The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-15
OF LIFE
SUPREMEST FOLLY
Ex- -Nice-President Fairbanks De
cries Idea of Intervention
in Mexico.
HE BLAMEs sPECULAToRs
Likens Conditions to Those
Which Forced Selfish"
War With Spain.

| Indianapolis, Ind, August 1i-''To
sacrifice the life OF one soldier for all
the dollars which investors and spec
ulators have venturcd in Mexico would
he tho supremest folly" former Vice
President Charles w Fairbanks de-
, clared tonight in addressing the mid
summer meeting OF the Indiana Re
publican Editorial Association upon the
situation in Mexico.
If our spectators in Mexico suffer
pecuniary loss as the loss OF recurring
revolutions, that is matter for future
con- nsideration when a stable govern
ment and peace are fully established
in that country" he continued
1T is not sufficient warrant for shed
ding American blood"
President Wilson is doing all that
is possible TO handle the situation
peacefully and former President Taft
dealt admirably with the question:" MIR.
Fairbanks declared.
And believe the speaker added.
that Ambassador Wilson conducted
himself with poisc and good judg
ment. 1t seems TO me that the Mexican
situation is one that need not cause
serious alarm.
Duty IL Plain.
plain one. President Wilson is deal
Ing with II the best hc can and we
should endeavor to uphold his hands,
BY doing so. we shall make his task
n comparatively easy one.
1T is not an hour for either little
politics or sensational Journalism. che
camor of the jingoes should not be
allowed to drown the voice of rational.
deliberate statesmanshi
THE contingency of intervention
under all circumstances would he n
calamity which every American in the
best interests of his own country might
regard with grave concern.
In opening his address, Mr. Fair
banks referred TO the unrest prior to
the Spanish American War, and de-
cared much of the demand for war
was brought about by persons who
wished to profit through government
contracts or the exploitation OF the
natural resources OF Cuba.
TT is obvious that much of the agi-
tation which led TO the war with Spain
and ultimately imposed upon us the
responsibility of governing ten mil
lions OF people, and which caused the
government. To spend hundreds of mill
lions of dollars. was of the most selfish
and sinister character" Mr. Fairba nix 9
declared. "Men who wanted to fatten
on government contracts or who were
eager for military distinction or who
railroads. sugar and tobacco planta
tions and other resources Of wealth
were eager for war. The yellow press
played its selfish and nefarious part.
1t was moved by no consideration of
either patriotism or national honor.
Due to Selfish Ambitions.
Il have no doubt that the disturb
anccs in Mexico during the last few
years have been due in n greater or
less degree to the effort upon the part
of ambitious, cunning men to force in
tervention and possibly annexation to
the United States.
Intervention in Mexico means war
war means the destruction of human
lives and the expenditures OF hundreds
of millions of dollars. 1t means. fur
thermorc, the responsibility OF the
government of twenty millions OF peo-
pie for an indefinite period. We are
now engaged in governing ten mil
lions OF aliens as the result of the
Spanish American War-a war which
very probably could have been averted
II we had exercised a little more pa
tience. patriotism and elf-restraint."