The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-08-27
SITUATION IN MEXICO
w. L. Vail Tells of Conditions And
u. S. Mistakes.

Under date OF July 70. w. l.. van,
q former New Sharon boy, son OF II.
J. Vail. writing from Mexico City to
the New Sharon Star, says:
At this writing President Huerta
has resigned and President Wilson
has carried the first ditch. There
was no excitement here, and there
has been nothing after the first few
days following the landing of Ameri
can troops at Vera Cruz to cause the
slightest uneasiness to foreigners.
Many Americans left because of the
insistence of Secretary Bryan, and
others because business was par
alyZed, but large number remained
and they have had no reason to regret
their decision. The very best feeling
Is maintained between Americans and
MeAican3 here, as a rule, and the
rule Is seldom broken.
1t is difficult for us here to see
just what sort of a victory President
Wilson has won by the retirement of
Huerta. Ostensibly American ma.
rineG and troops were landed at Vera
Cruz to aVenge an insult to the flag
a. Tampico and prevent the landing
of an immense cargo or arms and am
mun:tion intended for the Heurta
government. Peace has been signed.
SO we are told, but no apology has
been offered for the flag incident, and
the arms and ammunition reached
their destination just the same. But
the president of the United States
appears to be satisfied that his policy,
whatever it is, has been indicated;
that the American boys who died at
Vera Cruz did not die in vain, and
that twetty odd thousand law-abiding
Americans residing in Mexico, who
are busted or broken should approve
of the patriotic American attitude.
The president, in a recent inter
view says that IS per cent OF the Mex
lean people nave never been allowed
to have a "look-in" with regard to
their government. l don't know
where the president gets his figures
but ,ney are wrong. If he had said
that 80 per cent of the people have
never shown the slightest desire to
have a "lookin" he would have been
approximately correct. When Presi
dent Madero, the great democratic
fad here for a few months, was a can
didate for the presidency Of Mexico
he controlled all the election machin
cry, as politicians call it, and got all
tho votes --l9, 900, less than one pei
cent of the voting population, show
ing that a great many voters do not
really care for a"look-in" farther
than at their neighbor's OK, or his
ass, or anything that happens TO be
his neighbours.
From 35 to 40 per cent of the male
voters of the United States seldom
take the trouble to vote, but that
does not imply the necessity or wis
dom of outside assistance to force
them to the polls. President vii
sens vote represented less than
per cent of the population of the Unit
ed States, therefore, when he (the
plesident) speaks of his passion fol
the submerged IS per cent of the Mex
lean people," he is speaking from a
strange text. There are about IA,
900, 900 people in Mexico. Less than
| 100000 of these are mixed up In
this cat and dog fight for eXtermina
ton The question of lands, politi
cal liberty, etc, etc, does not enteI
iutc the calculation of five per cent
of those fighting. The real contest
| is not now one of democracy against
Tyranny, or something Of that sort
though we have had overdoses o.
both, but of organized society against
anarcay, and a very large proportion
OF the Mexican people, who are hon
est and kind, and law~abidinfg, are
on the side of society in sentiment
Unfortunately, the other side hold!
arms, imported, by the way, from the
United States. This large per cent
age of good people. however, mus
bear the stigma and pay the bills fol
all the evil that is being done il
these Gays.
! am sorry to say that I fear Pres
ident Wilson's work as Latin.Amer
lean philanthropist has just begun
The policy of butting into ever!
back yard fight this way, does no
arouse enthusiasm among the com
batants and | am sure that sooner o
later the American people will ge
very dred oil being dragged into mat
tiers which remotely concern them
Interference in other peoples affair
is always a thankless job.
| should be very glad to exchang
Q few days of this existence for I;
visit among the many beautiful place.
about New Sharon.
/ Very truly yours, WAIT