The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1913-12-20

ANfsN 1bl n + Ibll hAAu'uAf W lb'
.rty--f from peace and order to anarchy
and massacre. from one Of the great
nations OF the world to one OF the
semi-barbarous countries that has
been the history of Mexico In the last
three years.
Mexico stood at the apex OF her
glory on, September 16. 1910. the cen.
tenary of her independence from
Spain Porfirio Diaz' government vas
the only Latin-American power. save
Brazil, TO maintain an embassy as dis
tinguished from a legation at W h
ington. With a population of l3.000,-
coo and an area equal to the United
States east OF the Mississippi Oeaving
out the New England states and New
York;, she stood fifth among the gold
and first among the silver-producing
nations OF the world. and her i'm.
mensely rich agricultural resources
were being scientifically developed
Bpt Mexieos peace and prosperity
had fundamental Weaknesses 1t was
dependent on the hand OF monarch.
and its funds for development had
come from other nations. The United
States had invested nearly $1,000. .0OO..
600 in Mexico; England. 1920 600. 900:
France, sl43000.O00. and other foreign
countries sl1S.O00,OO0. Her own citi.
zens had invested only sSO0.OOO.O 600.
Furthermore, group of selfseekers
had gathered about Porfrio Diaz. the
Iron Man, IN his old age. They be-
longed to the "cientliicos." and scien-
tifically they extracted their percent
ages from every project set on foot.
The foreign capitalists, naturally. had
TO transfer this burden OF graft TO the
returns they extracted from their
businesses in Mexico. and the money
finally came out OF the pockets OF the
common people
Then there was the land situation.
few hundred proprietors owned
practically every acre OF the country.
While the cost OF living increased. as
II has in every country of the civil.
ized world the great land barons eyad-
ed their share OF the taxes altogether.
This last oppression was especially
felt in the northern tier OF states.
where Americans and other foreigners
were particularly numerous. and where
the Mexicans could look across the
border TO the north and see a happier
land There developed yearning for
democratic government in the far
noftn OF Mexico, which resulted IN the
candidacy OF Francisco |. Madero son
Of an Immensely wealthy and iniluen.
tial family, for the presidency in 1910.
lie drew up scheme of reform.
known as the Plan OF San Luis Po-
tosi" He was beaten in the election
was thrown into jail and probably
would have been shot escaping" ac-
cording to the pleasant little Mexican
custom, had not his family been so In.
fuential As it was. he was allowed
to go TO the United States. and there
straightway organized a revolution.
His father and his many brothers sup
ported him The Waters Pierce OIL
company supplied the siuews OF war
Fearing that American residents in
Mexico might be murdered and Amer.
ican Investments destroyed in the con-
nict. President Taft modified an en-
tire division at San Antonio in the
spring OF 1911 brigade OF three
regiments was stationed at Galveston.
brigade Of infantry In southern Cali
fornia. squadron OF battleships and
cruisers at Galveston. and smaller
feet AT San Diego. Mr. Taft notified
Diaz that no hostile move was intend
ed that the soldiers were simply on
the spot to maintain order
In April there was fight opposite
Douglas, Aria, between federals and