The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-16
MEXICAN ELECTION
 FOR NEW PRESIDENT !. WAS GENUINE FARCE:
Cantinas Are Regarded As One of the Chief Curses of Country Seen By
 Visitor

Vera Cruz, Mexico, July S-(Special correspondence)-The glorious fourth has come and gone, the outburst of pa triotic fervor has passed and matters have settled down to their accustomed round which for the soldier consists in specu- lating as to what will be the outcome of the proposed effort to make peace between warning factions to the sailor what ports will be blockaded in case no way to peace can be found. to the civilian what will be the length of stay in a country where only per cent of it's population voted in the last election.
 By the way. election in Mexico is a travesty on the exercise of the governing power of the people. Elections here are held on Sunday. There are but few voters and these lew take care not to cast their votes for any man who has not the sufficient number of guns to en- force his will. Huerta Is decidedly unpop- ular here, and yet had these people voted he would undoubtedly nave carried the city, because his soldiers were too near for the peace of mind of the voter.
 Had the voters felt free to express their chc:ce 1t is quite likely that Villa would haze been chosen, but they coGid not vote, as this is now considered American te, ritory and the inha oIL ints are not ex- pec;e cd to take part in elections.
 If one were called on to name the great curse of Mexico he would say that it's cantinas lead. Going to breakfast in the morning in the short distance of four blocks 1 shall have to pass 10 saloons that range from the lowest doggery up to the swell cantina of the Hotel DiliSencia. Tomorrow I shall see the usual number of the poorer classes asleep in the grass I tl -r they have put in their system the night before. I never saw such a people 10 drink iItoxicants. Today as l passed q cnu.ina, which are always open and has e no screens. I saw a Mexican woman standing at the bar drinking Just like the men do. And l saw a woman of refined face marching down the street with a cigar between her teeth smoking with all the sang froid of the urchin who has his first cigarette.
 But General Funston is quietly pulling in the strings on the saloons and making ths regulations a trife more stringent from day to cay. Last night large number of them were closed at o'clock, end some of them were shut up that early on Sunday night, which is the main light for the canIinas corresponding 10 our Saturday. Though it was eiec ion day, the cantinas were open outside the city and no doubt some of the per c-Et of otes cast might have been bouGl-t for d coerac, drink trat these natives take to like flies do to n, lasses. The nstive who does not drink in this country is the oxceI ton. and if tie Apu-Saloon league is looking for a real promising fielI where tre liquor abounos they ought to stsit in Mexico.
 The New York Herald articles seem to have proven less interesting than at hrat, as not much is heard of them now. l met a man in the portales the other night who was wildly excited and declared that the articles by the paper would undoubtedly result In the expulsion of Mir Bryan frcan the cabinet. When 1 ou- the ques- ton up to him if he would quit his place because some man, whose reputation for vcracity was not of the best, should cir- culate tales about him, if he would step down and out it kinder sobered him. And wher l reminded him that Secretary Bryan mad lived on abuse fo- 30' years and o.t of it emerged S one of the great figures of America, he left nc ,n more thoughtful frame of mind.
 get sick and wearied of hearing so much abuse of the heads of our govern n.snt oy some of the os pie nere. They seem to feel that the taxpayers of Amer ica must not be considered at all, but that cn.y their beleaguere dollars should be the concern of the United States.
 Ioor old taxpayer back home. He fo1- lows t,ae blow, leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground bearos the burden of the world on his back" and would be saddled with still more Val debts but for .he fat that the people are beginning to get some glimpse of what warless country vclld be, and or. more concerned over the score of the home team than what oil company wins this contest which greed is declared to be responsible for.
 At any rate, the score Of the home team fsi today would be the llorc interesting to BILL SYKES.