The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-10-01
u. S. CONSUL TALKS
SAYS ARMED ACTION IN MEXICO
WOULD COST UNCLE SAM
BILLIONS.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
From the Capital City, the Various
State Institutions and from
Many Different Parts Of
the Sunshine State.

western Newspaper Unicn News Service.
Lead.-After spending his vacation
at his former home in western South
Dakota, Thomas d. Edwards, United
States consul at Juarez, Mexico, dur
ing the last ten years, has departed to
resume his duties as the representa-
tive OF Uncle Sam at that important
point on the Mexican border. He was
appointed to the place by President
Roosevelt, and has served under Sec
retaries Root, Knox, Bryan and Lam
sing. His long residence in an official
capacity in Mexico has given him a
wide insight into the Mexican charac-
ter. Just before departing from South
Dakota to resume his duties he talk
ed Interestingly of conditions in that
country and the difficulties which
would beset Uncle Sam should this
country intervene actively in Mexican
affairs.
He expressed the opinion that inter
vention would involve billions of dol
lars, besides a great sacrifice of lives
in keeping our army in that warm
country, constantly afflicted with
smallpox and fevers.
Once our army is across the bor-
der said he, "all the factions would
unite as one man to rid the country
OF the invaders and many American
lives would be taken before our army
could reach them; besides the de-
struction of all such American prop
erty that is destructible, and in such
cases such destroyed property would
be a valid claim against our govern
ment.
Numerous Americans still are in
Mexico, but probably not more than %
per cen of the number who were there
at the breaking out of the revolution.
Every effort has been made by the
government to reduce the number of
our people in that unfortunate country,
but of the many sidelights that have
not yet been turned on the Mexican
situation, the difficulty Of getting our
people out is one.
"The number Of Americans who are
married to Spanish or Mexican women
is surprisingly large, and it is to their
credit to say that they will not leave
their families and return to the coun-
their families to a new country the
language of which they cannot speak
does not appeal to them. There also
is a contingent of those who left their
country for legal causes who cannot
safely return; and, third, the Ameri-
cans who are willing to face danger
rather han abandon their property.
There are a large number of Ameri-
cans and foreigners in our border
towns who are clamoring for inter
%vention, many of them efugees own
ing and experimenting holdings in the
republic. They have turned press
agents and are leaving nothing undone
and force our country into war with
Mexico.
"The property interests of our coun-
trymen in Mexico is large. and the loss
sustained from the revolution very
great. The estimates of the value OF
American property and the losses,
however, are generally greatly in ex-
cess of the real value, and no doubt
given out as the basis of possible
claims against the government.
"The fact should not be overlooked
that there are fake enterprises and
wildcat promotions to which our peo-
pie have been contributing, the failure
of which will be charged to revolution
airy causes"
Colonel Edwards is very positive in
his conviction that Intervention by the
United States would be a serious mis-
take, not accomplishing the good re-
suits SO anxiously desired by many
sincere people Of the United States
At the time Of his appointment as con-
sui he was editor of the Lead Daily
Call. which he had conducted for
years, and therefore is an experienced
newspaper man.