The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-23
WILSON'S CRITICS

The Mexican situation was handed down to Woodrow Wilson by the Taft administration. It was a tense situ- ation at that time and the Republic ans were rather anxious to shift tho burden of responsibility on the new administration.
 The Wilson administration moved cautiously, waiting to see if the sit uation in the revolution torn repub- lie would not right itself without in- reference or suggestion from us.
 Wilson and his cabinet have been sharply criticised for the policy of "watchful waiting"
 Now that the break has come and that actual hostilities have resulted, the same critics are busy upbraiding the president for being too nasty.
 The presidents personal message to congress was characteristic of him. A calm and simple statement of facts, without attempt at oratory or to sway public opinion or influence congressional action.
 When he came to the Tampico in- cident, the real cause of the outbreak of hostilities, the president said
 Admiral Mayo regarded the ar- rest as so serious an affront that he was not satisfied with the apologies offered, but demanded that the flag of the United States be saluted with special ceremony by the military commander of the port.
 The incident cannot be regarded as a trivial one. especially as two of the men arrested were taken from the boat itself-that is to say, from the territory of the United States; but had it stood by itself, it might ance or arrogance of a single officer. Unfortunately, it was not an isolated case. A series of incidents have re- gently occurred which cannot but create the impression that the repre- sentatives of General Huerta were willing to go out of their way to show disregard for the dignity and rights of this government, and felt perfectly safe in doing what they pleased, mak- ing free to show in many ways their irritation and contempt
 "A few days after the incident at Tampico an orderly from the U. s. S. Minnesota was arrested at Vera Cruz while ashore in uniform to oo- tain the ships mail, and was for a time thrown into jail. An official dis patch from this government to the embassy at Mexico City was with held by the authorities of the tele- graphic service until peremptorily de manded by our charge d'affaires in person. So far as I can learn, such wrongs and annoyances have been suffered to occur only against the representatives of the United States. l have heard of no complaints from other governments of similar treat ment
 subsequent explanations and for nal apologies did not alter the popu- lar impression, which it is possible it had been the object of the Huerta ista authorities to create. that the government of the United States was being singled out with impunity for sights and affronts in retaliation for it's refusal to recognize the preten- tions of Gen. Huerta to be regarded as the constitutional provisional pres ident of the republic of Mexico"
 Yet there were Republicans in the Senate and few in the House, who stated during the debate that Presi- dent Wilson had come to them with an iron clad request, designed to eu. force the action of congress favor able to his plans.
 Now that the break has really come and blood has been spilled in the historic city of Vera Cruz, we have no doubt that President Wilson after his period of "watchful waiting" will go fast enough to suit even the most radical iingn.
 American craftsmanship played an