Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-10-28
Mexican Problem Inherited

In the minds of Hughes politicians
and editors there is considerable con.
fusion with respect to modern Ameri
can Mexican history. Some of thei.
seem to think that the Mexican prop
lem is the creation of the democratic
administration and that it is "Wil
son problem. - The truth is it is Amer
lea IS problem, and it was as much a
Taft problem as il has been a Wilson
problem, and in the event of Mr.
Hughes election it would be Hughes
problem. II is very likely that as Mr.
Mr.. Teft, Mr.. Hughes method of han
ding it would not differ materially
from that of Mr.. Wilson.
| Let us take a glance at the record
Mr.. Taft became president on March I,
1909. Within twenty months after Mr.
Taft s Inauguration, trouble in serious
form broke out in Mexico, and during
all of the balance of his administra ion
this trouble continued.
] On November 8, 1910, there was riot
ing in Mexico City. The American fla :
was destroyed, the windows of Ameri-
can residences and business houses
were broken street ear containing
American school children was stoned
and the son of the United States am
bassador was assaulted These disturb
ances continued during November 9th.
| On November 10th there was riot
ing in Guadalajara. The American flag
was burned and windows of American
banks and stores were broken. These
disturbances continued two or three
days.
| On Noverber 10, 1910, there was riot
ling at various points in Mexico. Amer
, lean cOnsulates were wreckcu and the
records Of the consulates were destroy
led.
! On November IS, 1910, the Madero
revolution broke out and from that
date on there was general disorder in
Mexico.
On March Z, 1911, twenty thousand
United States regulars were mobilized
along the Mexican border
On April 10, 1911, Mexican forces
took Aqua Prieta, opposite Douglas,
Arizona. In Douglas, Arizona, three
Americans were killed and five were
wounded.
On April 4, 1911, Mexicans again at
tackled Aqua Prieta, half the town of
Douglas, Arizona, was under fire of
Mexican guns. On that occasion seven
Americans were wounded.
Governor Sloan of Arizona called up
on President Taft for the protection
of Americans. The president replied
declining to take military action.
On October 10 and II, 1911, Mexican
rebels attacked and captured Juarez.
One thousand American troops patroll-
ed the American border and in FL Paso
Texas, five Americans were killed and
seventeen wounded
On May 10, 1911, Secretary of tSa.c
Knox sent to Mexico City note de-
nving that the United tSatCs intended
to intervene
On March 20, 1912, rifles were sent
to the American legation in Mexico
City for the protection of American
American colonists in north
ern Mexico tlocked across the border,
and there was great damage to Ameri-
can property by the Mexican mobs.
On April H., 1912, the state depart
mcnt warned Madero and Orozco a
gainst further outrages to American
lives and property
That all occurred prior TO the presi
Dental election of 1912.
On December !, 1912, President Taft,
in message to congress described his
Mexican policy, which was practically
the same as Mr.. Wilson s has been, and
he called it the policy of patient non
On February 9, 1913, there was an
uprising against the Mexican govern
ment in Mexico City. Many days of
street fighting followed. Several hun
lred Mexican civilians were killed. in
cluding two American women.
1t was in February, during President
Taft s administration that Madcro was
killed and IIuerta demanded recogni /.
ton, but there was no recognition of
Iluerta and no intervention under the |
Taft administration.
On March 10, 1911, few days more
than two years after President Taft
was inaugurated and about two years
before his term expired, President Taft |
addressed letter to the chief of staff |
aud in that letter he declined to do the |
very things republicans are now de-
President Wilson for not do |
ing