The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-12
President Taft Acted Wisely
Advising Americans to Leave.
SAYS THE FEELING is STRONG
Dangerous for q. s. Citizens to
Stay There.
People Don't Know What They
Are Fighting For.

J. H Mercer, state live stock COM
missioner, who has just returned from
trip to Old Mexico, is of the opinion
that President Taft acted wisely and
well when he urged all Americans to
leave that country as soon as posi-
BILE. The feeling against the Ameri-
cans is very strong in Mexico now,
said Mr.. Mercer, land the insurrecto
forces, being recruited from the low
est and most ignorant type of the
country. make it exceedingly danger
Gus for Americans who persist in
staying down there
Mr.. Mercer went to Ell Paso, Texas,
to attend the sessions of the South
west Cattlemen's association, and he
crossed the border and visited in the
war stricken city of Juarez. Mr.. Mer-
Ger asked many Mexican citizens and
fnsurrectos what they were fighting
about and they did not know They
are fighting because they want to fight
and that is all they know or care, ac-
cording to Mercer.
"I did find one officer of the insur-
rectOS," said Mr.. Mercer, who was
more Intelligent than the rest and he
told me why he was in the field. He
declared that Madero, after he got in
power, forgot the principles for which
he took the field against DiaZ and be-
gun to Cypress the people. He sal
that the people were fighting to gain
back their own that had been taken
away from them. That the nobility
and land owners of the country had
made life intolerable. That Madero
was making no effort to carry out the
principles for which he fought. That
he was getting like Diaz.
But outside of this officer l could
find no one who knew what the rebellion
was all about. Not even Americans
who had lived there for years, seemed
to know what lay at the bottom of
the last revolution.
Soldiers Are Ignorant.
The insurrecto army is composed of
the riffraff Of the country The soldiers
are an irresponsible, ignorant lot They
hate foreigners and do not conceal
their antipathy for Americans in par
ticular. Taft's advice for Americans
to leave the country at once was good
advice, in my opinion. The Mexicans
commit depredations every day against
Americans, and violate all compacts
with friendly powers. They would do
vastly more damage if they were not
so ignorant and timid-
"A Jesuit priest from Texas, who
went to Mexico on an errand of mercy
was captured and held for ransom.
There are many stories OF riot and
robbery and ravishment.
II believe that a few regiments of
regular United States soldiers could
capture the whole country and pacify
it. But do not believe that any Next
can can now control and govern Mex
Some foreign country viii have to in
tervene and restore order and govern
ment Tt is only a matter of time when
intervention will be necessary. The sit
uation will get worse instead of bet
ter
THE small part of the country that
I saw looks like rich farming coull-
try of hills and valleys and fertile
fields Many Americans are still liv-
ing at Juarez and they conduct a race
track there and hold races daily and
keep books on the outcome. The bridge
over the Rio Grande is guarded by SOL
dfers on the American and Mexican
sides, Americans are constantly pass
ing over the bridge on business and
the electric cars run daily.
1--WE had a good convention at Ell
Paso and cattle men from all over the
southwest were in attendance. The
Texans are strong for Roosevelt for
president and talk nothing else. They
actually claim that if Teddy is nomi
mated that he will be able to carry that
stronghold of the Democracy"