Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/43



The stages of the revolution were (1st) Madero's accession to power and rapid decline, 1911–1913; (2nd) Huerta's military coup d'etat, supported by the Pearson syndicate and most of the other foreign interests and his elimination by the action of the United States government, 1913–1914; (3rd) period of struggle between revolutionary factions 1915–1916; (4th) triumph and decline of Carranza, 1917–1920; (5th) De la Huerta-Obregon-Calles administration, 1920—.

Shortly before the election of 1910, Diaz imprisoned Madero, but allowed him to escape after the election which Diaz carried as usual by strict control of the election machinery. Madero's activity now became frankly revolutionary. He found useful as nuclei of his organization the Reyes clubs already mentioned. His revolutionary proclamation was issued in October, 1910, its declarations for non-re-election of executives and free suffrage being almost identical with those of the Diaz proclamation more than thirty years before. There were also included abolition of the "jefes politico" (local bosses), a corrupt system by which the federal government controlled local affairs, and a vague clause promising restitution of lands to those who had been wrongfully dispossessed. For the moment Madero received the support of all dissatisfied factions from the conservative supporters of Reyes to the radical agrarian reformers. Guerilla bands formed all over the country. Gonzales, governor of the state of Chihuahua in the north, with his state troops came over to support of Madero. Diaz combatted uprisings in a dozen states and his small army of