Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
AMERICAN INVASION
Capital Of This Country In
vested in Mexico.
MANY ENGLISH THERE
ALL THESE ARE NOT AN UNMIX-
ED BLESSING.
m n~,s~. 1rc
The Bar and Perpendicular Drinks
sociations and Regulations.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The American invasion continues. It is
not a battle of bullets, but of benevolent
assimilation. The American consul at the
City of Mexico estimates that $500, 10000
American capital is invested in the republic
of Mexico. In the capital alone $500 Amer
leans live and engage in business. There
are also 1,5OO Englishmen, and many Mexi-
cans speak English, SO that English Is
heard constantly in commercial centers.
Machinery comes from the United States.
Many of the fabrics are of American manu-
facture. Undoubtedly the styles are Ameri-
can Mexico looks to the United States for
fashions, as the United States once looked
to Paris and London. There Is a marked
contrast between the two civilizations, or
rather three, for the indian still retains the
customs of his ancestors. Older citizens
notice the gradual disappearance of the
sombrero and the Zarape. and the predic-
ton is made that ten years will see them
reiegated to the past. Many of the younger
men were educated in the United States
and are strongly pronunciation. The re-
mark is often heard among Mexicans that
Daz is the last independent president that
Mexico will have, that the next president
will be selected al Washington. Among the
working people there is the greatest friend
ship for the United States. Americans
brought us our railroads." they say, and
get our produce to market at a good
figure The poems who were practically
slaves at the haciendas are particularly
friendly. They have higher wages and
more liberties result of the railroads.
They can go from place to place easily.
There is more demand for their labor.
Americans appreciate the friendship, yet
realize that annexation, II 1T ever comes,
must come as an original. popular move
ment in Mexico. weak administration
at any time in Mexico will develop strong
on RI
Not an Unmixed Blessing.
Yet American civilization has not been an
unmixed blessing. Strange as it may seem
Mexico today is stirred by a reaction
against it, and as result is enacting and
enforcing rigid laws regulating the sale of
Intoxicating liquors. The saloons and bars
are now compelled to close at o'clock at
night and at noon Sundays. Sales will be
prohibited likewise on feast days and in
cafes. Fifteen years ago there was not
bar in the City of Mexico. Pulque was the
national drink, and, contrary to the general
impression, it is not Intoxicating, in the
American use of the word. 1t is recon-
mended as a medicine, Is a strong tonic
and a slight sedative. 1t Gains the nerves
and induces sleep. A product of a cactus
of another species is the dangerous drink
Tequila tastes like Scotch whisky and Is
little more insidous. With the locomo-
tive came the American bar. and with it
what is known as the perpendicular drink,
taken standing at the bar. Perpendicular
seems misnomer In most cases. The use
of the stronger and mixed drinks spread
rapidly and today there are S24 bar rooms
In the city where liquors are sold at the
bar, and 1,5OO pulquerias where pulque
and other liquors are sold at tables. In
a population of 100000 this means drink
ing place for every 176 people, counting
men, women and children.
Result Alarming.
The result has been alarming. Last year
10000 persons, almost equal to one-fourth
Of the population, passed in and out Of the
city prisons and there were 400 murders,
more than one day. The Federal District
Railway Company, operating 12O miles Of
electric railroad in and around the city, in
examining young men for employment, was
surprised to find almost all the city young
men degenerates from the excessive use Of
alcohol, and was compelled to send to the
country for it's employees. These conditions
alarmed the government and the vigorous
measures noted are being taken. AS re-
suit of the noon closing Sunday the arrests
the week ending January 81 were Sunday,
1853; Monday 233; Tuesday, 1879; Wednes-
day, 173; Thursday, 17S; Friday, 164; Sat-
urday. 242; total, !, 552.
The first Sunday when the new 'regla-
mento" became effective the arrests made
reached only the 1872 mark, and no deaths
from crime occurred. President Diaz him
self has taken a positive stand. He Is a
temperate man, refusing wines and taking
only the thimbleful of brandy with his cof-
fee at dinner, the custom Of the country.
A few days ago he said to his physician
that he would give this up II it was excess
sive. In reply to some one who was remon-
strating against the new regulations. say
ing that temperance advocates were fanat-
les, he said, 'All reformers are when they
begin" President DiaZ frequently confers
with Mrs. Ada Northam Fields, an Ameri-
can president Of the w. c. T. u, who is
in charge of the temperance instruction in
the schools. He Is in thorough accord with
Ramon Corral, the new minister of the in
terror, who as governor of Sonora inaugu-
rated many reforms and made himself uni
Of temperance, and through his instrument
tally charts have been placed in the schools
and in public places showing the various
stages from the first drink to the drunk
ards grave. Undoubtedly President DiaZ
has taken hold Of the question in his
usually vigorous manner, and in a way to
surprise Americans, who have a vague idea
that Mexico Is a land OF bandits, bull fights
and excessive drinking. AS for the bull
fights. 1t is generally recognized that their
days are few. Popular sentiment Is against
them. The state Of Jalisco has already pro-
hibited them That state has also limited
the beggars. many of whom are impostors
to one day OF the week, Friday an ex-
ample which might well be followed by the
City of Mexico.
Extravagant Living.
Another result of American civilization
has been extravagant living. People live
more extensively and save less. The old