Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-10
The Benton Case

'~%> ;: The Benton Case ,=%
The killing OF William S. Benton, wealthy British
land owner in Mexico, by Pamela Villa, the rebel
guard, has stirred diplomatic circles, as has few other
incidents within the memory of the present genera
ton. s>yta%% ~IG@
The Chicago Post is inclined to synpathiie with
the British people in the stand they have taken
regarding the murder. Tt says: - .a5: i
There is a great deal Of honest anger in the
comment OF the English press upon the killing Of
Mr.. William s. Benton by Pancho Villa, which L.
proper and natural. Z : "# @ j
And on the whole, there is a good spirit and q
Willingness to let the United States remain IN con-
troll of the situation. Bnt in the lingo British papers
and we regret to say, in Our own senate-there
is a disposition to put upon the life of Benton the
exaggerated valuation which England places on her
subjects when she needs a pretext to invade or over
awe a weaker nation. ...,.'
I'VE are not In the weaker nation class. We do
not propose to view this regrettable killing through
the magnlfying glasses of precedent and technical.
ism. We intend to remember that Benton was killed.
but we do not intend to permit this single. death to
risk the lives of thousands of Americans" as'
The GAINESVILLE. Daily Courier thinks that:
: 1.-THE American government cannot be responsible
in any sense for Benton's death. While the state
VCkA1 IAlCU uAVCI ~ CAtCuu lnVLCSSIOu ~
British subjects in Mexico where necessary, this has
been done entirely by courtesy and not as a matter
OF. International right. Under normal conditions the
British. government would look to President Huerta-
for redress, but his authority does not extend into
northern Mexico and there is at present no DISPOSE:
ton to extend recognition to Villa"
1.-THE jingoes who are shouting for Intervention In
Mexico because Of the killing OF William s. Benton.
q British subject. by Gen. Villa" comments the NIL.
waukee Daily News SHOULD remember, that President
Wilson knows exactly what ne Is doing land that It
will take much more than the latest tragedy in Mex
leo to swerve him from his high purpose of keeping
this country ont of a war that would uselessly sacrl-
ace thousands of lives to say nothing of millions OF
dollars and property.
THE President has his hand we'll on the situation.
The clamor for a foreign press or people, the agita.
ton Of radicals, the desire Of adventures. to involve
us In a foreign war: or even the belief of some sane
and sober minded, but not posted. American citizens
that We can easily establish a paternal government
In Mexico, or at least Immediately create order out
Of chaos, are all considered by the President. He
knows the conditions here--but he also knows them
in Mexico" "se% #: II. fas=a%
The. Waco News. frankly accuses Villa Of bad faith L.
and adds. %@t ~
"He is losing whatever Of doubt that was main
tanned In his favor by the conservative element OF
the American press, by his refusal to surrender the
dead mans body and by the number of trumpet:np
charges which he is %preferrng against Benton. now
that the latter is dead and cannot answer them.
-" n Villa has convicted himself Of unfairness IN
his attitude in the whole matter and, while there Is
no occasion for anyone. becoming hotheaded in deaf
ing with tho situation, such evidence as has already
come in in connection with this case appears to he
~suf1cient to, convince everyone that villa has been
acting In very bad faith. And the fact that he has
been acting in bad faith since the death of Benton:
leads to the surmise that. his faith may have been
equally bad before" q . I'll
: EyS fh-e" .rE|~%~t-I -. -. ,"E" ."$~--t