Today -100: May 25, 1911: Of provisional presidents, interim presidents, and presidents for life

The Mexican interior minister asks Madero for help from the rebel forces to conquer “bandits and thieves.” Madero says no.

Demonstrations in Mexico City because Mubarak Díaz still hasn’t tendered his resignation as expected.

Madero, though still evidently calling himself the provisional president of Mexico, actually plans to let Francisco de la Barra succeed Díaz and organize elections, which Madero of course intends to win “if the people want me.” Catholics are beginning to organize a party to oppose him (Madero “has Protestant leanings,” whatever that means).

(Update: see Executed Today for a typically excellent post on the mother-and-son lynching of Laura and Lawrence Nelson in Okemah, Oklahoma.)