The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1915-03-17

The view of the ordinary American
citizen in regard to Mexico is that
1t has become just one Provisional
President after another. Changes
have been so kaleidoscope and the
daily news has been so conflicting
that it has become almost impossible
for the man on the street" to under
stand the true situation in the Repub-
lie to the south of US.
His evaporation has reached that
point where he now dismisses the
whole affair with comment that "a
lot of bandits seem to be fighting
among themselves in Mexico as to
who shall be allowed the privilege
of looting the country and / reckon
Uncle Sam will have to step in one Of
these days and straighten things out"
The one significant fact that has
served to make Americans believe that
possibly behind the present turmoil in
Mexico there may be after all some
thing big and serious, has been the
broad humanitarian view that Presi-
dent Wilson has consistently taken in
regard to the Mexican revolution.
A brief history of the present revo-
lutionary movement in Mexico tends
to clear up many of the things that
have remained incomprehensible to
Americans and sheds light on the
entire situation that gives a true I'M
derstanding of the conditions in that
country as they exist today.
The present revolution actually had
Its inception with Francisco Madero
In 1910. Most Americans are familiar
with the rapid and unexpected tri-
Nmph of Madero over Diaz, but it is
not generally known that Madero's
regime failed to be a success and live
mp to the high hopes and expectations
shat had been born with it, because
De had been too generous in compro-
missing with the reactionaries and that
they on account of their dominance of
the two hold-over houses of Congress
were able to defeat all his plans for
the betterment of his people.
Assassination of Madero.
The shameful assassination at the
tnstigation of Huerta excited such a
feeling of indignation in the United
States as to make President Wilson's
stand in refusing to recognize the
Government set up by Huerta on the
dead body of Madero, as being emf
Mently just and in keeping with the
best traditions of this country.
Madero's death put the old cienti-
hcos. reactionaries and clerics back
again in power This necessitated
that the struggle Madero had success
fully waged must again be taken up,
and accordingly there came into ex-
astence with the new movement a new
Bhibboleth that has rung from one
end OF Mexico to the other: Justice
and Reform and no compromise"
The first man to refuse to accept
the authority of the dictator Huerta
and to fling into his face bitter de-
nance was Venustiano Carranza, then
Governor of the State of Coahuila.
Carranza has been one of the strong
est supporters of Madero and during
the previous revolution had acted as
Minister of War in the assassinated
Presidents provisional cabinet.
CarranZa's patriotic stand drew the
attention of all liberty loving Next
cans to Coahuila and there soon raj
lied around the Governors standard
q number of high-minded and patriot
ic Mexicans, who banded together to
overthrow the usurper Huerta and re-
establish a constitutional government
in Mexico.
Accordingly it was under these cir
cumstances the much heard of, but
little understood plan of Guadalupe
came into existence. The main planks
or this plan are as follows:
For the organization of the mill.
tary forces necessary to make compli-
rance with our purposes, we name as
First Chief of the forces which shall
Pc called Constitutionalists, Don
fNenustiano Carranza, Governor of the
State of Coahuila.
"On the occupation by the Consti-
nationalist forces of the City of Next
CO. the Executive power shall be taken
charge Of by Don Venustiano Carran.
IA. First Chief of the forces, or who
ever may be substituted in command.
The president ad interim of the Re-
public shall convoke general elections
as soon as peace shall have been es-
tRblished, delivering the power to the
, person who shall be elected"
Genesis Of Revolution.
This was the genesis of the revolu.
ition against Huerta, which had, as can
be seen, as its one big hope, the re-
establishment of constitutional form
rOf government in Mexico. Following
this triumph, the necessary reforms