South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-04
BY MARGARET ToBIN.

The United States is facing one of
the most serious international prob
lens it has even been called upon to
solve in the present Mexican situation.
in the opinion OF DR.. s. d. Fess, presi-
dent OF Antioch college, and a repub-
slican representative in the national
Hcongress. DIR. Fess has been a student
fof the Monroe Doctrine and interested
an the present crisis because of that
fact. He gave his views on the stu
hation while here TO lecture before the
Preachers institute Friday and Satur
day.
Its solution involves the continuance
tof ti1e Monroe doctrine. the United
Etates' historic attitude toward Latin
bAnlerican countries that has become a
lpart OF the nations international
lcreed. as DR.. Tess sees il.
1 II brings this country face TO face
with the possibility OF assuming a re-
Esponsibility for weaker and back
kyrard nation that may drag through
fThich our responsibilities toward
kCuba, the Philippines and other in
lsuIar wards. is light indeed.
The situation as DR.. Fess views it
hand as ne says il is regarded at Wash
ington, leaves not an inch Of neutral
lEround upon which the United States
may stand. This nation must act, he
tsays. and action will surely involve
Responsibility and may involve war.
War he regards as imminent and
does not see from the present cOmpli-
.Cations, how IL can be aVerted. The
recent farcical election in Mexico. he
kSays. has precipitated a crisis. II
lessons the possibility of a peaceable
sOlution and makes intery entiOn seem
more imperative.
Mexico. DR.. Fess declares. is a prob
lem that the government at Washing
ton is very much lOathe TO have on
Its hands. Pres Wilson is doing all
in his power 10 restore order and con-
-StitutiOnal government In the turbu-
lent little nation without active inter
sventiou and thus TO put NeXlcO's prob
ems into MeXicO's own hands. DR..
lFess bespeaks for the president the
beartiest cooperation of American
citizens In his arduous task.
The situation in Mexico. DIT. Fess de-
clares. has been serious for a long
time although IL IS only in the last
year that II seemed 10 press for Solu-
don. Pres. Taft recognized the gray
-ity Of the situation before the end of
his term and did all in his power to
avoid bequeathing a war TO his sue
ceSsor He called both democrats
and republicans into counsel on the
situation. He did his best to pursue
a line OF action that would not COM
nit the incoming administration TO
any policy but would leave the new
president free.
DR.. Fess explained the conditions in
Mexico that make government there
a difficult problem. IL is a nation Of
ten million inhabitants and OF these
nine millions are Indifferent to the
state. They make up a class that IS
absolutely uninterested in government.
They have no knowledge OF the pres
ent situation. Many of them. he says.
scarcely realize that a revolution is in
prOgreSS around them.
OF the other million. he says. not
more than one hundred thousand par
ticipate in the elections and govern
.ment And thus. while Mexico is in
name a republic. il cannot 5e said TO
have popular government.
Should the United States take a
hand IN directing the affairs OF its
government its problem would bS tn
rouse this lethargic mass TO an inter-
est in political affairs A task that is
quite impossible he thinks.
To further cOmplicate matters the
governing class is volatile Dr. FeSs
thinks. They are restless for change
and have a passion FOR precipitating
discOrd. Factions are constantly
springinE up among them that result
in rivalrv and revolutions.
Dates Back tO DiaZ.
The present difficulty dates hack Ia
the rule OF Diaz. Or. Fess said. ''Diaz