Page:Mexico and its reconstruction.djvu/70

52 governors have placed their influence in favor of certain candidates, they have been removed, so that the will of the people shall not be trampled upon." Whether the election was free in fact is disputed. The opponents of the government alleged that the announcement that the election was free was made only to strengthen the government in the opinion of foreign nations.

It seems clear that in some sections at least the election of 1917 did awaken a greater interest in public affairs, and resulted in more voluntary voting. In some cities activity in the election appears to have produced spirited contests, but these seem to have been generally the result of enthusiasm in support of rival candidates within the same party and not of a true inter-party clash. In Mexico City there were over 600 candidates for the 24 positions to be filled—a fact which in itself shows scattered enthusiasm rather than good political organization. The official Congressional canvass showed 797,305 votes cast for Carranza, 11,615 for Gonzalez, 4,000 for Obregón, and a number of scattering ballots for other candidates. On the evidence available it appears clear that the election of 1917 was