The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-09
President Urges Protection.


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President Urges Protection.
Secretary Baker transmitted to Pres
ident Wilson reports about the attack
on Columbus, n. NJ, as quickly as
they were received at the war depart
nent. 1t was said at the White House
that vigorous steps We Id be taken to
punish the bandits The president di-
rected Secretary BAKER to do every
thing possible to protect Americans.
At the state department it was said
the situation was very serious" but
that nc announcement of what action
could be taken would be made until
officia, investigation was. concluded
The state department is understood 10
have begun the dr. # of memoran-
dunn to General Carranza based upon
the report of General Funston
Uprising in Senate Near.
There were indications early today
thai the Columbus massacre undouot-
eddy would be the signal for another
outbreak in the senate where the OPP
ponents of the administrations policy
have been most active. Early today
no official reports had been received
by the war department or the state
department but they were expected
momentarily.
No reports had been received by the
Carranza embassy here. At the
White house the report of the mas
sacre was received with evidences of
! -
familiar with the presidents Mexican
policy were silent but they indicated
the raid had brought the situation to
a critical point where it might be diff
ficult TO stand by the policy of nom
| interference.
| Cites Precedent of 1871.
When Mexican Indians were pillag-
! ing in Texas in 1871 the American
minister in Mexico City was instruct
ed to say that it might become the
duty of the United States, ''at least to
weigh the expediency of pursuing the
hostile Indians into Mexico without
| the consent of that government if it
| shall not adopt measures to check the
robberies referred to-
| When orders were given on June /.
1877, to American troops to cross the
| border If necessary IN pursuit of law
| less raiders the Mexican government
protested but the United States justi-
fled the orders as necessary under con-
ditions existing along the border.
In June, 1882, the United States and
Mexico made a reciprocal agreement
for the crossing of troops of both ma
tionS on either side of the line for pur-
suit of Indians in the appropriated des-
| ert country and that agreement was
subsequently extended. In May, 1875,
Secretary Fish of the state department
instructed the American minister to
Mexico to prepare the temporary
occupation of Mexico territory from
which raiders had been coming He
proposed a zone in a line drawn from
Matamoros to Laredo. Nothing came
of the suggestion and the raids later
were suppressed.
Funston'S Command Supreme.
The possibility of any reciprocal
agreement with the Carranza govern
ment for the common crossing of the
line is said to be remote at this time
as the federal officials realize that SEN
permit the presence of Mexican troops
into American territory; furthermore
they fear clashes with local rangers
and cowboys if it were permitted.
Major General Funston is in su-
preme command of the situation on
the border and has full authority tc
do everything except send troops over
the line without communication with
Washington. War officials expect he
. is in personal charge at Columbus.
Senator Fall, of New Mexico, Re-
. publican, and one of the foremost op-
ponents of the presidents Mexican
policy, said he would await further
information before acting. The news
of the raid spread over the capito
with startling effect Senator Stone
chairman of the foreign relation com.
mittee at once got into communication
with the state department and asked
Senator Fall for a conference. Sen
ator Stone said he expected the af.
fair might precipitate another out.
burst in the senate but that he pro
posed to await official reports and
official action by executive depart
ments OF the government.
Means Intervention.
1 Senator Robinson. of Ark, Demo.
4 crat, said:
That means intervention. I DOM
4 see what else can be done"
Senator Tinman declared the new.
was almost incredible. There never
| has been a president who tried Sc
hard to keep out of war as Presiden
4