The Washington herald., 1916-09-21
Seen and Heard by George Miner.

New York, Sept. 2o.-The conference between
the American and Mexican commissioners has al
traeted attention to Mexican affairs again. A
great many people had almost forgotten that only
a comparatively few weeks ago we were the
Verge of war with that country. Now we have
even stopped worrying over our army on the Rio
Grande and ridiculing the national and State
organizations for the clumsy and inefficient way
in which the army was modified.
This is fortunate. 1t is just the sort of spirit
that should permeate the country while interna-
tional negotiations going on. Nobody's tenn
per is out of hand. Everybody can talk sensib1y
and reasonably, and consequently the commits
sioners are not being handicapped by heated
public clamor. ~
For all that, the majority of US are still pretty
strongly prejudced against Mexico in general and
the present Mexican government in particular.
Few North Americans are ready to give the exist
ing Mexican government any credit for really
wishing to preserve peace with the United States
to clear up the internal disorders within the
Mexican borders, and to solve the pressing prob
lens OF Mexican economic organization. Yea ii
is evident that these aims would be the most
likely and reasonable ones for the Mexicans to
adopt, and Senor Carranza has never shown him
self to be deficient in reason or common sense.
He has nothing to gain and all to lose by
anarchy within Mexico and trouble with other
countries.
Villa no doubt prefers the condition of out
lawry. If he didn't he wouldn't have kept it up
for so long. He had good chance to stop when
his old friend settled in the Presidential chair
IN Mexico City But he was bandit way back
in the days of Diaz and remained a bandit until
Mr.. Bryan made him pet fed him with guns
and ammunition and encouraged him to believe
himself true patriot. His status is no doubt
quite satisfactory to himself.
Anyone taking up the reins OF the Mexican
government has serious task to face, and there
is no reason to suppose that the First Chief has
not been setting about it seriously. Embroil-
ments with other countries, big or little could
not help him When he says that disorders in
remote sections of Mexico are as hostile to him
self as to the United States Guatemala or British
Honduras, all of which have seen their citizens
raided and killed it is probable that he is right
IN dsowning them and in saying that he is doing
his best to suppress these disorders
That Senior Carranza is making every effort
to redeem Mexico's financial plight there can be
no doubt. He is taking up treasury bills promptly
and has so far succeeded in restoring confidence
that the deprecated value of the peso has risen
to four times what it was little while ago.
DEGREES have been enacted which, if they can be
carried out will completely break down the old
peonage system, elevate the citizenship of the
laborlng classes and equalize taxation.
The recent municipal elections all over Mex
lco the first under the new government went
off peacefully and without any sign of disorder
For the first time in the history of Mexico the
peon and Indian went to the polls and voted
This is certainly most encouraging sign and an
earnest that the constitutional government is try
ing to be what it says it is-a government OF the
people.
If peace ever settles over the whole country
and Carranza is given real chance to govern,
he will not restore the Mexico of Porfirio Diaz,
when the whole land was under bondage to
wealthy Mexicans and foreigners but he might
build up the newer and freer system which his
state papers promise.
The sending of the National Guard to the
border brought the shadow OF real war close up.
Almost at once, it gave pause even to the people
who had been crying out for hostilities. sort
OF chill passed over both countries Various So
cetles beseged the President in the cause OF peace
and Latin-American republics cabed suggestions
for mediation.
On both Sides the heat cooled down and the
notes exchanged became more courteous. That's
the way things stand now when it seems that
there will be mutual patrol of the border by
American and Carranza troops acting in concert
1H1S VIII undoubtedly De more equitable to Mex
lco than forced invasion OF her territory, and
great deal more satisfactory to the United
States whose country near the border has been
subjected to an intoerable state of terrorization
Villa, who keeps very much alive, has resumed
his bandit raids If his object is really to create
war between the United States and Mexico his
kindly intentions will be much more readily de-
teated II the present Mexican government and
that of the United States seriously set about
mutual action against him and his like.
1t is quite evident that the European countries
in the entente do not want war between the
United States and Mexico Not so much be-
cause they fear stoppage of our ammunition
supphes-whlch they are rapidly getting to be in
dependent of-as because England and France
have large interests in Mexico which might be
adversely affected. All their vast investments in
railways r11ines and al 1.