The Washington times., 1914-11-13
WAR IN MEXICO?

If it be true, as recent reports
state, that General Carranza has
fully twice as many troops standing
loyal to him as can be counted by
General Villa, there will be general
surprise in this country, and increas-
ing wonderment at the alignment
that has followed the Aguascalien-
tes convention of military chiefs. 1t
has been assumed that Villa had the
support of a vast majority of the
troops and their leaders. The fact
was not regarded as very conclusive
evidence that he was the right man
to lead the Mexican nation; but on
other grounds American sympathies
have leaned toward Villa. Now it
appears that the action at Aguas-
calientes in naming Gutierrez as pro-
visional President has not the ap-
proval even of nearly all the men
who, at the time it was taken were
supposed to have signalized their
support of it.
General Carranza has left Mexico
City, doubtful, it is explained, about
the loyalty of the troops there, and
is prepared to operate between that
city and the coast. Very much will
depend on the attitude of Zapata
and other minor leaders who have
heretofore held themselves pretty
thoroughly Independent of Villa and
the constitutionalist movement.
While sympathizing with the general
purposes of the Carranza-Villa en-
terprise, Zapata has not chosen to
get himself much involved with it.
In his own sphere of influence, Za-
pata has organized a scheme of ad-
ministration that is entirely salts
factory to himself and his followers.
His state of Tamaulipas is one of
the smaller ones of the republic,
and one in which ownership of land
is most concentrated. A few fam
lilies nominally own about all the
land in the state. But that has not
concerned Zapata, because he has
calmly taken the land away from
them and turned it over to the use
of the people; and the people, having
a chance to work and earn a living,
are getting better and better salts
fled with their conditions. They don't
care about reorganizations that they
fear may impose on them the neces-
sity of buying and paying for land
that they are now using without pay
ing anything. Zapata has an ele-
mental notion that the land ought to
be for the use of the people rather
than the qualification of the land
lords, and that those who do the
work of producing wealth from it
ought to get that wealth. Very
rude and rudimentary economic i'm
preston, to be sure; but one that,
having gained a firm lodgment in
the mind of the Zapatistas, and that,
being supported by about the entire
community in which Zapata is leader,
is proving difficult of eradication.
Between Villa and Carranza hos
tilities seem almost inevitable. The
Washington Government is making
every effort to compose the differ
ences, operating through its usual
plan of dealing with the different
factions as if they were equals, and
giving no more recognition to one
than the other; trying 20 mediate
and conciliate. The outlook is not
encouraging at this moment; rather,
it has been growing more uncomfort-
able for some weeks past. The north
is seemingly strong for Villa; the
south has never been united in sup
port of any particular regime, and
is not expected long to stand by Car
rama; while Carranza's abandon
ment of ti,e seat Of government at
the very outbreak of trouble appears
to leave open to Villa the route to
Mexico City, possession of which is
half the battle for real leadership in
the country.
Renewal of civil war, in which will
be engaged greater forces than Mex
leo has heretofore brought together,
is seemingly imminent. But it is
still difficult to believe it will be
long-continued. The necessity for
American Intervention may not de-
velop.