Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-21

convincing administration record, the
ship would not have been sunk.
Now rises the secretary of the
treasury to complain that this was
not statement OF what | would
have done, had,- nevertheless, the
sinking occurred But, | was under
the impression that when | said
would have stated in advance as to
what ! would do, everyone would know
that | stated what, in fact, | would
have done in the described event.
The secretary's remark shows in an
Illuminating way this administration S
conception Of the status OF words. 1t
apparently seems impossible to this
administration that one can mean
what he says. That is its difficulty
With it a threat of action does not
seem to mean anything but words.
My position is somewhat different.
mean what ! say and because this
would have been we'll known and we
should already had a reputation for
firm and correct policies, | repeat
that the Lusitania would not have
been sunk.
Bakers Astounding Statement.
But the most remarkable exhibit
ton of the administration is the re-
ceerre statement of the secretary of
war. He is reported to have said
and | do not understand that he has
denied the statement as reported-'I
know that the Mexicans do not re-
spect American life and property; |
know that they do, not pay their
debts; that they are ragamuffins; that
they desecrate church property; that
their money is no good and that they
are generally worthless. But people
never respect these things in revolu-
tons. We did not respect them in
our civil war. Washington's soldiers
i'll the march to Valley Forge stole
everything they could get their hands
on, took the silver vessels out of the
churches and sold them to buy drink.
They drove the ministers out of the
churches. Their money was worth
less and they were just as bad charac-
tiers as Mexicans.
Now let me read part of the
secretary of states description in June
last Of the atrocities in Mexico.
Torn With Civil Strife.
For three years the Mexican re-
public has been torn with civil strife. ,,
The lives of Americans and other
aliens have been sacrificed. Vast
developed by American cap
tai and enterprise have been destroyed |
Or rendered productive. Bandits
have been permitted to roam at will
through the territory contiguous to the
United States and to seize, without
or without effective at
.empt at punishment, the property of
while lives> of citizens of
he United States who ventured to
-emain in Mexican territory or to re-
main their to protect their interests,
lave been taken and in some cases
,arbarously taken and the rnurderers
nave never been apprehended or
brought to Justice
1T would be tedious to recount in
tance after instance, outrage after out
age, atrocity after atrocity, to illus
rate the true nature and extent oil
he widespread conditions of 1awless-
less and violence characterized by
uthless brutality. But unciVilized
Icts of mutilation were perpetrated.
Meanwhile party of unfortunate
american citizens started by train
rom Chihuahua City to visit the Cusi
mines after. having received assur-
noes from the Carranzista authori-
les in the state of chihuahua that
he country was safe, and that guard
N the train, was not necessary. The
americans held passports or safe con-
|ucts issued by authorities of the de
acto government. January 10, the
rain was stopped by Villa bandits
nd eighteen of the American party
we're stripped Of their clothing and
hot in cold blood, in what is known
S the Santa Ysabel massacre.
Within month of this barbarous
laughter of American citizens it was
: notorious fact that Villa was then
yithin twenty miles of Cusihuirachic
nd publicly stated that his purpose
yas to destroy American lives and
Villas unhindered activities cufnin
ted in the unprovoked and cold
looded attack upon American SOL
iers and citizens in the town of
olumbus on the night of March g,
lie details of which do not need to
e repeated here in order to refresh