Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-20
[special Correspondence

| Especial Correspondence
Washington, April 20-That the
Huerta government is playing great
game of domestic politics for the pur-
pose of uniting the Mexican people
back OF 1t against this government and
| to the Huerta kite. is declared here
in quarters thoroughly familiar with
Mexican internal affairs and with the
international aspect of the present diff
aculty.
I The American people, as a matter OK
] fact, have been utterly in the dark
about Mexican developments. The
state department here has pursued a
policy of such secretiveness that even
congress has not known what was go
I ing on.
Extent Of Insults Unknown.
! Ii appears. however, that there is
much more to the story of insults Of
/ fered this country than has yet become
! known. For not less than three months,
according to one of the best-intormed
men in Washington, probably the best
{ Informed on the Mexican situation,
I there has been going on constant
badgering. hectoring and annoying Oh
Americans. in the regions controled by
! the federals. This is not Inclusive Oh
! actual murders and assaults. OF wnlch
only the partial story has Leaked out
and for which the federals are by no
means alone to blame.
T Fire on Oil Properties.
J Some of the facts about the recent
insults to Americans came out recent
" from, administration quarters. oIle
of the things not mentioned was lhe
firing of shells into the Waters-Pierce
oil properties at Tampico oS q leuei ai
pnnhoa,. For this there was no ex-
c,se because no constitutionahsts Were
in the vicinity and the performance
looked like a deliberate attempt 10 oe-
stroy American property.
+ The point 10 the series OF annoyances
and insults, eliminating with the mas
incident at TanIpico, IS that theE peai
the earmarks of having oeeh stuuieu.
This is so far the case that there -
ground for the belief that the f1uei "a
| eoyernme connived at them. II Seems
Uncomfortable that Huerta did not kho"
what was going on, in we" Oh ms
markable vigilance In otner oirestiohs
II leads up to the suspicion tnat ne has
been seeking TO force an Amer ieai
demonstration in the nope OF orihs IA
about Mexican patriotic demons.ra
ton, which would, perhaps. inpei Sai
rama to unite with it, and cause ehe
constituJional!sts to make coii III,
cause against the United STATES. Ina
would give Huerta opportunity 10 pose
as the savior Of Mexico against
fore;er, foe and at the same time sub
ordinate Carranza.
Public Sentiment Rules Huerta.
Under such circumstances. 1t IS con-
sidered probable here that whethel
Huerta salutes the flag or does not WI
depend on the developments with re-
!; spect TO Mexican public sentiment ant
whether Carranza or some OF his lead
ers show resentment at American ac'
tivity.
; a factor in the situation Is the re
, cent military successes Of the consti
; tutionalists. They have made mucf
more progress than has been fully dis
closed here. The federals are steadil!
being forced south and have beer
worsted in a. half dozen battles am
skirrnishes. 1t is said to be possible
, even. that the constitutionalists vii
! take Tampico in a short time. Thi
80
. Americans to seize that port.
, Brains Back Of Huerta.
4 Another phase of the situation is ina
4 back of Huerta stands coterie o
= Cientificcs men of brains and clever
= mess. They are the real directors @
the Huerta regime. They include Mo
heno and Lozano in the cabinet. ST.
; another is Pineda, one of the cleveres
a Of the Cientigcos. He is playing 81
= part behind the scenes. These me
= may be relied on to handle the politica
y and diplomatic phases Of Mexican at
: fairs with skill
Il Internal Crisis Probable.
I" With an American demonstrate
4 against Mixico threatened and wit
y the constitutionalists winning victorie
y against the federals, Il is deemed nor
= than possible here that there Will 500
y be another internal crisis. An uprisin
against Huerta and his dispositio
would not be at all surprising. Pres
q tence Of American forces in such a
event might be badly needed
Leaders in Congress are talking free
W " about seizure Of Mexican port
. However. 1t is not unlikely that
% tHuerta does not apologize blockaG
" of Mexican ports will first be tried
% order to cut off customs revenu
70 lstarve Huerta out, allow the constitt
y, tionalists to operate against the fedel
ais and, perhaps, avoid the need
an armed clash between American
" and Mexicans.