The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-13

entire matter. Even though ne
Hhnuld eventually agree to quit II ID
known that Huerta will insist that ne
Is the individual who should deslsnAte
his successor The Huertista enSoys'
Il IL understood, will maintain Ina.
since trouble between the unleea
states and Mexico Is due to an alleged
tnsult to the American flag. THIS Is
the question which viii nrst De ots
cussed. Such contention VIII force
the hand of the United States repre-
.entatfyes at the outset. II they &C
cept 1t, they Will be placed in the POSI-
ton OF agreeing to arbftrate Q Quee-
ton OF national honor. II 10 the
realization of thess facts that mas
caused pessimism in official quarters
over the prospect Of a successful OUT
come OF mediation. The questions 10
be considered are 50 serious ana far
reaching that their adjustment Is ne
lieved almost impossible. After All
1t will be up to Huerta. Should ne
agree to eliminate himself and to
abide by . new plan OF government
that would recognize all factions, II
Is believed the United States and the
medintors would be strong enough 10
force acceptance from Carranza. the
constitutfonaIst leader could not AZ
ford to reject plan backed oy the
very nations who will retain the pow
er of furnishing stability to any ne"
Mexican government.
War department officials were Dit
ter today in their denunciation OF Cen
era, Mas, federal commander around
Vera Cruz The receipt OF c1rcum-
stantial stories telling OF torture OF
the insane private soldier, Parks, ana
of his death later at the hands OF
firing sjuad, have emphasized the KIND
OF enemies the Mexicans are, II war
finally comes. Although there Is no
official confirmation OF the reported
Staying of Parks, General Funston has
wired unofficial reports and expressed
belief that they are true. PARKS,
Funston believes was maltreated ana
then shot without even the Formally
OF drum head court martial. Funston
has also reported that he sent letter
TO General Mas Immediately after
Parks disappeared, notifying the Mex
lean commander that the solder was
insane and bespeaking humane treat
ment for him. Mas ignored these
letters.
For the present, however, no official
action can be taken in the case. Parks
entered the Mexican lines in direct de-
f1ance OF the general orders.
Until all facts regarding his fate
can be learned in an official manner.
the state department cannot even pro-
test to Huerta Little light was
thrown today on last nights confer
ence between Charge O'Shaughnessy
and President Wilson. 1t is known.
that O'Shaughnessy told the
president he was convinced Huerta
would never voluntarily retire. So
far as the mediators are concerned,
O'Shaughnessy is known to have told
the president that from personal OBJ
servation, he believed a common
ground for agreement would be hard
to find. II majority OF the factions
could be reconciled, O'Shaughnessy is
understood to have said that strong
government which would have recog-
nization OF the United States and Lat
in America could easily secure the
necessary funds to pacify Mexico.
Want Full information.
WASHINGTON. May 1s-stirred
to action by continued reports that
Private Parks was tortured and exc
cuted by Mexican federals, both the
war and state departments today took
steps to ascertain the truth.
Secretary Garrison instructed Gen
eral Funston to get information from
General Mas regarding the orderly's
fate. simultaneously. the state de-
partment asked the Brazilian minister
at Mexico City to obtain similar iI-
formation from General Huerta
General Funston believed Parks has
been executed. Secretary Garrison,
however, today wished to give the
benefit of the doubt to the Mexican
merely Jailed Parks, the war depart
ment would not have regarded it as
extraordinary. They hold Funston
would do likewise Il Mexican soldier
rode into The American lines. Sec
Rotary Garrison made it very clear
today that drastic steps would be tax
en- il reports of Parks torture and
death are confirmed.
IF polite, decent measures fall
he said, chen We will take the next
step. If he was tortured, it was an
act of barbarism, whether war was
on or not. We do not want to make
any missteps in delicate situation.
We do not want to infiame the coun-
FRY. Consequently all We have done
thus far, is to ask information, for
we feel that the initial responsibility
lies with the private for DESERVING his
command OF course, we feel that he
must have been insane, but we have
no proof of the reason for his de-
departure
Hands OF policy