The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1916-08-18
NEW LIGHT SHED ON
MEXICAN AFFAIRS
LrDwlDGE TALKS AT WESTON


An exceedingly interesting and en-.
tightening address was given In tho
city park az Weston Sunday by Col
r.. y. Ledwldge. eivll engineer and
agricultural engineer of Monterey,
Mexico, who became an adopted citi.
nen Of the war.torn republic and has
spent thirty years In various engineer
inR activities within It's bordeFs
Col, Iedwidse talks with the conf
dence and dlrectness of one intimately
familiar with the facts which he re-
cites. lie condemns porfirio nlan and
Huerta. endorses Carranaa and pays
tribute 20 villa az a military genius
and well-meanlng patriot who failed
because Of anarchistlc tendencies ana
OF clrcumacribcd vision due to hts lE-
noranee of the comfy of nations. He
gave an absorbing review of Mexican
history from the time OF the MonteHn-
mas. prefaclnE this with the statement
from chronological authority that the
AEtecs are really of Caucasian origin
and spranR ages ago from the Tartar
steppes. Taking his hearers down tn
modern times he gave them clear
understanding of the abuses that have
led tn. che recent revolutionary strife.
lie ascrlbed the peonage or slavery OF
the Mexican masses 20 tho despotic
rule OF Porfirio DlaE. who brought 60
an end the progressive and enlightened
period known as Mcxico's Golden Age,
which covered the mine years from
1887 90 1879, He said that DlaH was
responsible for the conditions which
have made n possible for four men.
for instance. 20 own 10000 square
miles OF Mexican soil These men are
william Randolph Hearst, Harrison
Grey otis and Charles p. Taft. Amer
leans. and Louis TerraEas. Mexican.
He commended the Wilson admins
tration for refusing 10 recognize HUI
erta. whom he described as mur-
derer and an assassin. and for the pol
icy In general II has pursued toward
Mexico. The Vera crux occupation
he endorsed as a measure contributing
to Huertas overthrow CarranEa he
regards as true patriot who II
earnestly seeking TO bring about nm
agricultural democracy. and he de-
clares that obregon--far from being
a riyai--is a loyal supporter Of the
First Chief. He says that Carfanxa
sincerely desires 20 keep on friendly
terms with the United States
Col. Ledwidge r. u member os the |
liberal party. which 10 allied |
with the constltutlonRlists. He Il one |
of is0 speakers sent by the liberals |
into the United States In order 20 bet |
Ter acquAint our people with Mexican |
,h-u..hR maA r.uAt,aan- r.h..s 80. Il
have sent speakers throughout Mexi- |
20 itself In order 20 bring about a
more friendly feeling toward the
lorthern republic, for which the lib
rails entertain great respect. II In
ervention proves 20 be inevitahla. the
ihcrals want II 20 be q friendly one
opposed n at all BY minor factions of
he Mexican people. They entertain
10 objection 60 the present occupa
ion OF Mexican soil by American
roops. decmlng u inevitable under
he circumstances.
Col. Ledwidge h a Poie---a iineaI
descendant. IN fact. OF John the
nth. He IL a grandson OF TnaddruA
{ Warsaw and nephew OF Count
'ol. John SobieskL Hts Polish name
! Count Isedeviskl HIa father took
he name OF Ledwidge when he came
> America and served four years in
he Civil war. He has had much mill
AIRY ms wen as civii experience. He
nrved as commissary sergeant with
,oosevelt's Rough Riders and m arr
llerist under Captain Funston fnow
enerai Ftinstonl IN Cuba IN 1897.
Ie gave his fortune 20 the Mexican