The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-24

lact that ne had resigned was made
public only tonight
choice, while if the plan indorsed BIZ
the Mexican representatives should be
adopted and 4 neutral should be
chosen, we would have secured no
practical results but still be confront
cd with the insurmOuntable fact that
the constitutionalists, now almost
completely triumphant, would reject
the plan, rcpuGiatc the man and press
forward with renewed zeal to Mexico
City with all the loss Of blood and life
that may evolve.
'In reference to the suggestion that
the provisional president should be a
neutral it is said that: 1T is man
ifcst that in such a contest as has
been waged in Mexico for years, it is
not only fair, but necessary, to as
sumo that every Intelligent man Of
any prominence is at heart on one
side or the other and the country
might well question the patriotism of
any Mexican who has been colorlcss
iOnal president must be to some extent
identified with one party or the other.
it necessarily follows that to meet the
requirements Of the present situation
his syMpathies, which really mark
the man, must be with the dominant
element.
1.-THE effort, therefore, should be
not to find u neutral, but one whose
attitude on the controlling issues
would make him acceptable to the
constitutionalists while his character
standing and conduct would make
him acceptable to the other party.
Such man, and only such Il
man, can reasonably be expected to
have the confidence and respect of the
entire country
In answer to the contention that
there could be no fair elections con-
Quoted by a provisional government
Of which Il cOnstitutionalist was pro-
VisiOnal president, the answer of the
Americans calls attention to the fact
that in the past the elections in Mex
leo have been under the supervision
of single cabinet minister repre-
senting the dominant party. Py
analogy the next election should be
supervised by only one officers repre-
scnting the dominant constitutionalist
party. The American plank seeks to
avoid the just criticism against that
method and contcmplatcs that this,
the most important election i'm the
history Of Mexico, shall be supervised
by representatives Of both parties.
1t is wholly incorrect to aSsuma
that thus supervised it will be un-
fairly conducted and you may rest
assured that all the influence the
United states can lcgitimatcly use
will be cXerted to secure an honest
election
1t is true that the American plan
shall be cOnsttuionalists, but that is
because they now represent the Scnti-
mcnt Of the majority Of people of
Mexico and on which we must insist.
has been formulated solely with that
end in view. Actuatcd by these mo-
lives we feel that we may appeal to
Mexican representatives to read again
our plan i'm the light of these words"
In view of the opposite views OK
pressed by the American and Mexican
delegations i'm their public uttcranccs. (
tho next conference. it was admitted, !
would bring perhaps the most critical
The mcdiators intend to
submit five or siX names which they
have selected out Of Il big list Among
these may be found one who is suit
able but the atmosphere was So pcs
simistic tonight it would cause gCn-
crll surprise if it occurred.
TCh break between CarranZa and
Villa has given some observers the
feeling that the American Gclcgatcs
might. rs heretofore, not insist on a
man high up in the consttutionalist
ranks. but would urge a man i'm SYM
pathy with the principles of the rpvo-
ution--a progressive as opposed to Il
'CH'tlonary. While the American del
gates have not entirely lost hope Of
he possibility of ii change i'm scnti-
ncnt at tomorrow's meeting, the gen