Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-17
Friday, March II, 1916.
Who Made the Sport Possible?

Who Made the Sport Possible?
The national sport Of Mexico used to be
bull fighting, but Of late it has become
killing Americans in border towns
Waterville Sentinel.
Now we wonder who "of late" has
furnished the arms and ammunition
for the sport?
The civilians and soldiers who were
killed at Columbus were shot with Am
erican rifles, according to Major c. E.
Gillette. L. S. A, retired The guns
and bullets used by Villas men to
ished BY President Wilson TO Villa,
against whom he never would listen
N a suggestion" says Major Gillette.
The responsibility for the latest Mexi-
can outrage. like all that will follow it.
PESTS squarely on the shoulders Of Pres
Ilent Wilson Had ne not deliberately
wrecked the Huerta government peace
would have followed within three
months after Mr. Wilson took office
and MI the horrors that have followed
would have been avoided"
Many men familiar with conditions
IN Mexico and acquainted with the
character of Villa and Carranza long
ago begged the President, not only
10 enforce the embargo on arms going
into Mexico but. after outrages on
Americans in that country became
common, to demand immediate indem-
nifty and declare a ''peact'll blockade"
Of Mexican ports until it was paid.
I.ife and, Germany and France. 1t will
i" recalled. declared such a blockade
If Venezuela, after demanding an in
demnity Of Castro. In that case 1t was
dissolved as a result Of arbitration.
Had Mr. Wilson ordered such a block
need have invaded Mexican territory
but all arms and ammunition could
have been kept out and long before
this there would not have been a cart
ridge, and hardly rifle In Mexico. But
instead, Mr. Wilson lifted the embargo
on arms from the United States and
encouraged American manufacturers to
fill the orders Of the revolutionists for
both arms and ammunition.
In his remarkable address at the
New York Republican state convention
recently. Former Secretary Of Stats
Root said:
There is not an intelligent man IL
Mexico who believes that the dispute
about the salute was the real reason
for the capture of Vera Cruz. l:
there one here who doubts that the al
legged cause was but pretext and tha
the real cause was the purpose to turr
Huerta out Of Office? The people o.
Mexico, who saw their unoffendine
city captured by force Of arms. three
hundred of its people slain. their sol
violated, a foreign flag floating owe
their great seaport, upon what the.
felt to be false pretense. we're mis-
led into inputing more sinister pur
pose still,-to secure control of Mexico
for the United States; and they be
lieved that when the American troop
departed that purpose was abandoned
through fear.
With the occupation Of Vera Cruz tn
moral power Of the United States II
Mexico ended. We were then and W.
are now hated for what we did t
Mexico. and we were then and we ar
now despised for our feeble and irreso
Lutte failure to protect the lives an
rights of our citizens. No flag is g
dishonored and, no citizenship so littl
worth the claiming in Mexico as ours
And that is why we have failed 4
Mexico.
Incredible as it seems. Huerta ha
been turned out by the assistance 9
the American Government without an
guarantees from the men who were t
be set up in his place. and so tn
numbering and burning and ravishin
have gone on to this day After Huert
had fallen and the Vera Cruz expe
dition had been Withdrawn. Presider
Wilson announced that no one was en-
titled to interfere in the affairs G
Mexico: that she was entitled to settl
them herself. He disclaims all respon
sibility for what happens in Mexic
and contents himself with a policy {
"watchful waiting" But who can in
terfere in a quarrel and help contest
ants and destroy others and then ah
solve himself from responsibility fo
the results?
For the death and outrage. the sui
fering and ruin Of our own brethrel
the hatred and contempt for our coun
try. and the dishonor of our name i
that land. the Administration at Wash
ington shares responsibility with tn
inhuman brutes with whom it mad
common cause.
>S