The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-07

work. He was in Torreon during the re- cent disturbances and was in close touch with all sides of the question. So many untrue reports were published that he thought it advisable to give, in sim pie manner. the real facts in the easel
 Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, July 6.-Spe- al.)-The socalled "insurrection' in the state of Coahuila is at an end. In fact, it came to a close before 1t had devel- oped. as a matter of fact, into anything more than a sudden uprising of a lawless class of Mexicans to rob and loot.
 The fact that on the 24th, 18th and 18th of June there was trouble in number of places several hundreds of miles apart, shows that some kind of plan of action had been agreed upon, but if such plans existed they were very poorly made, and even more poorly executed.
 Indeed it is hardly fair to use the words 'insurrection," or revolution" in connection with the recent disturbances. They were of such a nature as not to ad- init of the dignity of those terms. The men who composed the gangs of bandits did not issue any propaganda, or seem to have any definite idea of what they desired to accomplish by their demon- strations. This fact, coupled with the one that they did rob and plumber, goes to show that the statements to the effect that general uprising or 'insurrection" had taken place in this country were far from the truth.
 The troubles in this state were local. Nearly every instance of disturbance during the past few days was in Goa huila.
 Causes of Trouble.
 It is next to impossible to state all of the causes that led up to the recent trou- bles, but the probably true. and most generally accepted theory is that the men who composed the gangs gathered from the haciendas and small towns, to a given point, and from there started on their raids. They were out to rob and plunder, while, perhaps, cherishing the hope that their movements would stir up others to strife.
 The Laguna District.
 The famous Laguna district, of which the city of Torreon is the largest and
 
 the world as one of the most fertile cot on-growing regions on this hemisphere. When cotton crops here are normal be- tween s0,OO0 and 10000 bales of cotton are produced on the big Mexican planta- tions, called haciendas. The men who compose the working forces on these plantations are called "peons" and of late years they have received larger wages than ever before. The hard times have affected the peon. well as the ranch or i1ac1enda owner. consequently wages are lower than for some time past. Many of the working class of Mexicans have been out of employment, and idleness is a bad thing for working man, espe- cially with the class of natives in ques- tion. It Is very probable that a few men of higher intelligence and more educa- tion took advantage of the circumstanfG-SS to make the peons their tools --iio 'i1 u result has been the recent on s'--"i- towns. soroa os ,lne newspapers of a revolution orv character, published in the Spanish language by certain Mexicans at differ ent points in the United States, and sent broadcast into this country, are in large measure also responsible for the troubles These fiery newspapers appeal to the lower classes of people here. They promise the peon money and power, and the ignorant, misguided workman be- comes the tool of agitators and anarch ists. It seems that the Flores Magoon club of Fl Paso, Tex, has had a hand in the affair, by firing the imagination of the poor people with inf1ammatory literature, but without giving them any idea, any plan of action, or any thought but to destroy, so that it is possible the .Ixgf. fxA1 ft<&ta- ary club, could not be called revolu- tion. The affair was simply an outbreak among lawless men, who in the absence of any principle. have committed depreda- tions with the object of causing trouble, brewing discontent and securing loot.
 Warning at Torreon.
 As has been previously stated. Torreon | IS the largest and richest city in the La guna district. There are five banks here, 1 the Banco de la Laguna, organized few | months ago with a capital stock of $6. | coo, 900, the Banco de Coahuila, Banco Ma | tional, the American bank, and branch | of the Bank of London and Mexico. There | are stores here that carry stocks worth | hundreds of thousands of dollars. The city is law abiding, and peace and quiet l always prevail. In fact, so orderly city is Torreon that only 50 soldiers are sta l toned here. The police force, while not unusually large TOT city of 30,0O0 peo-
 rle, is efficient. For those reasons and the reason that nearly every foreigner has some financial interest either in Torreon or the district the report that came like | a thunderbolt from clear sky that
 band of TOO armed men was marching | towards the city to sack 1t created un- easiness and alarm. That report reached here on the afternoon of June "A. The governor of this state sent a message to the jefe poitico, Don Juan Castilon, of
 the Vienca district. to prepare to quell any disturbance resist any attack. Close upon the heels of the telegram from Gov. Migel Cardenas came reports to
 the jefe politico from railroad men and i country road travellers Some of these reports said half hundred men were hiding in the mountain 10 miles from here nd would make an attempt to loot the i city some time during the night The men were reported to be well armed and | on horseback Due to the yagueness of l the reports, the uncertainty of the rumors. l the city officials of Torreon deemed It wise to prepare for the worst, even though they could hardly conceive that a band of bandits would dare to attacK 1 the city. They thought that some effort ] might be made by number of armed | men to ride into the heart of the city, rob q store or so bank if they could, and get away Because of their determination | that absolutely nothing in the way Of | robbery should occur reflecting on the city l the officials accepted the offer made by number Of foreigners to assist in protect | Ing the city should it become necessary, | the foreigners making 1t plain they were | willing to help protect the city if the dis