Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-05
'a[l150 BINIROP1,,
famine 1ARlAI[NS
INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT
rHousAhDs OF PEOPLE
FACE STARVATION.
TREASURY pEPLETED
AND CROPS SHORT

pend on World Charity to Relieve
Appalling Conditions Now rhrsatsn-
ina-Pries 81 Feed Shoots sIyward
lnsurrsetions Cut Production.
Mexico city, March rs, by Courier to
Ell Paso, April 5.-A report predicting
that Mexico faces serious situation
respecting her food supplies has been
made by committee OF Americans
and other foreigners here who have
been investigating the situation. The
report in part is as follows:
-Four years Of almost continuous
lighting turnout the various parts OF
the republic has produced a condition
of affairs in the food supply situation
SO serious as to threaten famine OF
such proportions as to necessitate
worldwide aid. The fact that farm
hands have everywhere been thrown
into so-called armies. that farm ami
mails have been utilized for like pur-,
poses, that leaders of rowing bands
marching under banners containing
rights Of man, which they use as
blind to facilitate robbery, piliage and
murder, have so reduced the crop acre
age that by November. 1915. there will
be q shortage of 39,370,800 bushels OF
corn alone, not to mention the other
absolutely necessary cereals, are now
we'll known to those investigating, who
have made q careful study Of this
phase of Mexico's ills.
Corn Shortage Found.
"That the effects OF this waunton
destruction are only just beginning to
be felt is due to the great productive
riches of Mexico's agricultural regions
where, tits said, the farmer has but to
scratch the soil and drop his seed,
while God and sunshine DO the rest.
But self seeking and self appointed
military leaders have for so long
time prevented the farmer from even
scratching the soil over SO great an
acreage that Mexico Is about to reap
the whirlwind she has sown.
Corn is the stair Of life in Mexico,
as is wheat or its products In other
countries. The harvest OF this cereal
for the present should begin about the
first Of November, that is eight months
from the date Of the writing Of this
report. Upon investigation we find
that but five states Of Mexico's twenty
seven have a sufficient supply to carry
them over this period,
'Oaxaca, Morelos. Campeche, Tabas-
CO and Chiapas probably have enough
corn to last them eight months II the
strictest economy is employed in using
that staple. = -,
Starvation BY July 1.
"This will take care Of populace OF
1,70O,0 900. Yucatan with population
OF $4,000, produces no corn, but has
the money to buy 1t In the United
States This leaves the rest Of Mexico,
with a population Of approximately
13,5O0.00o. with visible supply Of ap-
proximately $4,000 tons, enough to last
but three months About next July
then the real pinch of hunger will be
felt turnout the length and breadth OF
Mexico.
What then will be necessary to re-
lieve the consequent distress and pre-
vent, perhaps, the death of thousands
from starvation? In normal times it
requires 100000 tons Of corn to feed
these 13,500.000 over a period Of eight
months With the visible supply but
675, 900 tons, this leaves q shortage
OF 1,125,000 tons, or 39,375.000 bushels.
This corn must be purchased from the
United States. The present market
price laid down at points along the
northern frontier is 80 cents gold
bushel. II we allow Is cents gold q
bustel for distribution cost thruout the
various parts Of the republic, we have
a charge Of $1.O5 gold per bushel,
which will necessitate the expenditure
OF $41,343.750 gold to prevent q de-
vastating famine.
Must Appeal to Charity.
BY that time the purchasing power
OF the Mexican pesos will have dropped
to 10 cents gold, so, due to the I'M
conscionable, ignorant and selfish at
titude Of the military elements of all
factions. Mexico will find herself called
upon to expend 413,437,500 pesos to
prevent the larger part of her popula-
ton from starving to death.
Where Is this money to come from?
With bottom scraped treasury and
white-bled country, Mexico must throw
herself upon the charity Of the world.
"Not only have they taken away the
man and thesfarn animal from the1and,
and thus produced these dire results.
but many instances have been reported
where the different military commands
ers have actually permitted the horses
and mules to feed of the young and
growing corn In such sections where 1t
may have been planted. while drouths
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 records show that
in the face OF all this some selfish
leaders have actually exported
grain to enrich themselves. Due to the
Of the means Of communities
ton turnout large part Of the repub-
lie. such stores Of corn and grain as
were raised and saved could not be
from the regions Of pro-
duction to those Of consumption, caus-
Ing q waste of the too small stock on
hand.
y8 Blame General Oregon.
THAT these conditions are the d.
rect result of the wanton and selfish
attitude of the military leaders of diff
ferent factions, who claim to be fight
ing for the liberties Of the people. has
been made most plain of late by the
conduct Of Gen. Alvaro Obregon, acting
under the direction of Gen. Venustiano
Carranza. General Obregon entered the
city az Mexico on Jan. 80 last. On the
following day the water supply OF the
city was cut. The price OF foodstuffs,