The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-04
Talks With Men of
National Prominence
At Washington. D.. O.

"%Thirty-five thousand American
citizens. representing property worth
more than $1,000. OOO, 900. are in a
state of anxiety in Mexico" said Cant.
j. w. Flanagan of Houston, Tex, vice
president of an American mining com.
pany, With headquarters at San Luis
Potosi: The situation in Mexico is
critical. Reports that have come out
Of Mexico that peace is in sight are
nalf OF the atrocities that have oc-
CURED in Mexico; and. in fact. the
people of Mexico themselves have lit
tie knowledge Of what is happening in
different parts OF the republic. The
means of communication in almost
every part or section of Mexico are so
imperfect and limited that the resi-
dents Of Mexico City. for instance,
nave only meager- news of what is
happening a hundred miles away. In
most parts of Mexico the people have
to depend upon dispatches that have
been sent to the United States and re-
~telgraphed to Mexico.
1T Is impossible for any. one to tell
what will be the outcome of the pres
ent situation. l am for peace at any
cost. I have never countenanced in
prevention on the part Of the United
states, n do not countenance 1t now:
~S A0 SAAS II L GdI.
not see how affairs are to be settled
unless something is lone by a foreign
power or powers to stop the fighting.
l do not believe Madero is capable Of
coping with the situation" ~.
Capt. Flanagan was a member of
the staff Of Gen. Gomez during the
Cuban insurrection, and was signally
honored by the Cuban government for
his services to the cause Of the
Cubans. At Santiago he was severely
wounded. and for his services he was
given the thanks Of the Cuban govern
ment and presented with a costly dia-
mond medal and other tokens of graft
tude.
After the Spanish American war
Capt. Flanagan went to Mexico, and
for several years has been at the head
Of the company which he is in Wash
Iington to represent. Capt. Flanagan
will see President Taft as soon as pos
sible and will confer with state Depart
ment officials.
"Filibustering expeditions and fight
Ing do not interest me any more" con-
ltinued Capt. Flanagan. II want to
see h situation in Mexico cleared up
so that the vast American Interests
there will be safe. but at this time it is
a fact that American property in Mexi-
co is not safe, and will not be safe so
long as this revolution continues. Oro-
eco is a mar of and an able
commander. l do not think any one
knows the strength of his forces. He
may have 5000 troops today and 49,
600 tomorrow. 1t is certain that he
can muster all the men he needs: all
that a be supplied with arms.
There has been a great deal of
slaughter during his revolution, a
great deal more than has been report
ed. because. as 1 have said. the means
of communication are SO imperfect
that it is practically impossible to get
the news from any part Of the coun-
try. Things have occurred in Mexico
that would startle and astound the
people of the United States.
ITO many persons in Mexico. and to
many in this country perhaps. the
thought ome that while in Mexico
there is a situation that Is critical in
the extreme. involving the lives and
property of $1,000 Americans. the gov
eminent Is waiting; but in Nicaragua
and in Santo Domingo, where there
are not 500 Americans all told, Ameri.
can battleships rushed to the ports tc
protect the interests. Of Americans
Why not some measure in Mexico?"
This Mayor is Peculiar.
Nhy Av1rry ~ --