Gilpin observer., 1915-06-24

Bishop McConnell's lecture on Mex
leo Tuesday night was of unusual in
terest and timeliness. He said that
the revolution in that country was to
be explained, not justified perhaps.
but explained, by the fact that the
only way for the people to count at
all politically was to shoot somebody.
All parties and factions were agreed
that the fundamental difficulty was
the land question. The poor people
had gradually been surveyed off their
holdings of lands. The land of whole
states was owned by foreign corpor-
atoms that paid not one cent of tax
es. Wrongs could not be righted by
elections, because, while many could
vote, the ballots were always count
ed according to orders from head
quarters. In the days of the rule of
Porfirio Diaz that dictator was al
ways reelected by unanimous vote"
a feat which even Washington or
Lincoln, should they return from the
dead, could not perform for them
selves.
President Wilson's policy in deal
ing with the situation was commend
ed by the bishop. with the one ex-
ception of the occupation Of Vera
Cruz. The Mexican is a stubborn
fighter. said the bishop, and unlike
our troops. he could live and fight on
t1,fr 81 Nv,1,
to conquer him would be to extermin-
ate him. A bloody butchers bill would
be to pay before We could get through
with the work. A line of railroad
longer than from New York to Los
Angeles and return would have to be
patrolled by our troops. Our country
| could conquer, of course, but the cost
would be beyond what we can ina gine.
OF the Americans killed in Mexico.
| the bishop said that Of the cases
which had come under his observation
the persons killeI were responsible
themselves. He was in Orizaca dur
ing fighting, and all non-combatants
| received warning not to show them
selves above a certain story of build
ings. The bishop had no curiosity
to expose himself to see the battle,
but two American commercial tavel-
| lers in the same hOIse with him dis
regarded the warning, and put their
heads above the roof of the building
to see. They were promptly shot.
1t is such cases that swell the list
of the killed when an appeal for in
tervention by the U. S. govern
ment Is made. The Lishop was of
the opinion that If President Wilson
could, as he is now planning. enter
Mexico through the Red Cross to re-
lieve suffering, and with the army on
ly to help suppress disorder, making
the natives see there was no desire
OF conquest, that the problem would
be much better solved than by inter.
vention or occupation. At the same
time. he did not look for anything like
satisfactory solution of the Mexican
problem short of 100 years. 1t would
have to come through the work of
SeNSoeioh, suSh dS 10 ONihS NOHc Ds
our schools. The overcoming of IL
literacy and the giving of better
ideals of life is the real cure. The
Methodist church spends abbout 500.
900 annually for that work in Mexico
while other churches carry on a work
which with this aggregates budget
Of about 100000. This is a small
sum for so great work. Our work
ers in the country aree a hei oic body
of men. who. constantly under risk
Of their lives. are doing the tasks
to which they are allotted.
The church was seasonably door
ated for the lecture. and the choir
rendered some excellent selections,
while the people were gathering. AZ
ter the lecture an informal reception
was held in the parlors of the church
at which all who desired had an op.
portunity to meet the bishop. The
Ladies' Aid served dainty refresh
ments. Bishop Mcconnell was en-
tertained at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. S. E. McCallister.