protection the foreign
elements, and principally Americans, have taken
tho matter into their own hands and aro now
doInf ,a5,tlvc. po,Ico (luty through all tho resi
dential districts whore foreigners ure mostly and
where tho diplomatic establishments aro situ
ated. It is hoped that this forct-, in the event
that no assistance comes from other sources, will
be able to protect Amorlcan livo? and proporty
against Zapatistas or tho violent of tho worst
local elements. HENRY LANE WILSON
MADERO AND DIAZ
Whllo leaving the gonoral Mexican situation
as much of a puzzlo as ever, tho successful
mutiny of tho troops in Mexico City stems to
ollmlnato Madero as a factor for further con
sideration. For several months tho prestige of
Madero had been yielding to realization of tho
futility of his efforts to reastabllsh tho power
of tho central government. Even with tho
federal army loyally obeying his orders, It was
foreseen that Madoro could not copo with tho
steadily growing revolutionary disorder, When
the majority of the army at tho capltol went
back on tho president his last claim to recogni
tion as the strong man of Mexico vanished.
Madero may well follow tho oxamplo of Diaz
and leave the political field free for another
experiment.
Francisco Madero served as president of
Mexico for about fifteen months. He had been
the most conspicuous figure in tho revolutionary
outbreak preceding the abdication of Diaz not
quite two years ago. Madero was oleeted on the
strength of personal popularity rather than any
distinct achievements on his own part, either in
a military or political way. Although eager to
lead his people back into the paths of peace and
prosperity, President Madoro was unable to
mako a good start In that direction. Some of
the elements that had opposed DLV, continued to
oppose Madero, whllo most of jho Diaz sup
porters were more than willing,; see Madero
come to grief. Madero, while , tho role of
pretender, had put out many promises that
could not bo redeemed. Ho had boon in offlco
only a few months before many of tho same in
surrectos that had operated against the old gov
ernment were operating against tho now.
Madoro himself had taught the rebel chiefs how
to resort to guerrilla tactics which could not be
suppressed by tho federal, troops. Within the
last few months the scattered Insurrections
gained now strength with the realization that
tho Madero administration was doomed.
Tho fact that a nephew of former President
Porfirio Diaz is hailed as the most promising
leader on the revolutionary side suggests a
swinging back of the pendulum of popular
sentiment. Since the organization of tho Mexi
can republic the only period of orderly develop
ment was tho long administration of President
Diaz. President Diaz was a strong man, and ho
ruled with a whip. But President Diaz pro
tected property and promoted prosperity at the
same time he was insisting upon order. No
doubt the long stretch of the Diaz administra
tion looks better In retrospect now than it ap
peared when the public was camorlng for the
ousting of the old dictator became u- -strlcted
the popular liberties. No dajti adershlp
of another Diaz is now sought In, the hope that
ho may possess some of tho qualities that tho
deposed president possessed. Jfef.nrohye tho
business interests of the country., u acquiese
in a plan to make General Feuihz president.
It may be seriously doubted whether Mexico
has the strength to work out hor own salvation
at this time. Even if there should bo an agree
ment to replace Madero with the young Diaz
the ferment probably would continue, as it con
tinued after Madero replaced tho elder Diaz. A
good deal of the recent revolutionary disturbance
was due to desire to pillage, rather than patriot
ism. It would be just as easy for bandits to
operate In the nam of patriotism under bno
administration as under another, and the re
forms upon which really patriotic revolutionists
are insisting can not be worked out In a few
months. So long as the revolutionary habit
smolders it will find fuel on which to feed .
Sioux City (Iowa) Journal.
Mr. Bryan's Selected Speeches. Revised and
arranged in a convenient two-volume edition
These books present Mr. Bryan's most notable
addresses and orations, and cover the chief
important phases and features pf his career as
an orator and advocate. A familiarly intimato
and interesting biographical Introduction by
Mary Baird Bryan, his wife, opens Volume I.
Tho two volumes, bound In cloth, sent to any
address prepaid on receipt of price, $2.00. The
half leather edition, 2 vols., sent for $3.00,
prepaid. Address The Commoner, Lincoln Neh-
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