Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-20
MEXICANS PUZZLED AT
AMERICAN ATTITUDE
By Bernard Rucker.

Vera Cruz, May 10.-By mail. y
Mexicans still are puzzled over the at
titude of the United States troops here.
They can't quite figure the answer.
Not man jack of them but was GER
tain that with occupation of this sea-
port by hostile troops would come tie
pillage and looting that generally
marks capture or taking of a city or
town by Mexican soldiers. They have
become used to this procedure daring
the four or five years of revolutions
and uprisings. They were vastly
amazed, therefore, when the American
troops not only did not follow up their
occupation with disorders, but actually
made Vera Cruz safer and more pleas
ant to live in than ct any time in the
city's history.
Il These Mexicans down here simply
could not understand it when the Amer
lean troops cared Tor the wounded
Mexicans as tenderly as they cared for
their own wounded. They could not
understand when, after really won
derfully exhibition of two-handed
fighting prowess, the youthful marines
and iaekies, as soon as some semblanee
of order was established, went calmly
about the work of feeding the women
and children of the men at whom they
had so recently been shooting
The Mexicans laughed scoffingly
when they were told that the marines
and sailors would not Immediately at
tack General Mas, the federal gem
eral, and march on Mexico City. When
the Americans didn't, again they could
not quite get it.
"Oh, but wait until the regular
troops arrive under your General Fun
ston, they then said. "Wdeu your
General Funston comes, it win be diff
ferent. Americans merely have been
waiting to go into action until the
regular soldiers come Everyone was
firmly convinced this would be the pro-
cram, and the ultimate limit of aston
ishment was reached after the regulars
had been mere week without the ex.
peeted advance toward the capital.
1t is only now that Vera Crussans are
beginning to realize that American sol
diers are giving them the best city gov.
ernment they ever have had. Some
of them, still with hatred ranking in
their hearts against the "'Gringoes, y
may not admit this aloud, but neverthe.
less Mexicans from the capital and 9th
err interior cities have flocked to Vera
Cruz for safety.
All this, Of course, nas bred grea,
respect and no little welcome TOWARD
American fighting men, and American
fighting methods. But there still /.
another feature thai these Mexican!
like about the situation.
The American marines, iack-tars ant
regulars, not to mention the great in
flux of refugees, form an army of buy
ers who have caused intense delight t.
merchants. The best of it is that til,
money the 10000 or more American
r troops spend in local shops is good Tn
tied States money, and not depreciate,
Mexican coin. All the shops are opel
again and today the natives, dealers
o caterers, restauranteurs and the lik
are enjoying such prosperity as the
never enjoyed before. The great dc
$ mand for food stuffs to say nothing o
: clothing has sent prices sky high.
Poems are being given regular worl
l. on the docks and other points on tn
n waterfront, and on the streets. The,
T are paid at the rate of 60 cents .gol
t per day, an unheard of laborer s wag
S in Vera Cruz.
I All of the native enterprises, cnal
e acteristic of Mexico, are flourishin(
r The burro peddlers, corresponding t
t the push-cart vendors of New York
& lower east side, are out en- massc. o
n all the streets donkeys loaded dow
with chickens may be seen. The fow'
/ mainly of the dominecker variety
1t alive, are swung heads down, from a
II sides of the saddle and across the nee
II of the burro. The vender sits in tn
/ saddle and thus rides through the res
d dence districts where the housewife
s, comes out into the street and bargai
t, for the fowls.
% Milk, ice, mineral water, fresh fruit
O. and bscf and mutton are pedded j
the same manner. the vender stringin
his wares all over his beast. donke
or horse as the case may be. TIL
E sight of such vender never fails t
excite the interest and mirth of I'll
y blueiackets and the American colony
'e All of the shops along the Avenid
Independca-the Fiftl avenue, or
street Of Vera Cru2-and around I'll
=, Plaza, are open again and doing
le thriving business. Vera Cruz. new,
e. before saw such run on picture pos
o. cards and souvenirs of all kinds. An
d. the haberdasheries, the tailor shops al
10 doing a thriving business. America
Z refugees from Mexico City were force
N to flee with only tie clothes on the
es backs and had to stock up on their a
rival. And the army OIL correspondent
le and photographers from the Unite
States VINO came down on warships ha
ia barely time enough to get away vii
ie the clothes they wore. All these pc
pie are buying outfits of every descri
ton.
s. P. rs INDICTED.