The Washington times., 1913-11-10
CARRANzA FACTOR
IN MEXICAN AFFAIR
Leader of ConstitutionaIists
Army Likely to Prove the
Man of the Hour. ..-

is a new strong man OF Mexico loom
ing up on the horizon of that unhappy
and distracted country in the person OF
Gen. Venustiano Carranza. head of the
army Of the Constitutiopalists?
That is what Washington would like
10. know, what the country would like
to know, and what the rest of the
world would like to know. To tell the
exact truth. little is known about him
here, and there has been remarkably
little discussion of Carranza's person
atty Considering that he may at any
time become the head Of the great re-
public to the South and may play a
part in history not less conspicuous
than that played by Porfirio Diaz.
Constitutionalist Representatives here
say that General Carranza, II he fights
will prove to be the man of the hour,
the man whom Mexico needs to guide
her affairs at this important crisis In
her national history. This view is at
variance with the opinion held in some
quarters that Carranza. though man
of good purposes, is not big enough
and forceful enough to dominate
Mexico and restore order there.
Praise for Carranza.
representatives here about, Carranza
are worth while considering. though
due allowance no doubt has to be made
for their source They are to the ef-
feet that Carranza is an able soldier,
a big man of affairs, a capable ad-
ministrator. with broad-gauged and
progressive view of things, and like
wise man of iron purposes who is fit
for the ordeal of the Mexican Presi-
dency.
Carranza is a farmer and wealthy,
He is of the state Of Coahuila, in
northern Mexico. He Is of pure Spanish
blood, is well-educated, and for a time.
pursued the study of law at Mexico
City.
The fact that he is from Northern
Mexico is rated as of no small i'm
portance by those who know the
country. The people OF Northern Mex
ico. are of type distinctly superior TO
,Ihe southern Mexicans. those of Mex
iao City and farther south. The south
.ern Mexicans are dinstincuy inferior.
Too much pulQue and mescal. in part
at east. account for their degeneracy.
Caranza is a big man physically, and
credited with intellectual bigness. he
opposed the elder DiaZ and supported
Madero He was offered the post Of
secretary of the interior in the Madero
cabinet but refused il. He was made
governor of Coahulla, and has shoW1
himself possessed of capacity as an ad-
ministrator.
Grating officials are as thick as hops
in Mexico, but Carranza is reputed not
10 belong TO this class and not to coun-
tenance such methods in others. A
story told of him concerns the assess
ment of the property Of a wealthy
himself assessed at double, the value OF
his property Though surmisinC that
the local official who was responsible
was looking for bribe, he paid no at
.tention to him, but went straight TO-
Carranza.
Calls for Praise.
Let me see the papers, said the
governor. when told the case and the
circumstances.
They were showed him. He read them
over with care, took a pen. scratched
out the original figures, and set down
half the amount. signing his own name.
Carranza is credited with much hu-
manity for a Mexican leader in this
bloody time. Nevertheless. he is stern.
One story told is of a Mexican officer
of his force who attacked woman.
he was shot by order of Carranza In
half an hour Another officer was
guilty of robbery. Carranza listened TO
the story, and before the day was over
the officer, who was of the consutu-
tionalist force, had been taken out pc
fore an adobe wall and likewise shot by
a firing squad.
Csrranza is naturally kindly and
humane man, if his friends here est-
mate him rightly. but he insists on
good order and discipline among his
troops. 1t is believed he has no great
ambition to be president of the repub- |
lie. because he does not like the cor |
rupt atmosphere of Mexico City. Still, |
n he is borne along to that position, |
he will not shirk his responsibilities, |
il the men who know him have rightly |
Ii,