The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-06
COMMONS PREDICTS
WAR WITH MEXICO
Employe of Madeira Lum-
Der Company Now United
States Scout.
A n XIOUS FOR WAR
DeplOres Wilson's Hesitancy
in Intervening i'm South
ern Republic.
ANXIOUS FOR WAR

Charles Commons, formerly of this
city and a son of State Senator Wal
ter Commons, is of the opinion that
American Intervention in Mexico is in
evitable. For over year he was in
the employe of the Madeira Lumber
company at Madeira, Mexico, but re-
turned to the United States about
two months ago because of the Sc
rious condition of affairs IN the trou-
bled republic.
He left for Chicago today after a
short visit with his parents at Cen
terville.
Il have been enrolled as a scout
by the regular army officers on the
boarder, and am subject to call in the
event it is decided to send American
troops into Mexico" said Mr. Com
mons today Il will have to pilot the
expedition which will follow the Ma
deria trail into Chihauhau state.
Every precaution has been made
by the American army officers for the
invasion of Mexico, and the entire
southwest is wild for war. The peo-
pie along the border are very impa-
tient over President Wilson's delay in
giving the signal for the advance into
Mexico, and to show their contempt
for the policy of delay, mock elections
are held in hotels and other public
places in the border towns, and unan-
imous votes are cast for Jack John
son as president of the United States.
Eager for War.
! These southwestern people have
been expecting Intervention for sew
eral months, and after | left MADEIRA
! remained in Ell Paso, Tex, for two
months. expecting that at any time
our troops would cross the line |
will remain in Chicago until war is
declared"
! Mr.. Commons said that only eight
or ten of the large American colony
at MADEIRA are there now, and several
! of them fear to leave the country be-
cause they are fugitives from Ameri-
can justice.
| Warren Grubbs. Richmond boy,
was in Ell Paso a month ago and was
! figuring on returning to Madeira with
! the superintendent of the lumber COM
pany. We all advised him to remain
| this side of the line, but he is very
tventuresome, and l expect he has
been guilty of the folly of returning to
Maderia," Mr. Commons said.
Personally, l think President Will
son is wise in his determination not
to recognize the Huerta administra-
ton at the present time" continued
Mr.. Commons, but If he had done
so when Huerta first came into power
it would have been a wise move.
ut has been the general understand
ing throughout Mexico that when the
United States government was ready
to throw its troops across the border
a warning would be given to Ameri-
cans in advance so they would have
the opportunity to get out When the
president issued his warning to Amer
leans to leave it was regarded as the
signal for Intervention, and there was
a wild scamper for the border.
But intervention has no, come, and
there are angry mutterings on the
part of the refugees, and the MeXicans
believe now that the Americans are
afraid of them. Formerly it was safer
for Americans in Mexico than in the
Chicago tenderloin district. Now the
MeXicans have lost their respect for
Americans. and when intervention
comes, believe me, it will be open
season for the hunting of all Gringoes
who have been foolhardy enough tC
remain in that God-forsaken country
1T will be no job at all for the
American army to crush out Mexican
opposition. There are enough Texans
and regular troops now on the border
population, but Mexico is a big coun
try, and it is going to be a big task
Ito occupy it once all opposition has
been stamped out Every city anC
town will have to be garrisoned, an6
the country held for years under strict
American rule.
Il wish also to deny the common
report in this part of the country thai
the big American business interests
in Mexico are those most active il
urging intervention. These big inter
ests have done nothing which migh
plunge the United States into war L
is the little American rancn owner, the
American miner who is in business
for himsff anu the hundreds of Am
erican/ orkers~pmployed in MeXica
who have lost their all, who are clam
orifig for intervention"