Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-27
Secretaries Baker and Lam
sing Absolve Citizens In
Conspiracy Charge.
HOPE TO CHECKMATE
BORDER ATTACK
Federal Officials Claim to Have Evil
dsnee Raids Were Being Planned to
Influence American Political situa
tion-M exican Capitalists Who op-
pose carranxa Indirectly Accused by
Washington Officials.

Washington Officials.
department officials today refused to
disclose the source of information on
which Secretary Baker last night is.
sued a statement charging that a ban
dit attack on American troops in Mex
leo or on American border towns had
been planned to discredit the adminis-
tration.s Mexican policy. They declared
the channel Of information was SO val
liable that nothing would be given out
that might injure its usefulness.
Secretaries Baker and Lansing de-
clared today that no political influence
has led to the statement.
THE obviously appropriate comment
Of the secretary of state" Secretary
Baker said, referring 70 the explana-
ton by Secretary Lansing last night
that no American/was implicated and
that any idea to prevent the carrying
out of the plans had prompted Secre-
tary's Bakers statement, "precludes
that any such construction would be
put on my statement. The statement
was without political purpose and
ought to be without political effect"
BIames Mexican Interests.
Secretary Baker declared it absurd"
to suppose his statement was intended
to imply that any political interest in
the United States desired anything but
peace on the border Asked just what
interests he charged were behind the
movement, he dictated this statement:
THE Mexicans who oppose the DO
facto government In Mexico would, Of
course, be glad to complicate relations
between the United States and Mexico
and our information is that they think
this an appropriate time to do SO. The
statement made last night by the de-
partment ought to discourage any ad-
venture on their part in that direction.
Everybody knows that many Mexicans
in this country are constantly agitating
against the de facto government.
The only possible. suggestion of a
political purpose Gin the war depart
n1ent statementrlis to prevent people
Fin Mexico from creating a disturbances
Of political character In furtherance
Of their own designs"
Hope to checkmats Plot.
Part OF the information, the secre-
tary said, reached him yesterday aft
ernoon, soon after he left to deliver a
campaign speech in West Virginia. Mr..
Baker took his advices up with Sec
retary Lansing and the latter advised
there be no delay In making public the
information.
Secretary Lansing views the infor-
nation as showing a dangerous stu
alton along the border. Publication
of the fact that the government has
taken steps to checkmate such move
ment, he believes goes far toward pre-.
venting an attack either upon bor-
der town or on General Pershing's
forces. *
Secretary Baker refused to say
whether orders have been given GEN
oral Pershing to meet an attack. He
gave the impression that Generals Per-
shing and Funston might have been d.
rected to take steps Of a retaliatory
nature should there be any attack on
their forces.
II have nothing to say on that sub
ject," was his only response to every
question in regard to orders sent to the
border.
Lansing Accuses Mexicans.
Later Mr.. Lansing authorized this
statement: y
II was quite correctly quoted in the
statement that Secretary Bakers state
ment was not inspired by any political
conditions. Nor does it infer that any
Americans are concerned in the plot.
There are many Mexican refugees in
this country who are inimical to the
presidents policy who might consider
the present time as one ripe for the
furtherance Of their projects. The silver
which is known to have gone from the
country to Mexican bandits was not
necessarily from Americans. Indeed, I
can not believe any American citizen is
step which would result in the loss
OF American lives.~
Mr.. Bakers Statement.
The statement follows:
''The war department has received
definite information, confirmed from
other sources, that enemies of the adj
ministration's policy toward Mexico, in
Incorporation with Villa or other ban
dts in Mexico, have arranged spec
tacular attack to be made either upon
some part of the American forces or
upon some American community on
the border between now and the date
OF the election for the purpose Of turn
Ing the tide OF sentiment against the
policy which the administration has
adopted for the protection Of the
border.
Paid in Silver Coin.
ut Is significant in this connection
that both thA state and war depart
ments were advised that the bandit
forces operating at the present time In
Mexico are being paid in silver coin.
Full particulars have been trans
mitted to General Funston and Gen
eral Pershing. All American forces
are therefore forewarned. and in readi-
ness, for such an attack"
Mexicane Aesponsibis.
From other sources 1t was learned
that information concerning a plot had
been received through agents Of the
department Of Justice, state depart
Iment representatives on the border.