The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-18
TAFT
GIVES HIS VIEWS OF MEXICAN
SITUATION IN PEACE
DAY ADDRESS.
Criticises Administration Il u I
Lauds Its Efforts For Peaceful
Solution Of Trouble.


Solution Of Trouble.
NEW YORK. May r-wnnsm n.
Taft gave his views on the Mexican
situation in an address az the Free
oynagogue's celebration OF peace on
sunday While the former President
expressed little hope that the pending
mediation conference would accom-
piish ITS immediate purpose. he de-
clared that the offer OF mediation and
our acceptance was an important step
,o"ard the future settlement OF inter
national difficulties in the Western
hemisphere
ie asserted that there was no pop
ilar pressure for military policy
which the administration cannot re-
sist lie said that the people were de
termined 10 do their duty. even should
mat duty involve war. But for war.
ne added, the people have at present
little enthusiasm.
The criticism Mr.. Taft leveled q,
the w Nilson administration had TO do
Win the aid which. he said. the ad-
,,ililnlstIstion had given 10 the Mexican
ment. he said. that il. In our course
TOW ard Mexico during the past wear.
We mad not eNerted such direct in0u.
ence as We have to aid one of the con
tending PARTIES. We should not now be-
80 near general Intervention and war. "
IN conclusion. he called upon all
americans TO aid the President in his
efforts TO find peace.
Took 5ryan's Place.
secretary OF state Bryan. whose duties
AZ washington prevented him from ful-
nllng an engagement TO address the
EouEleeauon upon 'lnternational
edCe. oscar Straus. representative
OF me Unied States in The Hague
out that the Russian-JaDanese war
Was settled through mediation aud
mat interference by an outside power
IN an international dispute was no
iOnStr regarded as an unfriendly act.
MI. Iafts speech follows In part:
MS Is not time for wishing that
the past had been otherwise buf IN is
time Tor candor and for a clear un-
derstanding of the situation With
ueIerence 10 the Views OF others. Il ls
my judgment, that if. in cur course
toWSrd Mexico during the last year.
We had not eNerted such direct infiu-
ence as we have. TO aid one OF the
cohtendlng parties. we would NOT now
be so near general Intervention ard
war. Nor would we have been so re-
sponsible for law and order in Mexi-
co 10 the world. as we are now likely
TO be II new government comes info
power through our influence. But NOT
Iof THIS reason can | or any one who
agrees With me in this, fail to approve
ana applaud every honorable effor,
mat our government can make, and
y making TO avoid Intervention and
further conflict
For Service Of Mankind.
Threatened war between two
stable nations Is much easier TO deal
with than such condition as con-
fronts us in Mexico. I am glad 20
teel that there is a noteworthy move
ment toward the adoption OF practical
machinery for avoiding war between
responsible governments But what
we have in Mexico to contend with.
however. is the disease OF revolution
Eighty per cent OF the people are ig-
norant and illiterate. They have
suffered wrong and are struggling
bindly with purpose more or less i'll
dehned. IN a state OF society whose
bonds are almost entirely loosed. But
II We are to be involved in war be-
cause OF Mexican anarchy. let Us have
II fully understood that We 20 into
II in the service OF mankind as the
president phrases IL and not upon the
issue Of a mere punetilio in naval !
ceremonial
There are $4,000. 900 people in
Mexico. Much of IL is in the tropics. !,
Ihere are 100000 square miles We
have. say. $4,000 mobile troops of the
regular army NJ to take the field in /.
Mexico. II the available military
force OF McXicans. trained and made |
hardy by three years war. were 10
be massed against our troops we
should need a much larger force than
we now have to capture the large
strategic inland towns After we had
captured them and dispersed the
armies. the forces against us would I
adopt system Of guerrilla warfare. /
That Is easy 10 carry on and difficult
TO suppress In such country. The
pest expert estimate OF the force re-
quired by US 10 garrison the necessary 4
towns, suppress guerrilla warfare and /
tranquillize the country is 400 OOO
men. and II is said that this would [.
take two or three years and involve I
an expenditure OF Sl.0OO.OO0 a day I
The wisest Course.
The wisest course for us TO pursue Z
II the duty Is before us of suppressing
anarchy in Mexico. would be 10 block. 4
ade all the Mexican ports. because I
the military weakness Of the country .
is not in lack Of hardy men but In I
lack OF military supplies and in lack b
OF iOOu provision. If We could BE- con. /
tent 90 take the seaport, and block. I
adc the country while We were MAX. F.
ing reasonable preparation for the I
task. then when ready for action wei
could do tho work az the least cost Of 4
life and time and money.
But the public might grow impa. |
tent with this counsel Of prudence |
We would probably have to act uulck. |
ly. and possibly meet some painful
mishap due 10 lack Of preparation. {
The suppression Of guerilla bands
would be- drawn out n would be- a 4
dead pull which would wear the pa-
ticuce Of the nation and In which the
few lives lost in each little engage
ment would total large and would i
grow less aud less tolerablo as tho
drcary contest went on. Disease i'm I
that country would thin our ranks /
more than bullets. Then after having
lost thousands of dives and expended D.
a treasure double that which IL has
cost us 20 give 20 the world the Pan
anna canal. We would have on our
hands a hostile Mexican people with.
out any gratitude for our sacrifices
Pleads for President.
And so let us separate today
hoping and praying that out of the
complicated situation that We have
before vs., course may b. found
honorable and IN every Way directed /
by high national purpose which shall
Ea.