Evening star., 1914-09-30
His Recent Bold Moves Taken
to Mean He Would
Be Master.
PLACES FAITH IN FORCE
AS A MORAL ARGUMENT
Comment on the Differences Between
Insurgent Leader and Provisional
President Carranza.
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

Villa means to be master. This is the
import of his recent bold moves. They
do not signify, however. that he is not
impelled by sincere desire for the well
fare of Mexico.
villa has great faith in force as a
moral argument, and in Mexico the
only kind Of force that Is understood
Is armed force. He did not make his
last dramatic move until he was sure
of his army With that behind him he
felt that he could argue with Car
rama about the kind of a constitutional
convention to be held, and also about
the inadvisability of either Carranza
or himself becoming presidential die
tator.
There is considerable difference in the
paper programs of Villa and Carranza,
but both Of them look to military gov
ernment for Mexico Under the forms
of so-called constitutionalism. Car
rama proposed to control through a
very select military olisarchy- villa
knowing that his power rests with the
poems in the ranks, as well as with MS
coterie of generals, proposed broader
basis. But he means to carry out So
called reforms through the army He
has no other conception of popular gov
ernment.
Villa Temporarily in Danger.
Villas situation two months ago was
oiscouragfng to him and his followers.
He was in some danger of his army
slipping away from him. Though he had
seized the customhouses along the bor-
der and possessed himself of other
sources of revenue he was in rather sore
straits as to finances
Fiat money. which comes so easily
from the printing presses, was still ac-
cepted. because to refuse its acceptance
In the territory which was under his
control would have been hazardous. But
his followers believed that the Carranza
troops which were converging on Mex
leo City to take over the government
we're being much better cared for than
they were. especially in the way of op-
portunities for booty.
Carranza's entry into the capital with
out Villa also spread the feeling that
the army of the north might be entirely
In the territory controlled by Villa
about everything that could be con-
fiscated had been confiscated, and the
spectacle of the Carranza troops having
spirit of discomfort
Little was heard of this discomfort at
the time, because interest was centered
chiefly In the doings at the capital.
set about to restore his own prestige
and to strengthen his hold on his own
troops. With the foresight which he
Possesses, he undoubtedly saw that a
military demonstration was the only
thing that would bring the Carranzistas
to time.
Not Regarded as Buffer.
By some people his latest move may
he called a bluf, but this is wrong.
Villa is not a blufrer. II the military
demonstration suf1ices, that is tribute
to his policy. But II another civil war
Is necessary he Will plunge Mexico
into 1t. He knew, however, his own
strength. and the probability that Car
rama and his coterie would not risk
battle.
Carranza, apparently. thought that
Villa could be curbed and the program
From the beginning. Carranza has
shown little vision. AS the first chief
of the revolution, on several occasions
he has been able to circumvent villa,
but he has never been broad enough to
utilize his own advantages.
European war has so overshadowed
Mexican events that almost nothing has
been heard of what has been going on
since Carranza took control at the
an encouraging view of the capacity of
the constitutionalists as represented by
Carranza to unite all the elements
Conhscations. reprisals, and even mur-
ders of Huertistas under the guise of
military penalties, apparently have been
the order of the day, while the zeal for
getting control of the Offices has been
the sentimental view of the revolution
taken by maQy persOna in the IYpi<ad