Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-29

i
/ His Interpretation Of the famous pro-
gram OF "watchful waiting" seems tt
be that Il is designed merely to facil-
i itate the elimination Of one military
dictator by another leaving order. Sc
| curity and the property interests OF
Americans and other alien residents to
sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Such Is the view of slightly re-
formed bandit and practical soldier
like Pancho Villa. But. looking back
at the facts and noting the coincidence
of the withdrawal order and the new
in surrection, is it possible to main
tain any other view? Has Mr. Will
sons policy ever struck deeper than
the elimination of a personality? Has
1t ever drawn the proper distinction
between intervening with the object
of withholding recognition from one
military claimant or granting II 10
another and intervening to prevent
anarchy. to protect the lives and prop
erty of American citizens and to dis
charge those obligations to European
nations which We have assumed in the
countries 10 the south Of us under our
sweeping Interpretation of the Monroe
Doctrine?
The president has given the public
many conflicting Impressions as to the
purport of his Mexican policy In the
beginning his idea seemed to be merely
TO force Huerta out Of office and to
compel the election of a successor by
methods which the United States could
indorse as constitutional" That pro-
gram was followed for many weary
months and seemed on the point Of
failing abso lutely when one of HUI
erta's subordinates arrested two United
States sailors in the port OF Tampico
and laid the basis for demand for a
salute to the American flag by way OF
reparation. Congress authorized the
president TO use the armed forces of
the United States TO secure reparation.
But after Vera Cruz was seized and
the A. B. c. arbitration was agreed
to the idea OF securing the PREPARATION
which the president had asked was
dropped A promise by Huerta to re-
tire was accepted in lieu of the salute
which was TO salye our honor. Yet
Huerta's resignation was due primar-
lily not TO the negotiations at Niagara
Falls, but to the activity OF his enc
mics at home. eliminating in the vic
tories al Tampico. Saltillo and Zaca-
tecag.
While the Niagara conference was
on Mr.. Wilson read some new and
startling meanings into his policy. He
said that we did not go into Mexico
to demand reparation for injured ma
tional honor, but to do "a work for
humanity" Later on he indicated that
that work for humanity would con-
sist in settling the agrarian problem
In Mexico breaking up the present
monopoly in land holdings and secur-
ing economic justice for the Sub
merged SIS per cent" OF Mexicois pop
ulation The mission OF the United
States in Mexico. he declared. was not
alone to secure the installation of an
Executive chosen by constitutional
methods. but to help that executive to
put the land back into the hands OF
the poems.
That was outlining a program OF
intervention which might last for a
generation. The Monroe doctrine
already wilsonized in other respects
was TO be amplified far beyond exist
| ing presidents The United States was
to do not alone what its obligations to
! it,, own citizens and to the nationals
| OF European powers. deprived by us
/, Of the privilege OF military interven
/ ton. compelled i; 10 do. but was &c
undertake to regulate the land hold
4 ing system Of Mexico for the bene'ii
of oppressed Mexicans. Yet Huerts
! is out, Carranza is in and Villa is pre-
pairing TO dispiace Carranza withou,
| a step of any sort having been taKer
either TO guarantee the restoration OF
: security and order In Mexico or to TURF
the poems wholesale into landed pro-
/ urietors. With the withdrawal OF th'
/ American army from Vera Cruz ef-
! fected and civil war renewed. Mex
leo would lapse into worse chaos thar
ever. and the United States would re-
sumo its old role of long distance rep
reservations TO Carranza, on one SIDE
and Villa. on the other. which it played
so tediously and ineffectiveiy Will
| Huerta and Carranza.
II the United States expects to keel
a restraining hand on the situation
in Mexico our troops should not eyac
uate Vera Cruz. In view Of the proto
coils signed at Niagara Falls we ar
entitled to demand some guarantee
OF the erection OF an orderly and re
sponsibie government at Mexico City
Our pressure TO secure that result WI
be far more effective IL we retain on
present foothold and base in Mexico
The country does not know yet VIVA
features have been Topped from Tn
. Wilson policy Yet whatever 1t Is to
day it's author must again attempt I
apply it and justify it. Even II IT ma
shrnnk again to the mere fiabbines
, OF "watchful waiting" 1t Would
, vastly better to wait Watchfully' froI
, the vantage point Of Vera Cruz than
. conduct a strategic retirement 7
hume