The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
BIZ FRANK @. CARPENTER.


In THIS. my last letter from Mcx-
leo. I want TO give you some OF
tho undercurrents OF public opin-
Ion which arc rapidly changing the
possibilities of this republic. Tho man
who thinks that tho troubles hero are
only the struggle Of tho ins and the
como aroused to tho possibilities Of
liberty. and there is a strong hope that
tho whole social and economic system
will DO reorgan.zed. So far tho re-
public is still in the melting pot. 1t
Is difficult to discuss parties. for parties
are only in their formation.
Ono reason for this is the long auto
cratic reign of Dias. For more than a
generation he controlled tho country
With an Iron hand. In which was hold
n two edged sword. Every head which
rose above the average level was cut
OF. and his enemies we're wiped out
without regard to anything but the
success of the administration. Diaz
often said that he believed in much
government and but little politics. Tho
result was that political parties wore
practically extinguished by his long
reign.
When Madero became president It was
with a promise OF reorganization. lie
preached reform and equal rights to
ALL and he succeeded In planting tho
germs OF discomfort among the com
mon people. He preached. but he did
not accomplish. and his nonaccomplish-
ment was ono of the elements that
brought his overthrow. Tho new ad-
ministration OF Huerta Is now preach
Ing and promising. and parties are
again forming. There may be another
revolution or so before order is brought
out Of chaos. but there is little doubt
but that the old Mexico has passed
AWAY forever. and that new one Will
eventually take Its place.
Dividing the big Estntea.
Among the great questions which
are agitating the country are those
which relate to the landed estates and
their owners. The people are begin
ming to realize that II is not right that
900 families should practically own
this mighty territory. Mexico is d.
vided into enormous ranches, some of
which contain millions OF acres and
are worth many millions of dollars.
These estates have been listed for tax
alton ut many times less than their
value. \ property worth Sl.oVO,uUo
In gold will be assessed at 100000. and
ono worth 100000 may be assessed At
10000. For long time there were
no taxes on unemployed lands. and the
great estates are still returned at such
a low valuation that their owners pay
practically nothing to the government.
on the other hand. the small holders
are taxed to the full.
The man who has n 2o0-acre farm.
which may be worth $1,000 cares
not list II for $500 as the discrepancy
is too evident. AS q result he pays
taxes on very nearly the full value.
This has long been the grievance Of the
small landowners. and they are now
among the discontents. who are In the
snddle They want n reorganization of
the tax system and they have made
themselves so felt that this question Is
discussed all over Mexico.
The Communal Lands.
Another movement. which agttatcd
the Chamber of Deputies and which
forms the text of many stump speeches
is the restoration OF the communal
lands to whom they formerly belonged
About nifty or sixty years ago every
town in Mexico had certain lands sur.
rounding IT which were divided among
the citizens. and each householder had
his own little plot. upon which he could
raise enough corn for his family, and
whore he could pasture his cows.
These blocks of land. with the town
in the centre. were often in tho heart OF
or adjoining 4 big estate. which had
como from grants given by the kings
OF Spain centuries ago. The owners OF
the estates wartcd the lands 10 add &c
their already large tracts. and so dur
ing the administration OF President