Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-08

ing his home temporarily with his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. c. Davenport,
1909 Sixth avenue, awaiting the time
when the political atmosphere of
H1erta's domain shall become more
healthful TO Americans, has been a
close student OF Mexican people, in
stitutions and customs during the two
years he spent in that country. AS
physician for the American Smelling
and Refining company he Travelled
widely and became familiar with con-
ditions from Mexico City northward
TO the American boundary. At the
same time he came into close touch
with the warning factions on both
sides and had a number Of adventures
which are worth the telling
Dr. Davenport takes little stock in
the stories which have been circulat-
ed 10 the effect that civil war in Mex
leo has been encouraged by outside
capital What all capital in the coun-
try wants. he says, is peace. so that
working conditions may be restored.
Mexican capital wants peace, with
Huerta. Outside capital, which heav-
lily preponderates. is not so particular
about who IS president but IL wants
a man who is strong enough TO keep
control. In discussing the situation !
with an Argus representative, Mr. |
Davenport said.
RELIEVES WAR JTSTIFIABLE
From what ] have seen ! believe .
that the Mexican civil war is a JUS
tifabIe one. though the great majority .
% the people are so ignorant and so I
generally irresponsible that they do
not know what they are fighting for.
Education is needed more than any
think else. and until their standard Of
knowledge is considerably raised we
can scarcely expect that they will be
able to materially help themselves.
At least IS per cent OF the popu-
iation Is illiterate. absolutely and in
a state OF peonage. seldom leaving the
haciendas. or ranches with which they
are connected. They earn on an aver
age IS centavos. about 50 cents day.
which is barely sufficient TO keep
them supplied with beans and tortil-
las. or corn cakes which constitute
the fare on which they subsist They
draw their pay when they work in
the mines twice week and are nearly
always in debt. They have no thought /
OF tomorrow.
Having nothing 70 lose these poems !
are readily enlisted in any cause I
" hich offers less work and more en- Z
terrainment and so IL is easy TO get Z
them TO rally around the rebel lead 2
ers. As soldiers their chief aim is 10 {
wear a uniform, carry a gun. get 7
enough to eat and something 10 drink s
aud keep from getting killed. Usual &
" the poems OF a community are or
gauized by the jefe peliticio. or head a
Of the municipal government, anG II /
YOU ask them whom they are fighting a
for they will tell you it is for their o
Jefe b
TIN PER CENT OWN LAND. I;
Ten per cent OF the people own al o
The land, which is held under a fuedal Il
~ stem and in large tracts. Ownership i'
passes from generation 10 generation Il
and control is exercised by groups OF n
the same family. The Maderos are tC
among the largest land owners in the al
and the late President Madero
this class. The poorer 50
classes had nothing 10 gain under his %
and they have little pi
10 hope for from Huerta. who repre- b'
s@nts another faction OF the capital
site class When Msdero took the m
ems il was generally believed among re
he ignorant MeXicans that he intend 50
d 10 divide the land among the people. or
they had no idea a. 10 how this was so
O be done. but they had been told SO
UGH was his intention. When he fail an
ii 10 do so II was OF course easy TO M
ucite them against him. Division OF tn
and is what is known ss the San tn
.uis Potosi' plan. This is what ZHpa-
istas in the southern part OF the re-
ublic are now fighting for. There is do
till another faction knc~n as the Car ":
anZatistas. III
Among the various leaders there 6a
ocs not appear TO BE- much coopera- 50
ion. except in that their general OBJ t-,
ret Is 70. unseat the ruling authority an
houId they succeed in this way they or
ould OF course continue the quarrel re
mong themselves with as much feroc- ",
y as ever. At the present time HUI III
ria appears TO be the only leader Til
.ronE enough to hold authority for An
NJ length Of time and he Is forced All
, do so by the methods followed for n.
ears by former President Porfirfo
iaz. whose pupil he was. int
ACCUSTOMED TO DISTURBANCE an
geographically and otherwise pet
exico is well suited TO the form OF did
arfare which Is conducted there The hut
'ople as a whole take the continuous col
sturbance as a matter OF course. only so
10 small percentage owning property
ally carinE whether peace is restor- str
or not In reality the trouble Is ant
UGH like a family row. This was mo
wildly shown BY the experience OF the
me Americans who undertook 10 de TIL
nd a mine from pillaging rebels, abe
ling Is OF them in the fight Mem and
rs OF the same band had 1us: at &c
cked and sacked town nearby. but and
hen IL was learned that the Ameri- SO
rs had Killed the marauders the We
op!e OF the town turned out 10 TO