The Washington herald., 1916-05-08
STEFFENS RAPS
MEXICAN POLICY
Tells Forum Wilson Should
Let Country Work Out
Own Salvation.
SAYS VILLA WILL ESCAPE
Magazine Writer Charges Wilson Sent
Troops After Bandit for Political
Effect at Home.

Lincoln stenens, one Of the most force
full magazine writer's in the United States,
believes that President Wilson erred
when he landed troops at Vera Cruz,
Mexico and when he sent American
troops into that country in chase after
PanCho Villa He also says that If the
United States will give the Mexicans ten
or twenty years they can work out their
own national salvation.
Mr.. Stenens addressed the Grover
Cleveland Forum in the Public Library
Yesterday afternoon and reviewed the his
tory OF the Mexicans under Porhrio Diaz,
Madero. Huerta, Carranza and other
chiefs.
Il think the reason for President Will
sons interference at Vera Cruz and the
present invasion OF that beautiful coun-
try was his fear of you and me as
voters" said Mr.. Steffens. He was
afraid We might turn against him at the
polls II he did not show his hand
Americans cannot understand MeNi-
cans. There is nothing that pleases a
Mexican so much as to make a beautiful
article. There Is nothing that pleases the
American so much as to make one mil
lion dollars in a short space Of time.
The MexiCans want a democracy; we
have no democracy in this country They
want a government without bosses; here
We have little except bosses who make
the people rule against themselves. We
do not control anything because we have
given the power Of control to the special
privileges.
Praises Porhrfo DIaE.
"Porhrio Diaz was a great man. He
was an Indian. just as IS per cent Of
the people in Mexico are. He thought he
was doing the right thing when he lis
tened to the privileged class and did as
they asked, because he wanted Mexico to
-rOW into a DOWprfll
Later Daz saw that he had erred
and went away. leaving Madero to rule
after his revolution which had been caus-
ed by the community lands law. Madero
has been called a crazy man. but
every leader who has led the people has
been termed by a similar name. I'm
mediately the interests drew about him
and they got him.
"Carranza went to Mexico City, saw
the condition Of things. and warned
Madero that these interests would take
his power from him and betray his
cause. to which the President answered
Never Carranza told him his enemies
would kill him. and later summoned his
tCarranzas 81 troops to their colors.
Madero was killed by Huerta and the
sroup Of agents of the special interests
and the Mexicans today believe that the
American Ambassador knew beforehand
the plans Of the murderers.
Says Huerta Had Few Friends.
''Huerta had no friends in Mexico ex-
Cept the foreign interests and a portion
Of his army II a man did not do as he
wished, that man was taken out and
shot. And the surprising thing is that
Americans abroad believe that should be
done. The Mexican people did not be-
Heve in Huerta. and even If President
Wilson would have recognized him they
would have
Then the revolution broke out anew
and CarranZa was put in office as the
frst chief. Carranza doesn't dare be
known as a friend OF America because
the people in Mexico hate US for our
mOney-grabbing system.
"Carranza is trying to build up
Mexico for Mexicans. He has made a
law that unused land. owned by the
interests, must pay more taxes than
the used land. OF course, this makes
William Randolph Hearst, with his
100000 acres of land. very angry and
he will have to sell 1t OF quickly and
-heapIy.
IF We will let them alone, the Mexi-
cans will grow into a great people,
they will not become opulent. but they
will be satisfied, which is more than
we in this country can say of our
selves"
Thinks villa VIII Escape.
Mr.. steTens voiced the opinion that
the American troops would never
catch Villa.
On next Friday evening the forum
will hold a social meeting at the
Grover Cleveland School, at which
Miss Margaret Wilson and the other
speakers who have addressed the
gatherings will be invited.
At the final gathering of the forum,
next Sunday, Miss Wilson will be the
presiding officer