The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-18
Disease Ravaging All Sections.
Due to starvation and
Filth.
GRAFT HOLDS UP FOOD
~ MARK =. WATSON.

Y
from starvation has been greatly les
sened within the last six weeks. since
the arrival OF the corn from the aEricul-
tdrai districts northwest OF the Federal
district, tho heavy fatalities continue as
the result ~ typhus. annually prcva-
lent In Mexico. but just now p%articu-
larry heavy by reason OF NTH.
For this the impoverished state OF the
capital is in large measure responsible.
II Is certain that the continuance OF the
Red Cross could have averted much OF
his. just as its continuance would have
done a great deal toward decreasing the
suffering from starvation
Tn authorities continue TO deny the
prevalence Of disease, exactly as they
denied the scarcity Of food and the need
OF the Red Cross. Intestinal trouble
il a ~favorite malady. according to the
death reports. In the mining districts,
notably Pachuca. there are hundreds OF
cases. and seventy deaths a day are
reported there. In the city OF Mex
leo the death list can only be guessed. as
| the reports cannot be considered as accu-
rate.
In certain suburbs tests show that
| (, phus IL causing as many deaths as
starvation did formerly. In the little
cemetery OF Mixcoac, for example. "A few
iilometers southwest OF the city. there
is new a minimum of seven funerals a
| day. against a minimum Of six during
| starvation times.
where Poor Are Cared For.
of these about half cone from the
Government asylum. to which the Gov
crnmen authorities pointed proudly rs
evidence that the poor were being cared
for. The bodies, generally tossed in
pairs into "a grave. without collins. for
the price OF wood is high. are shocking
demonstrations that those victims at
least had rot been Cvsrfeo.
Some are almost skeletons. the bones
covered with only "A parchmentlike. skin.
v ith muscles melted away ard fat I'M
heard of. Occasionally one Is bloated.
this being due chiefly. the physicians
say, TO the diet OF weeds 20 which the
moor have been forced.
Meantime the Government control OF
prices continues in the hands OF the
military authorities. The customary
theory OF such a control In hard times
II to keep prices down. That ia not
the theory on which the local authorities
work. Here the military authorities
have the food and have the right to
sell 1t. IN most cases for their own 100
per cent. profit. inasmuch as most OF the
food has been confiscated by them rather
than purchased.
Hence. they reason. they might as well
sell II at a good price. and where an
Y a.gaSinnal pNarrhaHf ntarppa - ltc-
pose of grain he Is forced to sell-not
below, but at the price set by the
military. Thus the pay OF the soldier
is enhanced by a little private 'husi-
ness life II IL such a sure thinS that
Il can hardly he called speculation.
Forced to Ray Graft.
One out Of nnumerable examples may
ne given. An American who had a
CONSIGNMENT Of -four at Vera Cruz in
the height OF the starvation period was
unable to move It TO the city. where he
proposed to sell 1t to the poor az cost.
He was forced to pay 500 pesos in plain
graft TO the Government railway officials
before he could even obtain considera-
lion. And that obtained. he vas unable
to get further action until he had agreed
to cell II above cost. at the price set
by the military authorities.
At Toluc great hordes ~ corn are
held by the military authorities. who re-
fuse to sell AT any price. holding il for
the higher prices which they are sure
are coming as soon as the present corn
crop IL exhausted. A merchant In great
need Of grain pleaded with the Colonel In
charge for enough to relieve the suffering
OF the poor.
Il could only get so pesos per cargo
ESQ kilos, or slightly over 500 pounds)
now said the patriot. and soon I will
get 100 pesos in Guadslajara, where
there is much starvation. | am not a
fool"
That helps 10 explain why corn. the
chief food Of the poor. Is selling here al
60 centavos n kilo. and appears to hc
rising slowly after being sharplv
reduced from prices which were entirely
prohihitive TO the poor. The peso is
now worth about cents gold, but Labor
prices, ike food values, are in pesos
and with day labor still available at I
peso and "A half a day the p,tiful suffer.
ing of the poor can he understood.
The bread lines continue, many sup
ported by the Government. as stated BY
the authorities. and "A few supported hy
private charities which refused to with
draw at the time the American Red
Cross was forced out Of business. II
Cannot be denied that conditions of food
are greatly improved. hut for this the
h, Government Is far from solely ~rcsponsi-
bile. The real savior was the corn crop
and 1t is difficult to see how that can
last through March.
Year Of Hunger ahead.
In April and May come the first new
crops from the hot country, hut the his
crop IL not due until autumn Mexico
o faces next year starvation as great as
that through which 1t has passed.
. The first genuine admission tina,
n typhus is epidemic came to-day wher
: notices were posted telling the publ,,
o how to avoid II. And the notice ignores
4 the principal cause Of typhus-the bod,
n louise. which develops rapidly under suct
: conditions AS now prevail.
The water supply is still insufficient
LIN certain quarters. The result Of re.