Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-02
Vera Cruz Occupation Has
Effect on the Thinking
People Of Country
MORE PROSPERITY
UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Citizens Experience Greater
Freedom and Business Is
Greatly Increased

Vera Cruz, Mex, May With the
occupation of Vera Cruz yesterday by
American soldiers under Brigadier
General Funston an accomplished fact
and the return to their vessels in the
ha Dor of the sailors and marines who
took the port from the Mexicans, ques-
tons of the future are today beginning
to engage the attention of American
rofue ees and Mexican business men.
The future policy of the Washington
administration is being debated with
mitch interest.
Americans and Mexicans alike lack
any,h ng in the nature of a definite
a oment on this subject and they are
- 90! ing to interpret, from the trend
C II since the seizure, whether
tLn merican occupation Of Vera Cruz
is - be permanent or not II once con-
N.aced that the American flag is to
fo4t over this city until tranquility is
res cred throughout the republic. it is
W. ally certain that the Mexicans Of
Er.a re1z will give their heartiest sup
lc; the American civil government.
TO ~ they admit frankly that they
. !,
Dr. lens ion, more personal liberty and
a larger measure OF prosperity owing
10 the influx of American money, than
they have known in many years. Many
e, en- assert that they would cheerfully
s.Sscribe to any policy OF the United
S&a.es which would insure them q COLI
til ton of the present conditions, and
th,, cyter sion of these conditions to the
res, Ct the republic.
Come Want Intervention.
c~Ire careful Observers among the
Ne. cans however take a pesslm1stic
\ e., end do ret lc'icye that anything
{, @" Of co~Ilato American occupation
cf 'c-iro would b. iAs about these de-
So results They po;rt out that many
ia t;aIs arc striving for power in vari-
OF, sections of the republic. The en-
ti,t. sta'o Of Morelos is absolutely coll
trolled by the followers Of Zapata,
! while the state CT Guerrero is Under
the jurisdiction of the Figueroa broth
err Furthermore, northern Mexico,
IT., :, of the western coast and isolated
S elsewhere. such as Tampico are
co ~ol,ed or hemmel in by the sup
po crs of Carranza, and Villa. In the
ca,ital Provisional President Huerta
is in the saddle, but strong factions
faycring Carranza, Felix Diaz or some
OTHER aspirant to the presidency, are
intriguing against Hucrta and each
other.
Zapaia and the Figueroa brothers
have been running things in the count
try they control, without regard to any
Gains Of a central power. Such states
are virtually independent principalities
within the borders of the distracted re-
putiic. This statement Of general coli
ditions is made by Mexicans to support
the idea that complete American occu-
patton is the only thing that will bring
lasting peace.
No Faith In Mediation.
There is also an element of Mexi-
cans and American refugees now in
Vera Cruz. who express doubt that the
mediation undertaken by Argentine,
Brazil and Chile or similar negotia-
tions. will bring about a stable coali-
ticn of the warning factions in the re-
public or result in the establishment
of order. They are Of the opinion that
personal jealouses would prevent the
selection Of any leader to represent
them all. and they 1lnhesitantly declare
tha in their opinion, ambition and not
patriotism actuates great majority
of the Mexican factionists.
1t is apparent that local opinion CT
the future is most conflicting. Another
Idea presented today by thoughtful
Mexicans is that the only solution OF
the problem lies in partial occupa-
ton Of Mexico by the United States,
the establishment under American pro-
lection of government similar to the
ore formed in Nicaragua, which later
would be Indicated by duly elected
Mexican officials. the United States,
supervising the elections and vouching
for their fairness. The idea is receiv-
ing considerable endorsement from
group of Mexican officials who have
remained in the city.
Teaching the Mexicans.
The American authorities, civil,
naval and army, are making every eff
fort to disseminate throughout the re-
public truthful pictures Of the benevo-
lent rule already established in Vera
Cruz There is reason to believe also
that Washington is quietly working
to this same end through military and
civil agents sent here to talk things
over with representative Mexicans.
These agents have been selected for
their knowledge Of the Spanish Ian
guage and their familiarity with Mexi-
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