The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10
Many Americans, Fleeing From
Mexico, Are Disguised at
Lack Of Protection.
DEMAND STRONGER POLICY
Warped by Suffering. Their
Tales Are Unrcliable-Dras-
tie Handling Necessary.
nv DUDLEY HARMON.

ss,ci1i Correspondent OF tins suS uifh Admiral
Badoer's Fleet
VreI Ceux. April 3o.-The American
,ef,see from Mexico Ia a curious creature.
onportunlties for studying the species have
Ma, most abundant In Vera Cruz during
the last ten days.
One cannot but excuse all the idiosyn-
e,asles. to use mild term, and all the
bombast of the American refugee. when
ana remembers what some Of these people
have suffered mentally, IL not physically.
IN the last three years. Yet no matter
how much one sympathizes with them in
the sorry plight in which most OF them
now And themselves and what allow
sneer may be made for their point of
view It is impossible to accept at their
face value all the statements made by
these Americans now fleeing from Mexico.
In the first place the refugee Is irritated.
just raw all over. on the subject OF the
United States policy toward Mexico. That
IL the predominatine characteristic Of the
refugee whose presence in Vera Cruz has
meant the abandonment Of practically all
that ne possessed in the world. with only
the most vague prospects Of recovering
his property and interests.
The Original Article.
The burden OF the refugees complaints
has long been familiar TO the public In the
States. as It 10 practically Identical with
the great body OF the criticism OF the
Mexican policy which has been voiced
there But here one gets 1t In the orig
inal package. so to speak. and delivered
with vigor which for the moment makes
II seem a new instead Of an old story.
The first thing the refugee will say
when he begins to unburden himself 10
Z am an American citizen first Of all.
but and then he proceeds to denounce
the Washington policy as fatuous. stupid.
blind weak. vacillating and about every
thing that a policy should not be, ending
up with the declaration that IF the
United States Government does not go
through with this thing now I'll renounce
my American citizenship. and there are a
whole lot of others who will do the same
thing"
Whatever Washington may think. the
American who has been In Mexico any
where from one. to twenty-h years is
convinced. or was convinced, that he car
RED his citizenship with him. emitting
him 10 look 10 Washington for protec-
ton.
This protection he does not for one
moment consider Washington has prop
erly tried TO afford him. and for that rea-
son he is highly indignant. And when
one sees scores Of American refugees ar
irving in Vera Cruz wearing British flags
IN their button holes and with certificates
OF British citizenship In their pockets.
both measures being necessary TO escape
from Mexico city during part OF the
period Just closing. one does not wonder
very much at their attitude toward WASH
inEton.
Nor can one say much In reply when
the manager OF an American corporation
doing a large business in Mexico states
that he thinks II he pays the United
States Treasury the sum OF $4,000 a
year as a corporation tax he Ia entitled
to something from the United States
Government in return for his money.
what VIII Change Them.
II Washington will give the order for
an advance upon Mexico city and from,
that point let its forces radiate through.
out the country, assuring It's pacihcation
there will be no more enthusiastic sup
porters OF the Wilson Administration than
these same refugees
f the United States falls to take the
second step into Mexico. and II II with
draws from Vera Cruz without goinl
further, the disgust and anger of thes,
refugees will know no bounds. Their view
IL forcefully expressed in the statement
subscribed to by all foreigners now II
Vera Cruz. that In such event the III,
of All American VIII not be worth tn,
thirty centavos which Huerta says i
costs 10 hang a rebel. and their proper
TIES IN Mexico may then be scratched of
the!r l!st Of assets. These Americans ar,
very emphatic on this point. They insis
mat backward step now. or even
failure 10 go forward, will put an end t.
ail American interests In Mexico
The refugees have been the cause o
much trouble TO Rear Admiral Badger
commander in chief. and all associa te,
Win him In their receipt, care and des
ps'ch 70 the States In fact since the tw
Gays or lighting In Vera Cruz the refuge
problem has been the chief task confront
's the American commander and ha
ehgrossed most ~ the time OF the fee
s's1 OFFICERS night and day.
Inc getting Of tho refugees has bee
We least difcult part OF the problem
has been their disposition which ha
eiven the most trouble, and the vastnes
or The pro- lem In tho aggregate has bee
'areely responsible for orders which W
nono'edly would never have been enforce
'aa " been merely matter Of fe'