Arizona republican., 1912-08-12
Weather Conditions Added to the Scarcity of Labor in Consequence of the Revolution Are Increas- ing Cost of Living.
DISSATISFACTION
 WITH ELECTIONS
Charges of Fraud On the Part of the Government. Some of Them Have Been Proved and Incumbents Forced Out of Office.

MEXICO CITY, August 11.--Weatfer conditions coupled with the revoiI- ton taking men from the fields and interrupting railway communication have caused a marked increase in the cost of living in Mexico. The meat supply, which came from the grazing lands in Chihuahua, Coahuila and parts of Sonora, has been cut off for many months, and when it became possible to ship cattle, it was found that they had either scattered in the hills or had been killed by the rebels for food. The work of cOrraling and driving cattle is still periIous one, and few men are available for the task. The cost of meat accordingly has risen to fully twice its ordinary level.
 The grain question is still more ser- iOus, since it is upon the cereals that the vast majority of the people depend for sustenance and since it is therefore upon the poor that the burden falls the most heavily. In many parts of the country the lands have been allowed to lie fallow. This is partially due to the inability of the land owners to get wOrkmen: but it is also due to the fact that many wealthy land owners have poorer classes to relinquish their de- mands for a division of lands. The corn crop of last year was one of the best Mexico has known for years, an'i there are yet large quantities of grain in the storehouses of the large land owners. This is being held for what is believed to be the inevitable furs ther rise in the price of that staple.
 The chick pea crop, which for years has been one of the richest outputs of the state of Sonora. is a failure this year, due in part to the weather and in part to the activity of the Yaqui In- dians The loss will run into millions. The governor of the state estimates his personal loss at half a million pesos. The bean crop. another staple, will be poor where it has been planted. on ac- count of early frosts and heavy rains.
 Early in July the valley land at the northern extremity of the plateau, which is known as "the national gran ary," was flooded until in places the water reached a depth of two feet in the open country. The corn crop, then just beginning to come up, was ruined. and the wheat crop, some of which had not yet been harvested on account of the disturbed condition and discontent among the men, also was lost. This was followed shortly by early frosts in the valley of Mexico and in the Sierra JuareZ. Then came a series of hail storms which further damaged the crops.
 So grave has the situation become that the government has been forced to take cognizance of it. The city coun- cil of Mexico City and the chamber of commerce are attempting to reach a solution of the difficulty. The method adopted under like circumstances by the previous administration was for the government to import grain free of duty from the United States and Argentine, and sell it to the people from government distributing stations at cost plus the expense of transpor- tation This method has been fought so far by two powerful influences, the land owners and the department of the treasury Many influential persons whose crops have not been affected or
  all their influence to bear. The trea- sury is low and at the present time 1t is estimated that the customs will fall $2,500,000 short of the revenue derived from that source last year. This. at time when the government is much in need of funds for the specification Of the country. is strong argument At best, however, it can no more than de- lay the necessary legislation and it is certain that the government will not at this time take the risk of letting the people, already impoverished by war. go hungry
 Results of the general elections for senators and deputies to the national assembly, which occurred early in July have not met with general approval. Tn many cases frauds have been proved and reports and accusations of lnflu- ence brought to bear have been ire quent.
 Most of the complaints have been of failure on the part of the authorities to prepare full lists of voters or to pro- vide the voters with tickets of all par ties The complaints come for the most part from the smaller towns removed from the influence of the central gov- ernment
 The federal district was not without it's complaints and several officials have been forced from office in spite of protests on their part.
 (Continued on Page 10).