New-York tribune., 1912-03-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

fundamentals which stand out fairly clearly.
One fundamental difficulty with which Ma
dero or any other administration must deal
is the land question, the concentration ol
immense holdings in the hands OF compare
tively few owners, great numbers OF people
being reduced TO the plane OF wage workers
and tenants. the latter being compelled 10
nav for the use Of the land rentals which
they have come to regard as nothing short
of tribute. In this respect the situation is
similar TO the conditions with which the
United States had to deal in the Philippines
and which problem 1t solved, at least for a
considerable time, by purchasing the friars
lands and redisposing of them to the tenant
farmers at cost price and on long time lay
ments. OF course. the Mexican government
has no great and good frlend IKE the
United States, whose credit can be drawn OH
to purchase these lands or whose power can
be exerted within proper limits TO erect
purchase at a reasonable price. Moreover
the Philippine problem was greatly slmph-
fed because It was possible to deal with prac-
tically a single head, the Vatican. whereas
in Mexico the land owners are numerous
and are homogeneous only In their OPPOSE
tion to any disturbance of the existing
order. There is no doubt, however, that
President Maderos troubles have been
greatly increased by the reckless promises
of immediate correction OF the evils COM
planned Of which he made when he was
seeking the Presidency. Having maze
promises which he cannot by any possibh-
ity fulfil, he is coming to be regarded as
lacking in the will TO fulfil them, and the
people, who were led to expect immediate
and great relief, are fast coming to believe
that they have been tricked by an impostor.
OF course. the land question has been seri-
ousIy considered by the Madero administra-
ton, but thus far there has been no evil
dence of executive ability at all commensu-
rate with the difficulties of the problem.
A PURE FAKE.-Some sensation, which
was later turned to amusement, was Gre
ated at the Capitol to-day by the circula-
ton of what purported to be a proclama-
ton by Senator Dixon and which read In
Fart: Colonel Roosevelt who had already
retired to private life. was compelled by
popular clamor 10 head movement which
will mean for the entire Republic liberty
peace and justice. The press is being de-
ceived constantly by the Vaccinations OF
the agents who are throwing away the
money OF the American people. The people
have no longer confidence in those whom
they so generously elected TO watch over
their dcstnies The movement is abso-
lutelv popular and will elevate to the CHIEF
magistracy of the Republic the man en-
titled to that honor" The joke was not
discovered until the fake proclamation was
shown to a newspaper correspondent VINO
pointed out that II was substantially the
text OF a proclamation issued by General
Orozco. of Mexico, declaring revolution
against the Madero administration ana pro-
claiming himself to be the only man in the
country fitted for the Presidency
DrI.EG ATEs- s-AT-LARGE. - There ap-
pears 10 be considerable confusion regard
ing the number OF delegates-at-large whlch
will be allotted TO the several states III
the approaching national conventions THIS
was notably true when the dispatches from
Alabama announced last night that SIX
delegates-at-large had been selected by the
state convention and had been instructed
for President Taft Under ordinary condi-
tjons there are only four delegates-at-large
from each state and two from each con
rress district This year, however there
are number OF states which have not re-
districted since the recent reapportionment'
and, In the case OF states which gained In
Congressional representation and have not
redistricted. there will be elected additional
delegates -at-large in proportion to the IN
crease in Congressional representation.
This will be the case in Illinois, which has
gained two additional Representatives IN
Congress and has not redistricted, so that
the total number OF delegates-at-lsrge from
that state will be eight. Every state Is
entitled to representation in the national
convention at the rate Of two delegates for
each Senator and Representative To which
II is entitled. whether Its Representatives
are elected from districts or. as In some
instances, from the state at large.
G. Il. n.