El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-22
y COMMISSIONED by The Herald


great expense to secure a series
~ OF imaginary interviews with our
leading citizens upon the death Of
Pancho villa, I set out, scratching nv
head and thinking what they would
say and what would happen II I car
ried out the assignment In reality.
The interview with our leading cit-
zen should come first and, OF course.
according to lack Cobb, this would
place the collector OF customs at the
head Of the list but, IN view CT the
military censorship, L thought IL best
TO head the list with Gen. George Bel.
Jr, commanding the western Texas
patrol district.
General Bell "TaIxs.y
found Gen. Bell at the Paso del
Norte, giving luncheon for all the
newspaper men in Iii Paso and in re.
Spouse to my request for a statement.
he most cordially replied
mo, don't mind in the least giving
you an interview. ] am always gIad
to talk for publication and war corre-
spondents are the JOY Of my existence.
IF villa has died why then villa
is dead and I am positive Of this. ON
the other hand. If Villa has not died
he is living right now and I say this
without fear. II is a definite state
ment Of the matter, both from a mHi-
tary and civilian standpoint
THUS settling the controversy
should have a good effect on local con.
ditiOns along the border"
The @PeerIess PEACH
Next I sought our one and only lack
Cobb in the federal building. I was
much impressed by the depressed at
titude of all the lesser lights outside
wondered If it were true that, after
all. these minions were doing the reg I
ular work supposed to be done in per-
son by the man Of destiny in the inner
room.
7 prepared for the plunge by assum-
ing properly subdued mental and 1
physical aspect and entered.
Pictures on the Wall.
] noticed number Of pictures OF /
president Wilson. all with autographs /
AZ the bottom-the autographs care /
fully clipped from current magazines 1
Then there was a picture Of William ,
Jennings Bryan, but over this had been (
pasted a picture Of George c. Caroth- |
ers, without an autograph. On the 4
desk was a very clever tWo-sided !
frame; just at the moment the picture
in front was that of Carranza, but I Q
saw that the one on the back was
Villa and then recalled that not long
since the likeness Of Pancho had blos-
somed forth on the front for the edifi-
cation Of all Corners.
The Villa Affair.
Mr. Cobb, do you believe villa IS
dead2" I asked.
We'll. sir. I don't know, or rather I
won't say that for it happens that 1
know everything. Let me tell YOU
som ething. We must all stand by the
president and his representative down
here. At times I shudder to think what
might even now have been the plight
OF our great country had I not stood
by my good friend, Woodrow. DO you
I b L
secretary Of state, seven thousand,
three hundred and nine kilograms and
letters on the Mexican situation and
| am proud to say that William Jen-
nings Bryan thought so well Of me
that he sent me a letter I can show
II as proof"
do you know, I am not only the one
reliable source of information the state /
department. has as to the Mexican sit
nation and conditions along the bOr-
Ter. but L am now send ng advice to
secretary Of war Baker daily and, 1 j
ion't mind telling you cOnfidenually, ]
zen. Funston has the benefit Of my s
wisdom whenever I can think Of any
hing to wire him about
VIII Help Pershing Out.
Gas soon as 1 can make arrange
ments to use the Mexican telegraph /
ines I expect to take IN the matter
If keeping Gen. Perish ng informed as
o conditions down there where he is I ,
lCW operating. 1 tell you, no one
CALVES what mighty problems 1 have
10 solve daily"
In the meantime. a newspaper man :
Irrived, and Zack, after taking him.
INTO Il corner and learning some real
acts about the border situation. sat
Town and wrote message denying
hem all. I fled
Col. Taylor interviewed.
I next Imagined" myself out at
tort Bliss, interviewing that sturdy
Id warrior, Col Charles W. Taylor, I
Who commands our army post and, in I
dentally, the respect and affection Of J
II our citizens.
My host came through the door W tn
glass in each hand and I must con-
ess that the tinkling OF the ice in the |
ia sses was not an unweicome sound. /
AS ] slipped / asked Col. Taylor il he ;
nut any credence in the reports Of
THla's death. The. colonel looked af- I
ectionately at his glass and began: !
By George, this chase of Villa re-
minds me Of the time Buffalo Bill and
started out W tn an expedition from
'ort Lincoln after Wind-in- the Foot Z
nd his band Of redskins in the seven y
les. {
"B0tt1ed Up.S p
I'VE we're in a tight fix for water, !
ut, in view Of the fact that the coun- > '
~ was alive with hostile Indians, the q