MEXICO: Sad Incidents

One evening last week reporters dawdled in the press box of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies while on the floor the majority bloc of President Cardenas’ deputies steamrollered its program ruthlessly forward against the agitated but ineffective shouts of minority delegates. Up for discussion was a minority proposal to grant a 5,000-peso bonus ($1,400) to each & every member of Congress, a proposal which President Cardenas had vetoed week before, despite the fact that Mexican custom sanctions such “tips” to obedient legislators. When the majority deputies sternly resisted this tempting bait, voted it down, hell suddenly broke loose in the chamber.

From the doorways and from the galleries gunmen previously stationed there ripped out revolvers, sent a fusillade of shots zinging through the air. Most of the windows were blown out. Seventeen bullets crashed through the press box from which reporters tumbled to safety. When the smoke cleared away Deputy Manuel Martinez Valadez of Jalisco lay dead on the floor. Deputy Luis Mendez, who died next day, and two other deputies were wounded. Fifty shots were fired. It was the third fatal battle in Mexico’s Congress since 1924. Deplored Speaker Luis Tavor:

“The gunmen probably did not wish to cause a general slaughter. Rather, their purpose was to cause a general scandal that would discredit us in our determination not to waste public money in bonuses. . . . This sad incident is evidence that the majority of Mexico’s legislators are solidly behind our leader.” Next day 17 suspected Deputies were voted out of their seats by the majority bloc, threatened with criminal procedure, a move which practically wiped out the right wing minority that started the shooting. While humble Mexicans celebrated their 125th independence day. Congress prepared to swear in 19 new Deputies replacing the 17 expelled, the two slain.

The shootings in the chamber were not the only sad incidents in Mexico last week. As secretly as possible trainloads of Federal troops were hustled north to Sonora. Rumors persisted along the border that seven separate rebel armies were drilling in the dusty mountains, preparing to overthrow Governor Ramon Ramos, a stanch Calles adherent.

In the State of Veracruz, which has been in continuous turmoil since preliminary State elections on Aug. 18, at least 30 persons have been killed in political shootings.

The University of Mexico, oldest in the Western Hemisphere, voted to suspend classes indefinitely last week for lack of funds. This involuntary holiday was not at all to the liking of 300 radical students, who barricaded themselves in the building, showered policemen and passersby with stones and bottles, demanded federal funds instead of the endowment they now have, the inclusion of liberals on the university council.