The Washington herald., 1915-04-27
FRIEND OF BRYAN
LAUDS CARRANzA
R. L. Metcalfe Says First
Chief Will Lead His People
from Wilderness.
POLITICAL HINT IS SEEN
Nebraskan Denies Statement Repre-
sents Anything but His
Personal Views.
POLITICAL HINT IS SEEN

A striking eulogy Of Gen. Fenustiano
CarranZa. given out here tonight ny
Richard L. Metcalfe, of Nebraska. an
intimate. personal and political friend oil
William j. Bryan. Secretary OF State.
possibly foreshadows action on the part
of the administration looking to the sup
port of Carranza instead of Gen. Fran
cisco Villa. who has recently sustained
crushing defeats in Mexico. Mr.. Metcalfe
predicts triumph for Gen. Carranza.
and commends the first chief as patriot
and man of high ideals
Last night Mr.. Metcalfe denied with
emphasis that the statement represented
ANYTHING except his personal views. with
out consultation with any one In ofnciai
position here or elsewhere
Mr.. Metcahe went to Mexico. he says.
for the purpose of obtaining material for
magazines and newspaper articles. He
took the trip to Mexico following his re-
tirement from the office of governor OF
the Panama Canal Zone. to which he was
appointed on recommendation Of Secre-
tary Bryan.
Criticises Gen. villa.
Mr. Metcalfe took occasion to criticlse
Gen. Villa in strong terms. For some
months the administration has looked
with favor upon the Villa cause in
NJ IL
to throw its support to Carranza.
who fell under its displeasure about the
time the first chief retired from Mexico
CITY, is a matter of lively speculation. A
good deal of significance is attached TO
Mr.. Metcalfe's statement owing 10 the
intimate relations which he sustains with
the Secretary Of State.
In Villa territory one hears every
thing OF military supremacy. said MT.
Metcalfe. In CarranZa territory one
hears suggestions concerning construc-
tive government. When villa captures
or abandons a town military tactics is
the dominant thought. When Gen. AL
vera Obreson. CarranZa's military leader
captures a town and leaves it. CarranZa
follows his military chieftain and estab-
fishes civil government
CerranZa. according TO Mr.. Metcalfe
eXaits civilians. whereas his opponents
try to inculcste the people with en-
thusiasm for military men. Mr. Met
caIfe said that by authority of CarranZa
a book has just been issued for the use
of school children in Mexico entitled
Ten Notable Civilians" In this book
Carranza emphasized his belief that
has done great injury to
Mexico.
Not "a ..SeniIe Old Man.
Mr.. Metcalf denies that Carranza Is
"a senile old man. as the hrst chie1
has been described. Mr.. Metcalf said
in this connection: Il think he is
Just a Bit stubborn. but il is gem
orally admitted in Mexico that he is
an. honest man. and | am sure that
any unbiased judge of character would
say that so far as concerns peace
and constructive government. Carranza
is the nope"
Mr.. Metcalfe says that workmen's
and other reforms with
which American Democrats are ia
miliar are the subject of conversation
when one gets deep into the conf
dence of CarranZa leaders. He de-
CIared that public sentiment in Mex
leo among the educated classes is
turning toward the prohibition OF the
liquor traffic.
Admirer OF the United states.
"Carranza is not an enemy OF the
'nited States. On the contrary. he is
an ardent admirer of our institutions.
He understands thoroughly the line of
dcmarcation between the schools of
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas JEFF
ferson. The Americans who hold high
places in CarranZa's heart are Thomas
jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Mex
leo is wonderful country. but it is
in deplOrable condition today. l be-
IieVe CarranZa. who prefers to be
known by the plain American title of
mister rather than general. will lead
his people out of the wilderness"