The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-11-17
NO WAR FOR U. s.
UNLESS DEMANDED
Congressman Tavenner Believes Mexi-
can Situation Has Been Grossly
Misrepresented.
INTERVENTION MEANS A WAR
Says It Falls On the Shoulder of the
Masses and Not On the Rich
Whom It Would Benefit.

(By ongressman Clyde H. Tavenner)
Washington, Nov. 17.-In today's
letter want set the people straight
on the much misrepresented Mexican
situation.
There is to be no invasion of Mex
leo by American troops. Armed in
tervention in Mexico would mean war
positively, and therefore President
Wilson has no more intention of per-
hitting it than he has Of going to the
top of the Washington monument and
leaping off,
To put the situation in still an
other way: There will be no war ul(
less you, and you, and you, readers,
and 90 per cent of all the rest of the
citizens Of the United States, demand
war. Things would have to come to
a pass where there would be such
good reasons for war that the people
would simply compel the President to
act, before he would yield.
Who in the world desires armed in
tervention in Mexico, anyway? you
ask. There few large city yellow
journals that want Intervention and
many rich Americans having money
invested in Mexico, who want it. OF
recent years their Mexican invest
ments have not been paying the usual
dividends because of the almost con-
tinuous revolutions, and this COM
parative handful of rich men would
like to have American soldiers sent
to Mexico to be used as policemen to
guard their properties.
Why should the lives of American
soldiers be sacrificed and the peo-
pies treasure wasted In protecting
"the property rights" of those of our
citizens who having gone beyond our
borders, have taken a chance" on
the laws and conditions beyond our
control?
It would make little difference 20
these men how many lives of Ameri-
can soldiers might be snuffed out in
such an enterprise. All they desire
is that their mines and plantations
be policed so they may continue, their
exploitation project and their divi-
dends may not be interfered with.
The cost of war with Mexico
would not be borne by these rich men,
either, but would almost wholly fall
upon the shoulders of the masses. The
only funds the United States govern
ment has which to finance war, are
those which have been raised by tax
ing the things the people must eat,
wear, and use, in order to live. OF all
moneys in the treasury, 80 per cent
has been collected from the common
people.
When armed troops once cross the
Rio Grande, no man is so wise that
he can foretell when they will re-
turn, or what unexpected complica-
lions may set in before the conflict
can end.
That all factions in Mexico would
unite to resist armed Intervention
by the United States, and that armed
intervention, therefore, would mean
war, there is little doubt. -.
Officials of the War Department
believe that anywhere from 100000
to 100000 would be necessary tc
maintain anything like peace in Mex
leo. The guerilla warfare is the
Mexican method of fighting. Every
time the Americans would capture q
city, however small it might be, suf.
ficient troops would have to be left
to hold it, Otherwise bands Of Mexi.
can fighters would return from the
mountains and recapture it. The
War Department we'll recognizes i
would be necessary to have sufficien'
troops to police every part of Mexico
at the same time, otherwise wher
peace was being enforced at ont
point, revolution would break out IL
another.
If American troops conquer tn,
whole of Mexico, evacuation woult
become difficult, is possible at all
We would then have upon our hand
huge new territory with a large pc
pulation in continuous revolt.
That war with Mexico would opel
this country to attack by any othe
hostile nation, should alse be consid
cred.
The American people can well at
ford in this matter to put their com
plete faith in the President. He j
clear-headed. He Is wise. He 1
true. Mr.. Wilson is a really grea
President, one of the greatest we hav
ever had.
Crowds Attend Rink.
Despite the fact that the weathe
has been ideal for ice skating and tn
ice has been crowded every Afternoon
and evening for the past week. tn
roller rink is also receiving q grea
x1na1