The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-11
Benjamin Cuff, Superinten-
dent of Utah Mexican Rub
ber Co., Returns Home.
PLANTATION RENDEZVOUS
FOR REY0LUTI0NlSTS
Thinks Revolt Widespread, but
Government Is Gaining; De-
scribeS Battles.

Benjamin Clufl, formerly president of
the Brigham Young university at Provo,
has Just returned TO Utah after resi-
dcnce of several years in tropical
Mexico as superintendent of the Utah
Mexican compaDy's rubber plantation,
owned by Utah and Idaho people.
Owing TO the revolution which has
been in progress there for several
weeks ii is OF more than usual interest
10 get word from that section. Accord
ing to Mr. Cluff, the disturbance is
pretty general. extending as far south
as the plantation in Tobasco he recent
]y left.
Three or four years ago an effort was
made to assemble body of men in a
small town near the Utah-MeXican
company's lands, but the government
very promptly dispersed the gathering
and dispatched the leaders.
This time the southern wing of the
insurrecton made its rendezvous Ill one
part of the plantation. Generals and
other officers went from Vera Cruz and
Coatzacoalcos and called upon the pco-
pie to rally to the standard of revolu-
ton.
First Signs of Trouble.
"Thc first intimation we had of any
local trouble - said Mr., Cmff last even
ing. "was the cutting of our telephone
wires. From one labor village TO IA:
other the mob advanced III the direction
of the plantation headquarters. They
took what they needed from the stores
appropriated horses and mules. but gave
receipts for everything. the leaders al
lowing no pillaging and offering no IN
dignities to anv one. They were par"
ticulariy anxious to show every
courtesy and respect TO the Americans.
il is the policy of their leaders to give
no excuse for American Interference,
For this reason the lives of foreigner!
are probably safer than ever before.
From our place the revolutionlsts
marched TO the seat of the municipality
of Cardenas-a town of about 5000 peo-
pie. While celebrating their unopposcd
occupation of the public plaza com
pany of soldiers that had been quietly
landed from a steamboat on the river
near by, opened FIRE. J., was a spirited
battle, and some were wounded, but
the insurrectos gave way at last.
Rebels Take to the Woods,
"Other troops were sent in from
CoatZacoalcos, the railway terminus,
and the rebels took to the woods Ow-
ing to the density of the forests and
the fact that only the poems know how
10 get through and live in them, it is
not likely they will be surrounded
soon. 1t would be just as easy 10
maintain n guerrilla warfare there as in
Tho mountains of chihuahua.
''However, added Mr.. Cluff, 81 do
not think it will be long before the in
surrection is crushed out completely by
the federal government. although it
may be a year before conditions be
come normal All our able bodied work
men enlisted with the rebels, and we
are not able to make much headway ut
present.
Tapping, which had been started
and was progressing very satisfactorily,
has been suspended temporarily. | can I
tell whether it can be resumed in few
months or a year But gradually the
workmen will slip back to their fami.
lies. who remain on the plantation, and
after while things will be moving
along exactly as they did before. -
Company Will Be Repaid.
Asked concerning the danger of
property loss by reason of the uprising,
Mr. Cluff said:
81 was assured by officials of the
government that every claim of the
company would be promptly paid with
out presenting it through the ordinary
channels of diplomacy Besides, the
iusurgent leaders are issuing official re-
ceipts, which guarantee payment in the
event Of their success. But of course
we shall look to the federal government
for reimbursement for any loss of any
character suffered by reason Of the re-
belliop.
"The plantation is looking well. and
the delay will work no injury TO our
trees or their product. When we get
our people back tapping may be re-
sumed any time.
''I expect to remain for some time in
Utah. looking after private affairs, and
intend TO return To the tropics later o
plant my own land to rubber,
''The health of the half dozen
Americans on the plantation Is good,
and thcy are not in any danger what =