Inauguration Without Assassination

MEXICO

Inauguration Without Assassination

At every entrance to the vast concrete horseshoe of Mexico's National Stadium stood two soldiers last week, solemnly slapping the hips of everyone who entered, searching for pistols. In a parking space nearby a sergeant of artillery elegantly picked his teeth while black-eyed Indian children gazed, owl solemn, at the battery of cannon under his charge. Inside the stadium 50,000 people bought hot frijoles (baked beans roasted in corn husks) and cold beer from shrill peddlers, gazed impatiently at the platform garlanded with red and white carnations, green palm leaves, where sat the entire Mexican Congress, frock-coated, silk-hatted, and a brave detachment of Generals in navy blue, black and gold braid.

Near the Presidential dais, their hips unslapped, sat the envoys of foreign countries, all in full dress uniform, all raised for the occasion to the rank of Ambassador. Among them, inconspicuous but potent, sat Reuben J. Clark delegated by U. S. President Hoover as his special personal Ambassador in the absence of regular Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow, now in London at the Naval Conference.

Ten minutes past twelve. A bugle blew. The cannon in the parking space banged out a 21-gun salute. Soldiers in black dress uniform snapped to present arms. Three bands simultaneously struck up the Himno Nacional Mexicano ("Mexicans! to the cry of war . ."). Detectives and police stalked up and down the rows of seats looking for possible assassins. Entered portentously the President-Elect, Pascual Ortiz Rubio, large-toothed and smiling, a green, white and red sash across his chest, accompanied by his predecessor, Emilio Fortes Gil.

"I swear," said Pascual Ortiz Rubio, his broad palm flat against a copy of Mexico's Constitution, "to protect . . . etc. . . ."

Followed a short speech in which President Ortiz Rubio outlined his policies, explained how dear to the United States of Mexico are the United States of America, and the ceremony was over. A dapper young man in a neat black suit by the name of Daniel Flores left the stadium in disgust. Cameramen tripped over Congressmen in their efforts to snap President Ortiz Rubio publicly kissing ex-President Fortes Gil. Telegraphers in the press section clicked wordy comment on the stability of Mexico's new government, wired that at last a Mexican President had been inaugurated without bloodshed or attempted assassination.

Two hours later the President, having sworn in his new Cabinet, left the National Palace for his home. This time dapper Daniel Flores was in the front row of spectators. Carefully pointing a black .38 calibre revolver between two rigid sentries, dapper Daniel fired six times. . .

Though it failed to kill, Daniel Flores' fusillade wrought damage. One bullet broke the already deeply scarred jaw of President Ortiz Rubio; another carried away part of the right ear and grazed the scalp of his wife, Sennora Ortiz Rubio; another wounded his niece, Senorita Maria Rosh; a fourth grazed Chauffeur Felix Galvan. Flying glass cut the President's secretary, Col. Hernandez Chazaro, and a friend, one Sostenes Garcia. There were two misses.

At the Red Cross Hospital a bullet, flat as a dime, and a bit of splintered jawbone were removed from the mouth of President Ortiz Rubio. The other casualties were bandaged and sent home. Speechless but undaunted, as befits a direct descendant of Tzintzicna, last of the 19 Tarrascan Kings who ruled under the Aztec Emperors of Mexico, President Ortiz Rubio insisted on scrawling a telegram to his two handsome sons Fernando and Guillermo, at school in Gettysburg, Pa.:

MY CONDITION ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY NOTHING TO ALARM YOURSELF GREETINGS P. ORTIZ RUBIO.

Throughout the night dapper Daniel Flores was grilled by a Chief of Police, by a Minister of War and by onetime President Fortes Gil, besides routine detectives. In the end the prisoner said:

"Well are you through? Yes? Then permit me to show you what bunglers you are. You know I have nothing on my person for you have searched me thoroughly. Behold!" He shook his right sleeve. Out dropped six bullets.

Unabashed, Mexican authorities announced that the whole thing was a plot of the Vasconcelistas, partisans of defeated Presidential candidate Jose Vasconcelos. Safe in Los Angeles, Senor Vasconcelos commented:

"The present Mexican Government of graft and murder must be superseded by a government of public opinion. ... It is sad to think of Ortiz Rubio being hurt."

The cabinet sworn in by President Ortiz Rubio last week contained only two important changes. Ex-Provisional President Fortes Gil retired to his old post as Secretary of the Interior, prime Cabinet post, and handsome General Juan Andreu Almazan was rewarded for his slaughter of 1,000 rebels at the Battle of La Reforma (TIME, April 15) with the post of Secretary of Communications and Public Works.

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