The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-03
A GOOD WORD FOR HUERTA.
A Friend. Neighbor and Admirer
Speaks His Mind.

To III EDITOR OF FIJI SrN-sir: Per
nit "a word from a neighbor Of General
Huerta. Perhaps the old fashion OF
fair play Ia not gone entirely out OF
fashion.
II may possibly be that this man has
been all that delights the sou, OF our
local experts In International COLLINS
he may have outclassed all the horrid
giants that leer nj of babyhood's pic
ture books. He may once upon a time
have been naughtier In Mexico than is
considered good form at the consecrated
hearthstones Of Lincoln, Neb. he may
be "a good enough Morgan" for a State
Department Pecksnif on parade, he
may whet the pretty appetite Of a rhet-
orician yearning to see somebody kicked
into a cooked hat. Conceding all. n I
affect to hold no brief for Huerta the
Mexican. whose national status, discs
teemed by Mr.. william Bryan. had
proval) Of virtually all the other Govern
ments Of the world c%onceding all that
the pettiest and the meanest say. It
seems to me as q mere mortal. m or
nary New Yorker. that we can AFFORD to
take this stranger within our gates as
we find him. now, personally.
Throughout the present year he and
his family. wife. children and grand
children. have been resident Mt Forest
Hills. Fancy free c%artoonists. para
grapherB OF wit, romantic press histo-
rians have made him a pleasing text. He
Ia pictured pushing the lawn mower. he
Ia starred disportine at rural picnics. he
In ~chronicled AZ the mysterious master
OF midnight Queens county conspira-
cies, journalistic genius herein all I'M
limbered. Facts are different. We who
know Mr.. Huerta. who by local contact.
~neighborly intimacy. can appraise his
personality, find him a genial. whole
some. genuine gentleman. He deports
himself with dignity rs becomes one
h has been the soldier leader and the
civic President Of a republic comprising
three-Quarters OF a million square miles.
He does not cease to be n man OF af-
fairs energy n enterprise n ON
structive habits are not snuffed out by
political adversely he has his New York
address he In a busy man. out Of Of
flee he has not adopted the Bryanesque
fashion OF running up and down the
public highways. yowling his woes and
slamming vindictive Godblessyous at all
the rest Of the world. His manner is
good manners; his attitude. whether In
public or private. reflects neither vindic-
tiveness nor littleness. His home life is
Ideal. Coming to Forest Hills AS the
lessee Of one house, he now has three.
establishing married ions and daughters
In households Of their own.
Engaged In social conversation, the
topics he drifts to are those that are
natural and sincere among cultivated
people only politics is taboo. It is
tempting. OF course. for a visitor to APP
proach the Mexican subject but there
Ia diplomatic avoidance evident by Gen.
eral Huerta always. Neither Mr..
Bryan's watchfulness nor Mr.. Wilson's
waiting are discussable with him he
can even be frigid II persistency chai-
lenges him. As TO his ambitions only
guessers and can profess any
knowledge. This more nj once he has
said to me The best OF all things is
peace, an honorable peace" Not one
suggestive syllable to the contrary is
heard from him.
Not only individually but through his
family this man. the veriest newcomer
among us. dispenses charities eener.
ously. avoiding publicity. At least two
Long Island churches are his beneh.
Charles.
That he should be kidnapped by
United States officers on United states
territory because. forsooth, Texas In
closer to Mexico than Forest Hills. will
appeal TO some OF us as ludicrous 70
others OF us IL is simply plain idiocy and
outrage
speak not merely for myself. nor M
all because IL happens that ! am General
Huerta's n%eighbor. friend and admirer
what I feel II the feeling Of hosts Of
American citizens with whose senti-
ments ! ave opportunity TO he famil-
lar. including men Of the very largest
affairs. New England manufacturers and
New York bankers notably. They real,
ize hat fabricated prejudice is operat.
Ing. They. recognize the crassness 81
dumdum diplomacy. Now is IL reall,
n necessity that We star injustice as q
heroism and that we make foolishness q
national fad?
WILLIAM JAY LEONARD.
NEW YORK, July /.