Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05
CAN CARRANZA AND HIS FIRST CHIEFS SAVE MEXICO

the personal ends of these two desperadoes to
join forces with the Constituencies. But when
the Constituencies got control of the country
and began to establish order and open the courts
and put stop to anarchy and plllage, these two
unspeakable murderers and villains found them
selves in uncOngenial surroundings and prompt
ly reverted TO brigandage again.
The heralding of these two scoundres through
out the United States rs heroes and military
geniuses was one of the biggest pieces OF bum
cOmbe ever put over on Il lOng-Suffering public.
This was particularly true in Villas case.
we-organized corps of paid press agents hired
bv the CfentffcOs deluged the country with story
after story of Villas wonderful exploits and his
inyincible military proves. He was referred to
as the genera -in-chief of the revolution and the
big factor in its success.
The stories of his exploits were almost entirely
fictitious and he only one Of number Of
generals of equal rank and with no more vic
tories to his credit than the others. This Villa
propaganda carried on and financed by the
Centficos, with the express purpose of creating
a break between Villa and Carranza Villas van
ity and ignorance were played upon He got
'the sweled head" and the plan succeeded.
1t has been said that he made an army out of
nothing. There were less than forty generals
of the revolution who made armies out of moth
ing. They had to.
THE FIRST CHIEF
Don Venustiano Carranza was born in the state
of Coahuila in 1859, and he is therefore fifty
seven years of age His white beard gives him a
more venable appearance. but he is anything but
"a senie old man." as Mr.. John Reed described
him ir a magazine article. On the contrary, he
is in robust health, very active and of an un-
usually strong physique Otherwise, he would
have been unable to have made that 1900 mile
ride on horseback through the northern states.
He has a college education and also studied law
and was admitted to the bar in Mexico City.
A weakness of the eyes prevented him from
practicing his profession, so he retlred 10 ne
farm and spent his time in improving II ana
nd
one of the best read men in Mexico ana an au-
thoritv on the history of his country.
He is no novice in politics, for he has served
as a member Of the legislature OF MS natlVe
state as senator of the federal government III
Mexico and as governor of the state OF CoahulIa.
He has every qualification for president Per
hans no man in all Mexico is better fitted for the
part for he would loom big in the affairs OF any
country.
Also he is not an office seeker for pelf for
he has an independent fortune in his haclenda
and staked 1t all on the outcome of the reVoiu-
ton He would go into the presidency with
more wealth than Diaz had when he went out
of it.
In appearance, Carranza seems more of Saxon
than Mexican type. The Spanish blood which
flows in his veins three or four generations
back must have been of Basque origin He is
tall we'll proportional and powerful looking. He
carries himself very erect and is d1gntfled anu
uncommunicative. A patient listener, he hears
more than he says. He places good deal of
faith in spirituasm and has strong leanings to-
ward socialism. His personal character, habits
and integrity are above criticism.
Such is the man whom the burden of re-
generating Mexico now rests.