BarbarousMexico JOHN KENNETH TURNER

166 BARBAROUS MEXICO
therefore once more took their lives in their hands and
attempted to launch still another movement for the
restoration of the republic.
In less than five months after the bishop's speech
125 Liberal clubs had arisen in all parts of the country,
a half hundred newspapers were started, and a call was
issued for a convention to be held in the city of San
Luis Potosi on January 5, 1901.
The congress was held in the famous Tea tro de la Paz.
It was jammed with delegates and spectators, among
the latter being many soldiers and gcndarnzcs, while
in the street below a battalion of soldiers was drawn
up. ready to deal with the assembly should its voice
be raised against the dictator.
Anything so radical as an armed rebellion was not
spoken of, however, and the various speakers steered
carefully away from any direct criticism of President
Diaz. On the other hand, resolutions were adopted
pledging the Liberals to pursue the campaign of reform
only by peaceful means.
Nevertheless, as soon as it became evident that the
Liberals were planning to nominate a candidate for
the presidency, three years later, the government began
operations. By Russian police methods, the clubs all
over the country were broken up and the leading members
were arrested on fictitious charges, imprisoned or
forced into the army. A typical case was that of the
club "Ponciano Arriaga," of San Luis Potosi, which
formed the national center of the federation. On January
24, 1902, although other clubs had been violently
broken up for doing so. "Ponciano Arriaga" made bold
to hold a public meeting. Here and there among the
people were distributed soldiers and gendarmes in citizens'
clothing, under the command of a prominent law-