Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-04

CONTINUED from Page onc)
and q white-bled country, Mexico must
throw herself upon the charity OF the
world
"Not only have they taken away the
man and the farm animal from the land,
and thus produced these dire results. but
many instances have been reported where
the different military commanders have
actually permitted the horses and mules
TO feed on the young and growing corn
in such sections where II may have been
planted. while droths in the north and
east have completed the work of ruin
inaugurated by these men. stored grain
| has also been burned in considerable
quantities by the vandals. and the rec
ords show that i'm the face of all this
some selfish military leaders have actu-
ally exported grain to enrich themselves.
! Due to the paralysis OF the means OF
communication throughout n larger part
of the republic. such stores OF corn and
grain as were raised and saved could not
be transported from the regions of pro-
ductlon to those OF consumption, causing
waste of the too small stock on hand.
Acts OF ObreROn.
That these conditions are the direct
result Of the wanton and selfish attitude
OF the military leaders Of different fac
lions claiming to be fighting for the lib
erty of the people. has been made plain
of late by the conduct of General Alvaro
| Obregon acting under the direction OF
/ General Carranza. General Obregon en-
tered the city of Mexico on January p
last on the following day the water
supply of the city was cut off. The
price of foodstuffs, already high. due TO
the depreciation OF the purchasing power
Of Mexican currency. rose to exorbitant
figures. but General obregon. acting UNI
| der the direct orders of General Car
rama. endeavored in every way 70 pre-
vent the introduction of foodstuffs into
Mexico City, Not only did he refuse the
city council railway cars for transport
ing such stocks as were available In re-
| gions contiguous TO the capital and con-
trolled by his troops, but he ordered his
outposts to confiscate such are were
brought in from neighboring regions on
the backs of mules, horses and donkeys,
There is an abundance OF evidence point
ing to the fact that this inhuman con-
duct was part of a deliberate campaign
TO starve the people into enlisting in the
ranks Of his army.
Cry for Food.
when the inevitable consequences OF
this plan beganFto evince themselves and
tho people cried for food. General Obregon
addressed them through the press ard by
rneans Of printed posters informed them
that the food shortage was due to spec
Ulators and to the selfishness OF the we'll
to-do classes. He Immediately decreed a
special tax OF 100000 pesos TO relieve
what he had the effrontry to characterize
the desperate situation of the city's poor.
when the merchants refused to pay
this tax he invited the >rabble TO take
what they could by looting and saching,
informing them under his signature that
If this general looting began he would
march out of the city with his troops,
rot firing a single shot to prevent the
mob from taking what they wished. But
the people were not deceived. They re-
fused to be used as his tools. The mer-
chants of the foreign colonies raised re-
lief fund of more than 100000 in few
days by voluntary subscription and the
Iecute stage OF the crisis passed
Are stuI Rising. y
Prices of foodstuffs in Mexico City
are 200 to 800 per cent higher than in nor
maj Jlines ana SIlil rlblnBi que TO the
Vaccinations of military leaders of the
type of Obregon. which, unfortunately
includes practically all.
''What is true Of the food situation in
Mexico City applies also to the fuel sit
uation. The spirit which will starve q
people for personal gains or selfish mill
tary ambition does not make for liberty
of democracy. Mexico must reap as Il
has sown, and unless the anarchy, chaos
and desolation which prevails in all parti
OF the republic under the gulse of lib.
Grating armies is remedied. the world will
witness a spectacle here which will be al
a page torn from the history of the mid
die ages"
Chaotic and Helpless.
Ell PASO. Tex, April "A statement
from the American colony at Mexico City
in which 1t was declared the situation
was more chaotic and helpless" thar
ever, was brought 20 the border today by
Arthur Billiard Johnson a delegate