The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-28
THE FIRST CHIEF.
(Hartford Timesl

interested for several years in colpor- tage in Mexico (as we'll as in Italy and Spain), has for some time had a close acquaintance with Venustiana Carranza, and speaks of him as a re- markable man.
 T met the First Chief for the first time in Piedras Negras, in 1913." Dr. Tupper says, "and since then I have talked with him in the family circle and at social functions, held confer ences with him and his associates. travelled with him in railway cars, and listened time and again to him as he spoke in the house of deputies. In diff ferent parts of Mexico, ' -uccess and in failure, in light and in shadow. I have studied this remarkable man at close range. He has kept every prom ise made to me, and has been abso- lutely trustworthy and consistent in his dealing with men and methods"
 As to Carranza's trustworthiness, pr. Tz1per said: Deceptive? No, he is not. He refuses to deceive, even Automatically his people of foreign life he was taught that lie was a crime. His parentage and training were of the best His ancestors were
 
 i~'l days, and he was educated in the SC lools of Coahuila and at the Uni- versity of Mexico. His appearance f-lpresses one. His personality is very striking, and there isn't a crowned head in Europe who looks more like a ruler. He must be six feet in height, with a large head, intelligent features, his eyes covered by glasses, but very piercing, his nose unusually largo and his mouth partly hidden by wlliskers, but undeniably firm. You would not think him of Spanish blood. On the street of. an American city he would easily be mistaken for a fine specimen of a Civil War veteran and no one would think of him as a Cuatro far mer.' ~
 .'Carranza a farmer?" asked the re- porter.
 Certainly. He studied law, but his eyes became weak, and he gave up the pursuit, and returned to his na- tive hacienda" AtrA
 But he is also soldier?"
 Yes, and no He does not profess to be, and indeed abhors war. But, his demeanor has military dignity, and he was actually forced to enter upon a military career"
 Forced ?" ~ 4 ItI
 Nothing else. It was in 1894 that he complained to President Diaz against the incompetent governmeot of Coahuila. Diaz paid no attention and Carranza led a revolt which brought him into the mayoralty of his cttX and then into the legislature, and as a liberal senator. Joining in the Madero uprising against Diaz. he or ganized revolutionary councils, and was made military chief of Coahutla, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leons Then he went into the Madero Cabinet as secretary of war. He warned Madero against compromising with the other side, but the tragedies that soon fol- lowed showed that these warnings were too late. Right after the Sassas- sination he called the Coahuila legis- lature together, and demanded that Huerta be deflared usurper. The Legislature did as he asked, disavow- ing the .usurper, and calling on other states to do the safne. Felix Diaz re- monstrated with him. butt Carranza replied by denouncing Huerta as a traitor, and his acts as the most treacherous and cowardly in Mexican history. and calling upon all the state governors to join him in overthrowins Huerta. That Is how he came into warfare.'' l5.t a H +
 "Huerta evidently did not fear him. '' "Huerta wrote him that he admired and respected him. and advised him to quit and retire into the United States. His answer was 8 fresh denunciation of what he called the black flag of tyranny The rest is recent Mexican history. Carranza withstood every inducement to cease his revolt, and the success of the constitutional1st movement is in evidence of his hope and courage. His Plan of Guada- loupe' calls for a government of the people, by the people, and for the Ipeople.' In conversation with him Inc has assured me again and again that he wants property rights protected, the laws impartially executed. peonage abolished, public lands justly allotted the federal statutes revised, the na- tional financial system reorganized the electoral system and municipal government reformed, and liberal edu- cation encouraged.''
 | Asked how Carranza stands on the question of the relations of church and state, pr. Tupper. J having had large experience in colportage, said: .He wants church and state separ- ated."
 What about his attitude toward
 the United States, in your opinion ?' In reply pr. Tupper quoted the Firsl Chiefs proclamation:
 | The constitutionalist party enters upon it's great work of constructive government fully alive to the impor.
 tance of carefully guarding the fiber.
 ties of the people. Fully conscious oi
 the fact that the public men of al
 nations are liable to make mistakes
 the constitutionalist party enters or
 it's task of peaceful constructive eff.
 fort with the hope and confidence
 born of good purposes. For the pa. triotic effort to which 1t is solemply pledged, the constitutionalist party, ir the language of the great Lincoln, in vokes the considerate judgment O. i mankind and the gracious favor o
 Almighty God"
 l pr. Tupper believes the man to b,
 sincere. and declares that "as to hi character, I consider the First Chic
 without reproach.' This testimony coming from man who is engaged in religious work that is of a kint that has hitherto m.s with Mexican
 opposition, is worthy of considera ton. W. H. M. l =