MADERO, FRANCISCO INDALECIO Mexican revolutionary leader and president, was born on Oct. 4, 1873, at San Pedro, in the State of Coahuila, Mexico. He was edu cated at the University of California and spent the years 1889-95 in France. During the first years after his return he devoted him self to the administration of the extensive family estate and mine holdings in northern Mexico, but after 190o he became more and more active in politics. He organized the Club Democratico Benito Juarez, with branches throughout the country, in an effort to interest and appeal to the independent voter. With the help of these he introduced State conventions culminating in a national convention after the pattern of the United States. In 1905, in the gubernatorial campaign in Coahuila, he came out openly against the Diaz Government, but the Diaz regime had the election too well in hand for a successful assault. He was now the acknowl edged leader of the independent voters of Mexico, and immediately began preparing for the next presidential election, to be held in 191o. In 1908 he published La succesion presidential en 191o, a clear, reasoned statement of the problems of Mexico, and criticiz ing the Diaz regime for its unconstitutional methods of ruling. The book was immediately suppressed, but gave Madero standing as the chief opponent of Diaz in the coming election. However, after making a number of speeches, he was imprisoned on a charge of libel against the Government until the re-election of Diaz. He then crossed the border and from San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 5, 191o, issued his call for revolution and announced the plan of San Luis Potosi, a definite political platform with "effective suffrage" and "no re-election" as its main planks. Recrossing into Chihuahua he joined rebel armies already in the field and entered actively into the campaign. Other States joined one by one and, with the capture of Juarez, after seven months of fighting, the Diaz Government sued for peace. Madero showed notable gen
erosity to the vanquished, and his liberal proclamations won him the esteem and support of the populace. After the six months rule of a provisional president, a constitutional election was held and he was elected by a large majority. On Nov. 6, 1911, the new Government was inaugurated. Madero made a sincere effort to rule according to the Constitution, but met practical difficulties almost at once. His ideals, especially concerning the division of land and the suffrage, were too visionary to be carried into execu tion at once as he had promised. He retained the old Diaz Congress, which began an obstructionist policy, and he lacked the confidence of the army officers, most of whom were also Diaz's men. His interference and indecision with regard to the guber natorial elections in a number of States brought sharp criticism. An unpopular vice-president had been forced upon the people, alienating a powerful group upon which he had counted for sup port. He had to contend with revolutions under Zapata in the south and under Orozco and Felix Diaz (nephew of the former president) in the north. Finally on Feb. 9, 1913, a revolution broke out in Mexico City. Desertion of the chief general, Huerta, with the army, caused Madero's overthrow and led to the estab lishment of the Huerta Government. On Feb. 22, while being taken to prison, Madero met his death, it is generally believed by assassination at the hands of the Huerta guards.
See H. I. Priestley, The Mexican Nation (1923) ; P. S. Krecher, "The Personal Side of Madero," Outlook, vol. ciii. (1913) ; E. Emerson, "Madero of Mexico," Outlook, vol. xcix. (19ii) ; H. Thompson, "The Maderos of Mexico," Munsey's Magazine, vol. xlviii. (1913) ; R. Mar tinez, Madero: su vida y su obra (1914) ; S. Marquez, Los ultimos Dias del Presidente Madero (1917) ; R. Estrada ; La revolution y Francisco I. Madero (1912).