MEXICO AS IT IS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 316, 1 June 1911, Page 7

MEXICO AS IT IS

THROUGH THE REVOLUTION. EXPERIENCES OF A NEW ZEALAXDER. : Auckland, May 20. ! Mr. David Russell, an Aucklander, who has returned alter an absence of twentyfive years spent mostly in Mexico, comes direct from the seat of the revolution. He was the owner of a large ranch in that troubled State, aud is fully conversant with Mexican affairs. "Since the time of the previous revolution, twenty-five years ago," Mr. Russell said, "the country has gone ahead at a tremendous rate, and in a solid way tile progress lasted up to four or five years ago. President Diaz, apart from being one of the greatest of generals, in a military sense, that Mexico has ever produced, has shown himself at the same time to be the possessor of tremendous executive abilities. He took hold of the Government when it was practically bankrupt, and governed a starving mob of subjects and a ruined country. With his brain, energy and executive ability he made a nation out of unpromising: material. He threw the gates of tke State wide open to foreign capital, and gave it every facility that a new country can give to capital.

THE SEED OF DISCORD. " Of course, like all great men, he had his enemies. Many people benefited in the early days of the Diaz administration by selling their haciendas; their industries and the materials to make industries, to the foreign capitalists. These people, then unaccustomed to luxury, hurried with their newlyacquired wealth to Europe and lived most lavishly till they came to the and of their resources. Then their minds reverted to Mexico, where they once had landed properties, and back they went without land or money to form a certain class of agitation against the foreigner. They saw that the foreigner had pros-, percd during their absence by working] the land as the Mexicans themselves never knew how to work it. DOWN WITH THE "GRINGOS." j "They imagined that they had in some way been robbed by the foreigner, and in a quiet way started an agitation against foreigners, or as we call them in, Mexico, 'Gringos.' "The mistake made by Diaz was the appointing, in the late part of his administration, of Ministers who, with only one or two exceptions, were mere figureheads, and who fell into the routine of : office, but had no executive ability. Diaz considered them honest, straightforward and capable men, and in his old age leaned to some extent on them, and refused to believe anything against them. In the smaller towns the petty officials appointed by the Ministers gave grave dissatisfaction, and their actions caused great suffering amongst the working classes of peons. These docile' people were afraid to rise till they had a leader. THE TWENTY THIEVES. '' "After showing great patience amd having a number of private conferences with the President, they induced Diaz to move in the matter of reform. Before this was done a, certain section of the Ministers formed themselves into what was called 'Los Yeinte Cientificos,' which means 'The Twenty Scientists,' or, to make myself clearer, 'the twenty scientific thieves,' of Mexico, which they proved to he in the last year or two. These fellows, while Diaz leaned on them thinking the administration was going on as in early years, secured all the concessions that foreigners required from the Government and sold them at enormous personal profit. In the transfer of these deals enormous sums of money were received. In one instance one man received eleven million dollars — quite a comfortable little present." Mr. Russell stated that these things woke Diaz up, and he held a conference with well-known public men of Mexico to endeavour to have the petty officials elected by popular vote.

JIADERO'S MARTYRDOM. The only man who had the backbone to stand up to Diaz was Francisco J. Madero, and he made an agreement that he should go before the people, and stand against Diaz for the Presidency at an election by the people. Mr. Russell says he believes that Diaz honestly intended to carry out the agreement, but "Los Veinte Cientifieos" had Madero thrown into gaol on false charges during the election. Madero eventually gained his freedom, and feeling very bitter against Diaz, lie crossed to the United States. After realising his largo estates he matured his plans for rebellion, and when a writ of extradition had been issued for his arrest he recrossed the border and headed the revolutionaries. He showed his military quality by sending his plans for an attack on the city of Jaurez to the Federals, with thb result that those troops were concentrated there, and he isolated them by dynamiting all the railroads in the neighborhood. . The war then proceeded as lias been detailed in the papers, and Mr. Russell i estimates the loss on both sides at 2500. The revolutionists appeared to have the better of the lighting, and Mr. Russell was of opinion that this was due to a great deal of sympathy expressed for their just cause.

THE "CAUSE" OF THE "INSUR RECTOS."

In reply to a question as to what was the '"cruise" of the revolutionaries, Mr. Russell said it was simply seeking for reform in the administration, the retirement of Diaz, the abolition of the petty officials, more freedom of speech ana the right to vote. Though Diaz had done well for the country he had fieen very many years in office, and the people were tired of him. lie was not elected by the people, and it was now proposed to have a President elected by the people. Madero had given his word that he would not stand for the Presidency if Diaz retired within six months, and he had shown how (he people could be instructed to exercise their vote intelligently. THE OUTLOOK. "[ think that in less than three months," Mr. Russell continued, "Mexico should be governed 011 a peaceful basis again, and the peace should easily last for ten or fifteen years. The people did not want the war. They are fond of money, and money can be made there in times of peace. Diaz has left the administration in such a way that the laws, which are excellent ones, cannot be overthrown, and with a fair and sensible man as President, and an honest Ministry, Mexico may look forward to a prosperous future."