The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-15
ROOSEVELT THE CRITIC

(Afexican Bureau of InformattOn.) ; Perhaps the most unfortunate thing in the controversy regarding the ad- ministration's policy towards Mexico is the unnecessary introduction of pol itics. It is quite natural for the Pro gressive and Republicans to attempt to discredit President Wilson's admin ictration- and his policies. but why should Mexico in this case become tse innocent bystander is beyond our comprehension. Perhaps President Wilson's administration has otherwise been so successful as not to furnish anything else worthy of attack.
 However the case may be, the cheap political attack upon President Will sons Mexican policy by MT. Roose- welt is only indicative of the fact that even he will disregard facts and ham per the progress of a nation strug- gling for liberty, in order that he might take a shot at a political op- poRent.
 Here are some of the other things MT. Roosevelt would subscribe to, if we understand him clearly. He would rather than recognize the champions of Mexico's 1iberty,-tlne revolution ists,-a accept the reign of a bloody die tator, VfctoIiano Huerta. He is per fectly willing to subscribe to murders performed by Huertas who in a delib-
  President of the republic and un- hesitatingly became dictator of the county. He does not deem those murders by Huerta worthy of any serious attention, but, when in the struggle for the independence the rev oluti tionists killed their oppressors,. MT. Roosevelt denounces them as robbers and n1urderers.
 We quote the New York Evening Globe in answer to MT. Roosevelts s charges:
 One Of the first events under Huer- ta,A administration was the murder of Madero and Suarez. Soon Diaz. his partner in crime. fled from Mexico to save his life A little later Huerta locked up a majority of the Mexican Congress and dispersed the rest.
 Yet Colonel Roosevelt says Huerta should have been promptly recognized as the legitimate president. A large part of Mexico refused to acknowledge the validity of his usurpation. But this, according to Colonel Roosevelt, is inGonsequen Should Joffre mur- der Poincare or Kitchener put King George out of the way, Joffre and Kitchener should be recognized by telegraph as the heads of the govern ments Of France and Great Britain.
 As to the alleged neddling by the President, further on assailed as not sufficient meddIesome, one wonders where Colonel Roosevelt gained his facts The President. during the try ing months of watchful waiting, did nothirig, except to urge on Mexicans the desirability of re-establishing a Iegitinate government in Mexico-one that could be fairly regarded as rep resentative of the Mexican people. Far from helping the constitutionalist party, as Roosevelt charges, he main tained an em bargo against the ship RG6a1ri r. Iiation, although nomina1ly equal in terms, helped Huerta, for Huerta could buy in Europe as he did, while the only place where the constitution a1ists could buy was in this country. What Colonel Roosevelt calls medd- 1 ling was bound to occur. II the ern- l bargo was maintained, we meddled in behalf of Huerta- If suspended, we | meddledt in behalf of garraraza and l Villa In fact. there was no meddling This was clear at last even to sus- picious Mexicans. Although this coun- 1 try for obvious reasons, could not re- IScognize Huerta, it was not regulating Mexican internal affairs. The Presi- dent had agents in Mexico, but such l were necessary he was to have l trustworthy information.
 ] As to the contention of MT. Roose- l velt that the occupation of Vera. Cruz was war and thus for months we were at war, this represents mere yer bal hair splitting. It was not war l nor does the world or Mexico regard I it is such.
 There is yet a chance that Mexico
 will reha.bilitate herself, and as long I as such a shred of chance. remains It \ would be unwise as well as a wicked I thing to put our army in motion In l justice to his own great career Colonel I Roosevelt should refrain from a crit1-
 cisn whose only effect will be- to | make the difficult task of the Presi- l - .@-,,.e, f4iFfic7lIf