Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-07-16
FORMER GOVERNOR
Of VERA CRUZ ON
MEXICAN SITUATION
Was Executive of State for Eight
cen Years.
MENTIONED FOR PRESIDENT
Declares Mexico No More Difficult to
Govern Than Any Other Nation
Decries Publicity Given Move
ments of Villa and Zapata.

Or Of the state for Is years, he is
rich, cultured, and to him repair the
doubtful for advice on business and on
politics = particularly on politics,
though the dignif1ed ex-governor viii
tell you that he has retired from poll
tics and has only an onlooker's inter
est in the passage of events. His re-
tirement from politics was coincident
with the resignation OF Porfrio Diaz
OF the presidency.
More than once when the distracted
country has been putting its favorite
conundrum, who can hold down the
lid when Huerta drops out?" there has
been mention of the grave old-time
governor, under whose dominion Vera
Cruz remained staid, prosperous and
al peace though all the rest Of the
country struggled and revolted and
rioted-but Don Teodoro will tell you
that this is idle taIk-that he aspires
to no such lofty post in the settlement
Of his country's difficulties.
Content to Hope for Peace.
He is content to hope for peace, to
do what he can to bring about peace
and for the rest he is satisfied among
his books and pictures-and he has
some pictures worthy of anybody's at
tention. There is a Murillo on the
walls Of the home-so unprepossessing
externally, so beautiful within-that
might well be in one of the great
museums, and a Vatican that is I'M
matched this side of the big water,
and others fit for their company, but
as he says-you ought to see his real
collection in his real home in Jalapa,
capital of the state, now the camp Of
the biggest federal force this side of
Mexico City.
In another country this big eagle
beaked ex-governor could not have es-
capped being the sage of Cinco de
Mayor street." Like others of his
class he has held himself aloof from
the Americans since the occupation,
but his home attracts all that is going
on in the way of Mexican activity.
What do you see ahead for Next
COZ" was the first question put to him
after the formalities had been ex-
hausted.
Peace" he replied. What else is
there for anybody to look forward to?"
And how is that peace to be brought
about?"
Own People to Settle Troubles.
by the efforts of the best of her
own people. Mexico is no more difficult
to govern than any other nation. We
have our turbulent classes, and we
have more than our share of people
who have 40 education, but the ideals
of Mexicans who are thoughtful
enough to have ideals are those of
every civilized race on earth. We are
unfortunate in that a man of egotism
has seized the headship of the govern
ment; the people cannot rest under
such a Tuler-neither will they be any
more content under some soldier of
fortune who seizes his power. Such a
situation has confronted many nations
and it has always been settled in the
same way-when it has been settled
without scandalizing the world. The
time will bring forward the mana
man whose principles are honesty and
Justice, who is firm enough to suppress
the factions whose interests lie in ex-
pIoitation, but who proceeds without
thought of personal vengeance or per-
sonal interest-who is competent to
deal with the situation.
And do you know such a MANI"
Hits at Villa and Zapata.
There are many; you Journalists
have given the world the idea that
there are none but adventures and
grafters among US; just as you-and
include the journalists of my own
country-have builded such men as
Villa and Zapata into world figures, by
your exaggerations-by your multiply
ing the number of their followers ten
fold and endowing them with pictur-
esQue characteristics they do not pos
sess. Even among the factionalists
there are men Of sufficient intelligence.
principle and patriotism to restore
/ peace in Mexico, given the oppor-
tunity,"
And who, in your Judgment, is the
best man to succeed Huerta?"
u DO not care to attempt to name
any particular man. The mediators
will doubtless arrive at a satisfactory
solution, including an acceptable sue
/ cessor to Huerta. l suppose they
went with plenary powers to accom-
plish such a mission"
Then you think Mexico is capable
Of being paciied without interven-
tion?"
Oecries Intervention.
Intervention! What call has your
nation to intervene in the affairs Of
mine? A pacification of conquest has
no place in the mind of a modern ma
ton"
Hasn't a nation a right and duty
To protect its own citizens from muir
>~oo~~~>~-~
MAY S0I VI THE FALL OF MAN