Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-06-09
THE AWFUL TRUTH
ABOUT MEXICO

The following article from the cur
rent issue of Leslie's Weekly is writ
ten by Senior f. j. ARIA, for many
years managing editor of "El Impair
cial," one of Mexico Citys leading
newspapers Senior Aria. one of the
better class of Mexicans, was forced
60 seek refuge in the United States
when the Carranza de facto govern
ment came into power. The observa-
tions he makes are based upon many
years experience in the troubled re-
public
''It is almost unbelievable that a
lapse of three years should have beer
sufficient to enthrone anarchy in a
country where, up to the time Of
Huerta's fall, people could at least go
about their business unmolested.
travel over the land in safeay and,
even under military rule. be sure that
no unjustified attack would be made
upon their homes, their property and
their rights.
Conditions in Mexico are such
that the main facts can not be hidden
from the American public, and 1t
would be useless to dwell on the de-
scription of things already printed.
But there is still many an enlighten-
ing circumstance to be pointed out in
order to give an idea of the real sit
uation, as no matter how much is
said about it, nobody can realize its
horrors unless one has been through
the whole affair.
"Of the wholesale outrages it has
unfortunately been my lot to see, q
few will serve to give a glimpse of
the Mexico OF today better than a
broader transcription of all the cha
otic. uncomfortable mess. These de-
tails are so impressive in themselves
as to make unnecessary all further
comment.
"The ruin and devastation of a
once flourishing country have been
told again and again. Yet few peo-
pie realize, for instnaee, that to trav-
ell in Mexico nowadays is something
almost impossible. If afoot, band
OF highway robbers will certainly
take the travellers clothes, IL he has
nothing else, from him. If on horse
back, the first patrol he meets on the
road will dispossess him of his mount
, If in railroad coach, he is liable to
be either blown up by bomb placed
on the tracks by the Zapatistas OF
r shot dead by the brigands that make
a speciality of train-looting; but his
greatest danger lies in the fearful
condition of the rolling stock which
mas not been repaired during the last
five years, so that wrecks occur daily
on every section of the so-called Ma
tional Railway lines.
Going from one place to another
affords, therefore. very little attrac
tion to the average Mexican resident
But let us suppose the case of ar
American miner whose house is brok
en- into one night, his three little
children, his wife and himself being
lined up against the wall of HIS owr
corral, and his life and the life OF hi
family on the verge of being taken by
the outyaws because he refused to le
them sack HIS house. That American
will, undoubtedly, try TO get away a.
soon as possible from the place, re
gardless of any forthcoming travelling
risks. happen to know the Ameri
can who has passed through such al
experience; he is the owner of mine
IN Los Reyes, near oaxaca, and hi
wife is sister of the postmaster o.
Portland. Oregon.
A Governor Sprees.
Villas attempt to kidnap promi
nent French lady soo2 after his arriv
al as conquerer in Mexico City reused
broadcast indignation. But 1 have