Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-04-22
NEWSPAPERS ARE CENSORED
Lack of Accurate Informa-
ton on Progress of Revo-
luton Fills American Res
idents of Mexico City
With UneasinesS.

\ recent statement OF President
Tafts concerning the suffering which
would be entailed upon the American
residents in Mexico in case the Uni
ted States government should pros
ecute the federal authorities for the
lives lost in Douglas during the bat
tie IF Aqua Prieta, was given
strong confirmation and endorsement
Yesterday afternoon by a prominent
business man of San Francisco who
returned last month from OaXaca, a
state in the southern part Of Mexico.
He had been covering the entire
country for the last ten years IN
representing his house, and speaks
with conviction of the results which
would follow the interference OF the
United States in Mexican affairs. -
only last month" he said, Il spent
some time in the City of Mexico
where / am well acquainted among
the American business men and |
was astonished to learn the anxiety
with which they have been regarding
the progress of the present struggle
between the forces of Madero and
Diaz Although business goes on as
usual and there is little interruption
Of the daily routine in the capital,
there is a strong fear among the for
eign residents Of the country that 4
reverse to the Mexican government
may cause the city to be thrown into
a state Of siege. with its accompany
ing loss OF life, discomforts, and de-
struction Of property. Ii is partic'l-
Iarly feared by the American resi-
dents of the city and in fact Of the
entire country. that some action vf
the United States government, taken
to crush the insurrection. and bring
the outrages along the border to a
close might turn the people against
them, and so strong is this fear in
some circles. that | know one man
personally. prominent American
banker in Mexico City, who has laid
in several weeks food supply in his
house. with guns and ammunition in
a quantity which would enable him
TO endure a siege. and successfully
resist a heavy attack. This appre-
hension might not be felt if it were
not for the well known weakness of
the Spanish people for mob violence.
They merely wish to he fOrearmed in
case Of serious difficulty.
This state of mind is aggravated
by the fact that the foreign residents
have no opportunity to learn the true
state Of affairs. or to gain a correct
knowledge Of the danger incurred by
remaining in the country. owing to
the strict censorship of the press
which makes il impossible for any
thing to be published describing a
condition disadvantageous to the pres
ent government. On the Mexican
Herald alone. which is only one Of
the papers published i'm the city. there
are six censors employed. whose sole
duty consists in guarding the columns
OF the paper from objectionable arti-
cles designed to cast discredit on the
government. or To outline matters
which might tend to create fear or
discomfort among the people Of the
country. This prevents the foreigners
from attaching any Importance to the
newspapers. which they know present
every subject and discuss every ques-
tion from a governmental standpoint
and not for the information Of the
public.
L want to say that although John
Kenneth Turner. the magazine writer
has been severely criticized for his
exposure Of Mexico. which some held
were overdrawn, and absolutely un-
true. it is my conviction that he
wrote without exaggeration. Condi-
tions in Mexico are just as he de-
scribes them. and the condition Of
peonage certainly is as near an ap-
proach TO genuine slavery as man
could imagine. In fact. it is slavery
The horrors described by Turner. al
though perhaps a little theatrical. are
true. These things are commonly
known among the American residents
OF the country although it. would be
difficult to secure legal proof con-
cerning them. Legal proof is always
hard to secure in a matter Of this
kind. but il is well known by all
foreigners that the lowest class is
held in abject slavery. and that they
are exploited mercilessly by the large
land owners. who are not compelled
either to work their lands or to open
them up for settlement. As a result
the people have nothing. and can
have nothing until they are released
from the jurisdiction of a court which
gives another man authority over
their lives and bodies. and they are
permitted to acquire property. The
large land owners are as a class
slothful. selfish. and unmmdful of the
misery OF the lower classes. When
possessed of sufficient money to keep