The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-07-16
MEXICAN PLANTER IN TOWN.
FirSt'Haud Information Concerning Con-
ditiOnS Ia That Country, and Views
Advanced by Mr.. J. NJ. Baia.

Pittsburgh, stopped over night
at the Fulton House Thursday OF
last week. Mr.. Balm is a large
holder of stock in a plantation
company located 400 miles south
of the City ofMeXico, where they
have many thousands of acres
planted to bananas. He and his
family spend part of their time
on the plantation.
When interviewed by a News
reporter, Mr.. Balm frankly said
that he thought Villa is the right
man to put at the head of the
new government that may soon
be organized in Mexico. Before
permitting ourselves to be shock
ed at the idea Of boosting a form
er wild bandit and robber to the
highest Office in that forlorn coun
try, it would be well to inform
ourselves Of conditions that have
existed there for centuries. The
provinces in Mexico that cores
pond to states in our own coun-
try, have been ruled by just such
men, in most cases, for genera
tions. The population is COM
posed of people very similay to
our American Indians-indeed,
are lndians-as we know them.
Who, Mr.. Balm asks, could bet
ter, CONTROL those wild people
than a man like Villa who knows
every nook and corner of that
country, and knows better,
perhaps, than any living men
their need to start them into a
higher life?
Villa is not held up by Mr.. Balm
as a saint" nor does he expect
from him perfectly clean govern
ment as we would interpret that
kind; bt Z those in closer touch
with that wonderful man feel
sure that he intends to institute
reforms that will be far in ad-
vance of anything ever known
among the common people of |
Mexico. Villas S acquaintance
with, and power among, the lead |
ers in the outlying mountain
bound districts will fit him for
being at the head of a kind of
semi-military government that,
of necessity, will have to be adopt
ed, for awhile, in case the Con-
stitutionalists win-w which now
seems to be near a reality.
Villa will have to call to his as
sistance just such fearless, dare
devils as he is, place them in
charge Of outlying districts, but
under bis command, pay them
their price, and hold over them
the same threatening arm that
has made him master of the pres
ent situation. 1t sounds fierce
to us, but, as Mr.. Balm insists,
bandits like Villa once was can
be good men too, if given a
chance. Political, and especially
religious, conditions in Mexico
developed men like Villa and hun ,
1reds of lesser lights. Plunder-
ng was the chief employment of
The rulers, and as like begets
ike, it was natural that the lead :
ers among the ignorant masses
followed suit. Let the history of !
Villas life be what it may he has
given evidence that he expects
% give to his miserable former !;
people of the jungles a better .
,hance to "be good" and it looks :,
plausible that if some of the for :
ner bad men" of Mexico be put
n command of that country, and :,
mbued with ambition to emulate
he United States as they say :,
hey wish to do-that country :,
nay yet become civilized and
lave schools and other organiza- :,
ions for educating the very low :,
lass of creatures that compose =
Iine-tenths of the population. !
Villa and his associates know
o a certainty that the United q
,tates has reached the limit of "
Is patience with bad neighbor; t.
e knows, too, that nothing short T
f division of the land among h
lore owners will solve the living a
and he will, to the best a
{ his barbarous ability. see that :