The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-02
VILLAS SOCIALISM
BASED ON NECESSITY
His Remarkable Power Arises
From His Ability TO
Satisfy His Men.
THEY SEE JUSTICE IN HIM
Rebel Leader Laughs at Those
Who Call Him 1llitcratc-
Can Read and Write.
THEY SEE JUSTICE IN HIM

Fro q Correspondent ~ THE Sun.
CHIHUAHUA Mexico. Jan. l--Socialism
under "A despot is the peculiar political con-
dition In existence in this the capital city
OF the largest Of Mexican States. Prac-
ticaliy every thing is being operated In the
name of the rebel state government and
Pancho villa. dictator Of northern Mexico.
10 directing operations.
The street ear system. the stores. the
electric light plant. the brewery. clothing
factory and the railroad between Chihua-
hua and Juarez--even the gambling
houses--are all being operated by the
rebel government. and all Of them are
yielding n profit. In some of them the
prices have been cut below those charged
by private individuals. In the case OF the
railroad. where persons are not able 10
pay and their necessity for travel exists,
they travel without pay.
villa has not yet put into existence his
plane FOR the operation OF II state bank.
but he is preparing these plans and the
bank will bc IN operation in "a few days.
A mint for coming gold and silver Will
also be In operation IN a short time.
villa does not risk his reputation as a
sagacious man by predicting the outcome
OF his venture. He mas the sense to
realize that he dominates the situation
now. that Ly his sheer strength he is
able to control.
Life Penalty for Graftins.
Under different conditions--with the
ballot ruling instead of the rihe-Nilla
Vili not say what effect his socialistic
methods might have upon the people.
But to-day villa says do this and II is
done. The man who would steal or graft
from any one Of the enterprises now
operating under rebel supervision knows
that he would pay the penalty with his
life.
Villas word is the only law that the
city knows. He liz feared to-day AS no
other man Is feared In Mexico. He Yields
more power than ANY other man on the
North American continent. word from
him means the life or death Of man.
There is no habeas corpus, no appeal.
Under such rule long az villa can
maintain II and refrans from grating
himself. his socialistic plans are sound TO
be profitable to the people.
The power of villa. his sudden rise TO
such heights, is "A puzzle even to those
who have known him for years. Six
months ago ne WINS refugee in II Paso
whittier he had fled from Mexico city
when he WAS released from prison.
Prior to the revolution OF Madero villa
was known as a bandit, ''the terror of the
mountains" and n price was upon his
head. Diaz and his soldiers had for years
hunted for Pancno Villa When Madero
ret IN power the machinery Of revolt that
later gathered such momentum that 1t en-
quilted himself Pancho villa threw his
band to the aid of Madero and was made
q Colonel He was called patriot by the
little man who would nave made a
Utopia Of Mexico.
After Madero's elevation to the Presi-
GAncv Villa was continued AS Colonel
Of the irregular troops. When Oro1co
rose In rebellion and Nictoriano Huerta
was placed in command of the Federal
army sen, AGAINST him Villa was ordered
to join the iuerta army. but Huerta was
one OF the former piaz Gcnsra and did
not HE villa, and villa did not like
1iu,rta
= scplinc OF the army was i,ot To be
absorbed by man who had roained the
mountains and killed and robbed for
"Jal. so Villa chafed under II. and finally
openly rcbellod against Iluerta. lie was
arrested ANA sent TO Mexico city a
prisoner. For months he remained In Jail.
but finally escaped 10 the United States.
He boosted In IL Paso that Madero the
President. had made II possible for him
to escape. and this was generally credited.
Villas Double object.
While Villa remained in FL Paso
Hucrta returned to Mexico city, victorious
over Oroxco, and then came the coup by
which Madero was killed, Huerta elevated
and the resulting revolution headed by
Venustiano Carranza, Governor OF
Coahuila. villa declared that he would
help to avenge the killing OF his chief
and openly boosted that he had "A double
object In taking the field since Huerta was
the new President. To avenge and be re-
venged was his explanation.
He slipped out of FL Paso one dark
night with a borrowed horse, one six
shooter and $3.50 in cash To-day. less
than eight months later. villa is dictator
Of the State OF Chihuahua, his word Its
only law. and he commands no less than
10000 armed men. His brigade OF artil-
lery Is greater than any artillery brigade
IN the Mexican regular army. His men
are well disciplined. they are better
clothed than any Mexican rebels that
have ever been seen In northern Mexico
and they look more like soldiers.
Villa "the bandit" shoots his men for
looting or stealing, but villa the chief
connscates whole estates, factories. rail-
chalantly as he used to hold up and rob
an ore train In the mountains. The
moneys derived from their operations he
applies TO the payment Of his army. In
THE respect only, his work is soclalistic
but inasmuch as he declares all able
he argues that HE work is truly socialistic
In all his actions villa has shown 1,
wonderful facility for administration. His
years in the hills. coupled with the
him to act quickly. to meet a situation i'm
mediately without hesitation. This has
been the secret Of his success thus far
His mon are ruled as with a hand OF
iron; they are shot for breach Of disci-
pllne. yet they are all loyal viva villa 20
sounds from all parts of the battlefield as
they go into action. "Viva villa :" Is the
password to their hospitality from a for
eigner,
N!la says he is fehting to restore con
ht.tutional government. to avense the
death Of Madero, but his soldiers shout
There FIR