Evening star., 1915-01-10

1t was held by Huerta's troops long
after the rest of Sonora was in the COM
plete possession of the revolutionists.
The garrison was loyal. and the Huer-
tiStas also had gunboat. Nobody
seems to have figured out which faction
at present is in control of Guaymas al
though the community never mas peen
friendly to Maytorena-
1t is entirely possible that one or the
other of the factions lighting on me
Arizona border may win. ana una. tnf
same faction may control the capltai
without this authority being &C ac,
knowledged by Guaymas. To make the
state completely independent OF the CEN
trail authority at Mexico Guy, hoNenei;;
it is necessary to have seaport as wen
as the capital and the border towls' so
that future developments must De
watched at Guaymas as Well as Al >aSo'
Aqua Prieta and other points IN .he
north where there may he real tightlns.
The Yaqui Indians are one or the
great sources of future uncertainty.
Their support enabled Carranza TO get
control of the state, and their enron
ment under Maytorena's banner mas
given him such success as he has had.
but the Yaquis are not an element
favorable to any kind of peaceful
state. The Diaz government failed TO
subdue them either by eXtermihatlon
or by exile to Yucatan.
The Yaquis are the aboriginal ana
primitive landowners in Sonora. yet
the many schemes of taking the land
from the big proprietors and redlstriD-
uting it have not given much heed to
the original proprietary rights OF the
Yaquis. If they could be pacified and
civilized there might be hope for Son
ora. but during the last five years OF
revolution the wandering instincts or
the aboriginal have become very pro-
nounced in them, and not only just
but firm policy is required in order
to make them peaceful inhabitants.
No Heed to American Interests.
American interests, and Americans
as such. have not been given much
prominence in connection with the
news except as the killing or wounding
of some of the peaceful inhabitants of
Naco has been reported. Americans
were pretty well spread throughout
Sonora. Some of the big ranches were
owned by them, and We're raided from
time to time by the insurgent bands.
The Mormon colonists were driven out
of their settlements, but when the
guerrilla warfare ceased temporarily
some Of these went back and tried to
cultivate their lands.
The copper mines at Cananea on the
whole have been the most profitable
investment made by Americans in
Sonora. They suffered in the early
ses of the revolution, and have since
Cananea Jared much better than the
mining districts in chihuahua and else
here. Labor troubles and the Indus
| trial Workers of the World: were al
legged to be fully as responsible for IN
terruption in the mines as the fighting
of the Mexican factions.
Heavy investments in Sonora lands
for irrigation were made by American,
capitalists. and when the Nadero rcvo-
luton broke out plans had been per
fected for the expenditure of large
sums to bring huge areas under cult
walton. Some California colontsts also
went down into the Yaqui river coun-
try and eSta bliShed themselves in
fruit raising and other farming. The
prospect of the agricultural develop
ment of Sonora, however, has been
clouded by the anarchical conditions.
Plans of E. H. Hartman.
E. n. Hartman, at his death, had eX-
tensive plans for the development of
Sonora and beyond by means of rail-
way lines. His road had gotten beyond
Guaymas, and was pushing to Guada-
lajara. Harrimans dream was to con-
troll through line from the southern
Pacific by this route to Mexico City.
The dream may some day be realized,
but the immediate prospect is not en-
courag gfng.
notwithstanding the many Ameri-
standing the investment of American
capital, little has been heard of any
scheme of annexation. The addition of
Lower California to California some-
times has beeEsuggested, and Mexican
factions have charged each other with
being ready to cede it to the United
States, although the United States has
not been asking for it.
The annexation of Sonora has not
been mooted in this manner. 4 reason
perhaps is that the rival Sonora chief.
tains when fighting each other have
much preferred to be in control of al
independent state of their own rather
than state of the American Union
I have sometimes talked with educated
MeXicans. who frankly expressed them
selves as believing in annexation, bu'
none of these was from Sonora.
Future of the State.
The future of Sonora is not bound
up with either the Carranza or the
Villa factions. Doubtless the state will
continue to show the tribal tendencies
and there will be considera BILE bodies
of men attaching themselves to indi-
vidual chiefs after Hill and Maytorena
are swept off the stage. The separa-
lists tendencies from central govern
ment in Mexico City are not likely to
be lessened by the triumph of any par
ticular faction.