New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-15
RECOGNIZE HUERTA
Only by So Doing Can We Avoid
Bloody War.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
sir. We have been waiting and watch-
ing with patience for one year ana one
dav and are much worse or to-day ds
regards the Mexican situation than we
we're one year ago, when Diaz, Huerea
and Orozco were together representing
the only government that Mexico mad
The preyious administration reacheu I'D
nosition through the death OF many GU.
zens of Mexico, as any one acquaiii'eu
,.h +hA wavs of that country knows tnat
death and cruelty have been the only
routes by which any one becomes rreS'-
dent of that unfortunate repuolc' Anu
the death Of Madero should have been no
reason why we should virtually claim the
r,ebt n name their next President.
u vas claimed 81 we did not recognize
ruerta his government would soon laii
from want Of means necessary 10 keep ms
mon in the field. Months ago 1t was saio :
"TIe will be virtually down and out IN
th,rtv davs" Especially was this salu
. yben they defaulted on their interest
To-day Huerta is apparently as suohs
&C ba ever was and still controls states
with a population OF twelve million OF
reonIe while the revolutionists IN the
desert states OF the north have not over
three million within the territory con-
trolled by them and not over Il per cent
of the wealth of the country. III we CON
slider for a moment the condition or our
own country during the Revolution, with
loss than three million population, with
the enemy in strength to the north OF US
in Canada and the greatest marine power
of that time in front OF us on the Atlan-
tic with our population confined to
strIp along the Atlantic not over three
hundred miles from the coast at any
point, being a small belt of country COM
pared with the 81 eat expanse OF Mexican
desert and mountains, we were able TO
maintain a war seven years; when we
consider these facts, especially by those
acquainted with Mexico, 1t must be ad-
mitted that as united people armed in
teryention would mean hundreds of mill
ions expended and thousands OF lives sac
riflced.
At the time that villa made his success
full dashes on the border and stated that
he expected to eat his Christmas dinner
at Torreon l had some hopes that the
nan had been developed who, with the
prestige Of his victories, would be able to
advance on the City OF Mexico; but his
tardy movements in the last two months,
and his chief, Carranza, refusing to treat,
except with British authority on the kill
ing of Benton, and Villas refusal to allow
the removal of the body; their action in
this matter alone should be good reason
for Mr. Wilson cutting loose from the
revolutionists.
The situation has now reached a point
where there is no middle ground to be
taken that can prevent armed interven-
ton. 1t must be one or the other. Huerta
has held his position, with all the depart
ments of a government, with year s
trial. The Constitutionalists have no gov
eminent that you can call a government,
and il has been quite question about
who is the real leader-Carranza or the
bandit Villa.
Knowing Mexico well. but without a
dollars interest in the country, l would
! suggest the solution in the interests OF
my own country and not for any faction
in Mexico. 1t would be better that we
acknowledge the government that has sat
there so solid for the last twelve months
and kept in good humor regardless OF the
/ ihdignites heaped upon them, and. il
leeds be, We better loan them money
to do their own lighting than to sacrifice
our boys in an Improbable war.
THOMAS L. RANKIN.
No 40 Nassau street. New York, March
10, lel4