The Washington times., 1915-10-24
Cdrrdnzd Still Must
Prove He Is In Power
Unless First Chief Demonstrates Distinct Capacity to Rule
at Once, Mexican Situation Will Continue
to Be Prominent.
By JUDSoN C. WELLIVER.

Unless Venustiano Carranza, now rec
ognized by the American nations as f,rst
chief Of the constitutionalist forces In
Mexico. shall demonstrate distinct ca
pacity for rule between now and the
beginning Of the Congress session in
Washington. the Mexican question Is
here.
Carranza has gained the complete op-
portunity to do the things he has
claimed were within his power. He
did not want to be recognized as pro-
visional President Of Mexico. but rather
to be accepted as first chief. To be
provisional President would have ex-
cluded him. under the constitution OF
the country, from the privilege OF a
candidacy for President: and this. not
unnaturally. is supposed to be his ulti-
mate ambition. As first chief he not
only retains his eligibility for the presi-
dency. but will dominate the country
supposing that he is strong enough and
able to do Ito such an extent that
his election to the Presidency should
be almost a foregone conclusion.
False Step Fatal.
But any false step may be fatal to
Carranza. The management Of the
Mexican situation by the Washington
State Department has not been calcu-
| lated to inspire confidence In the Ameri-
can Government. For many months
Washington leaned strongly toward
Villa. 1t declined to recognize Car
rama. and manifestly wanted to give
what the villistas regarded as fair
chance or warning. It switched" to the
Carranza side of affairs. with the result
that Carranza has been recognized.
| There Is In Washington more than a
Mexico had a good deal to with the re.
tirement of Mr.. Bryan from the Wilson
Cabinet. 1t is said that the former Sec.
retary was disposed strongly toward
dent wanted villa made the American
protege In that country.
| At any rate. there Is little doubt that
Paul Fuller. during the time when he wat
the Administration special adviser or
gram that would have brought Wills
to the top. Later. according to tht
stories that are formulating nowadays
this presTa% was re1seted ana dtn the a Sd
finally accepted. Its substance beint
that the Carranza claim be given prece
dence.
Villistas to Protest.
Friends of villa and his cause in Con
gress are prepared to enter protest tina
! the Administration made a great mis-
take. II not in recognising Carranza
at least in playing both sides so Ions
in giving the Vnlistas reason to be
lieve that they had the inside track
nisins carranza. The performance hs.
without doubt injured american pres
tise in Latin America. The feeling ha
been developing In that part OF tn
ment could at least be relied upon 4
try to do the fair thing: that the ide
Of perpetrating q deliberate wrong wa
farthest from the Washin.t9n Govern
lowed to get q very distinct impressio
that Washington wanted to recogniz
villa and turn Mexican destinies owe
to the faction he headed Nc NOR
Latin American understanding adjuste
to IL, than Washington began to dem
Ionstrate a change OF attitude AZ IN
end Of which came the recognition O
acteristic Of the best dealings Of tn
United states with Latin America. an
there is no doubt that 1t has cause
some shock.
Radicals Surprised.
Testimony on this point is afforde
nv letters, now beginning to reac
Washingto from conseryatively dis
posed radicals in Mexico, through whic
breathes the surprise that Is felt
the outcome of the whole affair. IN
old uncertainties about Carranza an an
his ability to compose all elements an
refrain from extreme measures,
voiced constantly. He has earned r.
pute as an obstinate. impossible ol
man actuated by ambition and detel
mination to achieve the presidency; In
fear is constantly expressed IN thes
recommendations that he will attemI
a policy Of reprisal and revenge, and !,
js Insisted that II he does this he will I
a failure in his period Of probation; ua,nd
obation. and nothing more. this tim
nnhich NAV he three months. and ma