Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-28
DEMOCRATIC
BACKBONE Is
STIFFEN|NC?
A Hunch from Canada
That administration
Has a Mexican
Policy at Last
For All That, Country Has a
Political Landslide Ahead

Washington, ID. c., May 27.-(Spe-
I eiaD-The administration appears to
be acquiring a little backbone for its
Mexican policy. Belated though the
/ development may be, it has come. if
round about reports under the regime
OF pitiless publicity which is nothing
| but pitiless secrecy can be believed.
! Washington news for weeks and
months, in important particulars. has
generally been from somewhere else.
! News as to the Mexican policy has
I long been coming from Mexico. That
/ has come to be notorious among news
gatherers at Washington. Now by
way of Niagara Falls, Canada, where
mediators are meeting, comes the
'hunch" that the Presidents ultima
i tum as to Mexico is that the army will
not come out till Mexico has been
paeified That seems to be served
upon the Huertistas and the Villaistas
alike 1t apparently means that the
/ President is making ready for the
collapse of the dictator, Huerta, and to
meet the demands of Carranza and
+ Villa that Mexico be turned over to
them to pillage and destroy.
A month ago, it now transpires, the
+ President told the representative of
weekly publication, 1t was his purpose
not to take foot of ground in
Mexico but that he did intend there
should be some reform in the land
| laws of the republic If that could be
brought about The inference APP
pears TO be that the army is to stay
at Vera Cruz after Mexico City falls
and after Carranza and Villa come
+ into power, which they seem likely to
do before many days. The army is to
/ exercise restraint upon the constitu-
tionalists and the administration at
Washington in all probability will un-
dertake to assure an honest election
/ in Mexico for President, at least as far
as an honest election is possible among
| the benighted poems.
| Villa is supposed to stand for agra
rian reforms and for giving the poems
title to lands. That will require the
breaking up of the great estates ana
ranches 1t will probably be a big
undertaking for a President at wash
ington but it seems predicated upon
an alliance between the President and
Gen. Villa, with the possible CO.
! operation of South American media
tors The plans in the Presidents
| mind appear to be very ambitious and
NAV lead to a new Interpretation OF
the Monroe doctrine. Army officers,
with an inkling of what is ahead, are
demanding that reinforcements De
sent to Vera Cruz. This is on the
pretext that Huerta has a big army
in the vicinity which could give Gen.
Funston trouble The real reason
probably is not that Huerta Is likely
to give trouble but that prudence calls
for big army force adequate to take
care of Gen. Villa if, after the cap
ture of Mexico city, he becomes
obstreperous. Stormy days are GER
tainly ahead and although war may be
ayerted trying times, like those the
| government had in Cuba, may be ex-
pected at Mexico City
Nobody at Washington, among all
the little world of officials is sticking
closer to his desk than President VIII
son. Invitations pour in upon him but
to nearly all he appears to turn DEAF
ear He expects to go to Cornish,
! N H. for a short vacation about the
middle of June knowledge of his
plans in that connection, have brought
half a dozen invitations to him from
fine New England states. The order
of Moose want the President to come
TO Manchester, N H, June Is to be
present at big celebration they are
giving The order of Elks are TO
have a great time at Haverhill, Mass,
June II. and they have asked the
| President to be with them. Both
Manchester and Haverhill are within
automobile distance of Cornish. Inc
President has given the Moose ana
! alike the EIks some hope that he VIII
he with them, in the event that he Is
able 10 get away to New Hampshire
at all.
He does not like to go out visiting IN
an official capacity and all the time he
can get away from his officiai duties
the President prefers TO nave loI
recreation purposes. He takes his rest
on Saturdays religiously. so that ne
has virtually but five working uass q
week. He gives much attention W
keeping in good health and freaueh'iy
of a week day afternoon ne goes OUT
for his game of golf. He never mas
but one golfing partner ana tnat one
ia DR.. Carey Grayson, whose par
ticular duty is to see that the Presi-
dent is kept in good physical form Tor
me hard work Of the chief office OF the
| land.
It was thought that after his nrst
wear in office the President might
travel about considerably and visit the
people. giving an account or ms
! stewardship. But the first year mas
come and gone and there are no moi
cations that the President has the
slightest intention Of taking a "TRIP
such as the last four or FIVE OF MS
predecessors did. Some think II Con
eress gets through with the big anu
/ trust program, the President may take
a little tour in the autumn out ne
could hardly do so before the Con
gressional campaign was in full SWING
and it probably would be regarded dc
in bad taste for him to be travelling
extensively then. Men would say ne
was virtually on the stump for the
Democratic party and the speeches
might do more harm than good poiiti-