Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-19
TALES0F MEXICO
NOT ALWAYS FAIR
Views of Refugees Are Gen.
orally CoIored by lndivid-
uaI Interests.
SUPPORTERS OF HUERTA
CRITICISE U. S. POLICY
American People Likely to Hear
Many Versions During the
Coming Months.
BY wINGRovE BATHoN,

stan Correspondent of The Star with the United
States Forces at Vera Osus.
HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES
FORCES. VERA
CRUZ, Mexico. May CBy Mail Steamer).
Thousands of American refugees are
now crowding into Vera Cruz. into
Puerto Mexico, below here. and into
Tampico, above here. many Of them
shouting for Intervention. They declare
their determination to remain here, and.
as they express 1t, Follow Funston to
Mexico CITY," never doubling that he Is
going there or that the United States
has actually set out to make conquest
of this country. They cannot be brought
to believe that anything else is possible.
and correspondents on duty here who
express to them a dosbt OF further action
at this time by the United States are
looked upon as not having a real knowl-
edge Of the situation. 1t Is the old story
of the wish being father to the thought.
stantly urged by Consul Canada and Con-
sui General Shanklin, although such
urging Is not needed, are shipping as
many of these refugees to the United
States as they can persuade. cajole or
threaten into going. The refugees are
leaving their homes behind them here,
such as do go. SO they do not use the
phrase going home in speaking Of
going to the United States.
Stories Are Much Alike.
To the correspondents here these peo-
pie present a curious picture. The
stories they tell are of hardships and
sacrifice. These stories are In many cases
SO much alike that any one, with
altered names. will fit any other case.
For the most part these stories have
been cabled to the United States and are
familiar to readers there.
To get an intelligent perspective on the
reports Of these thousands OF refugees
the refugees themselves must be classi-
fled according to their interests. their
terms Of residence in this country. their
city or on an isolated ranch. This letter
will perhaps reach Washington at the
time many refugees are reaching their
destinations in the United States. where
their stories will be repeated. and. grant
ing that they all tell the truth-and they
usually do-their language betrays their
point Of view politically.
There Is the American who has lived
in the country or in a mining district
for thirty years. never visiting the
United States, who has married a
Mexican woman of the peon class and
raised a Mexican family. This class Is
fairly numerous. 1t resents the disturb
ance of its easy-going life in Mexico. Its
members cannot bring their bIexican
families to the United States for social
reasons. They have lost touch with
American affairs and ideas. They do not
know Of our moral growth at home.
They still cherish memories Of the Phil
adeiphia gas ring. the whisky frauds.
the Tweed domination and the Pacific
railroad scandals.
Disloyal to United States.
This class Of refugees is unconsciously
disloyal. not only to the United States
government. but to Anglo-Saxon ideals.
and it is contemptuous Of democracy.
These men have become part of the
feudal system of Mexico and they resent
the necessity Of facing the AngIo7Saxon
judgment Of today. They are anti-Wil-
son and ti-everything. They are
charter members of the 'sorehead' club.
They do not believe it possible that a
political party can disinterestedly en-
deavor to aid fellow human beings. They
sneer at President Wilson's Mobile
speech" in which he declared against
government by assassination and made
clear his policy of opposition to the ac-
QUESTION of foreign territory.
Then there is another class of ref
ugees. This includes the large number
of young Americans recently from col
lege and technical schools who came
fortune Mexico is their playground and
Mexican politics is but a continuous
farce to them. These boys are American
clear through. They are the joy of
every camp and it is not safe in their
presence to say word against Presi-
at home and the Mexican senorita is
only a joke to them. They are the Con-
necticut Yankee in King Arthur's court.
The Mexican cannot understand these
carry on his shoulders the fate of a
ten-million dollar corporation. whose
mines or machinery he designs or super
intends. but that does hot prevent his
going about in his shirt-sleeves, playing
tennis and bridge. and scandalizing the
solemn natives. These young men are
loyal and truthful. Their reports at
home may be taken at their face value.
Knows Only the Capital.
Again. there is the Mexico City resi-
lent American. He knows about as much
about the country of Mexico as the Pa
risian used to know about France. He
Knows San Francisco avenue. the prin-
,ipal thoroughfare of the capital. and
is cafes and theaters. He was a Huerta |
nan and he is sore that his faith has
1eeu sHdheu. ne olQ not DelleV0 lneTc |
vas any revolution because San Fran |
:isco avenue was undisturbed. |
The Mexico City man criticises Presi- |
lent Wilson for his virtues. In a rather |
upercilious manner he assures you that |
President Wilson does not understand |
he Mexican situation. He is satisfied |
With aristocratic, military government. |
He could not understand a democratic |
dea without a surgical operation. This !
8 the class that misled Henry Lane Will
on when he was ambassador at Mexico |
,ity. This is the class that refused to
'bey its own governments advice to
hat now fears that the people OF Mex
co are going to have a voice in Mexican
lffairs.
Among the refugees the women must
,e taken into account, inasmuch as they
lways have their full share in forming
,uplic opinion everywhere. Mexico is a
,aradise for the American middle-class
woman for the reason that servants are
heap. A servant can be had in Mexico
or the equivalent Of So month. Women
Who in the United States did their own
ave everything done for them in Mex
co. They ride in q coach. where at home
/. street car fare was worth saving. They
end a servant for mail and give and &C
ept invitations by private messenger. I,
they have time for bridge and teas. the
tiers and parties. They are persons of
Consequence.
At the same time. these refugee women
ave seen their husbands. who were mod
st salaried suburbanites at home raised
o the rank of members Of a superior
ace, belonging to important social clubs.
nd even on friendly terms with army
ff7cora and arfstOcratS, II