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Rh executive and legislative positions at the same time, there grew up the custom of divorcing representation from even the requirement of a nominal residence in the district represented. This was true in both the state and central governments. The law required that members of Congress should be citizens and residents of the districts represented. Nevertheless it frequently happened that those elected were neither, and in some cases had never even been physically within the district from which they were "elected." Curious situations arose thus. In 1878 one of the prominent members of Congress was elected from a district in his native state but not that of his residence. He was also chosen from a district in another state. As he was at outs with the local governor he accepted the election in the second. At the next election he was chosen Senator from a still different state and seated.

These practices continued throughout the Diaz régime. In 1904 three states were represented in Congress by Senators and deputies none of whom had ever resided in their districts and only two or three of whom had ever been in the states they represented. Actual residence, even when claimed, was, in fact, often nominal since the real abode of many of the representatives was regularly the capital—the attractions of which made life in the provincial towns seem dull.

As the Diaz period progressed the elections became more important events in the national life. They were given greater publicity and attracted more popular attention. Nevertheless they did not represent a clash