Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-05-01

COLQUITT'S "MEXICAN POLICY

-
In all the ~peechc- that former Governor
tolquitt has made, and III al the literature
that he has distributed to the voter, of
Texas IN ms campaign for United States
senator, the foremost plank, and the one
which he hopes vii! win for him the covet-
ed prize, i one which be " pleased to caIl
my Mexican Policy"
Mr. colquitt dwrlls al length on thi.
subject. lie reviews with much eu-to how
promptly he acted when the live. Of tho
citizens on the border were al the mercy
OF The Mexican revolutioni~ts How he
dispatched the state militia 10 Brownsville
and the wonderful effect which followed.
The Herald believes that It i. time to
prove That the former governor acted
hastily. unwiscly and bullheaRlv when he
ordered the state troop to Brownsville
Inc Herald Is prepared 10 show that the
governor sent the troops. when had he but
taken steps 10 ascertain the true coudi-
non on The border. which could Lave been
"htainec easily. he might have saved th.
taxpayers Of the state . large amount II
money, and the city If Brownsville much
untavornble publicity.
But the governor chose otherwise
IN" Ierald will review what happened
on the night Governor C6lquitt dispatched
The state troops to Brownsville:
About 9:30 that memorable evening. Tho
Herald received 4 dispatch from the As
soclatcd Press. stating that rlmor, N "
disturbance NJ Brownsville had been RI
ccived. We immediately replied w knew,
81 no disturbance here, and asked for
further information. Promptly ~ received
y message stating that there wa- ropnrted
an uprising OF The Mcxicau- ID Brownsville.
that the Mexican, had made 4 demand far
money upon American citizens IA AIatn-
moros and that the governor had ordered
The state militia 10 proceed 20 Browns
VILE at once The dispa,c h further stated
that the American consul at Matamoros
had asked for r.otection.
Tins information wa~ all news 10 The
Herald. We Immediately ~et out To get the
story. We sent = reporter to M~atlmoro,
To get Consul Johnson To- confirm the story.
Our reporter found Consul Johnson m he'd.
He was surprised To learn that troops had
been ordered 10 Brownsville, and denied
IN toto that he had asked for protection.
Our reporter also visited the commander
of Matamoro>. and he. also, was surprised
and grIevcd that the governor had taken
such impul~iyc and unnecessary action.
We scurricd tic tow over aud could ind
not the slightest evidence that anything
unusual had happened III Brownsville w
I'm the Mexican city WI Matamoro-. The
city was quiet and peaceful. we immc-
diatelN wired the Associated Press that
Brownsville was tranquil. adding that thr
story would IA filed quickly. The Herald.
believing that Governor Culvuitt had been
mlsinfnrmed concerning conditions. also
wired HIM, SAYING that NJ were sending Y
true story oi the conditions here IN the
Associated Pres. and asked II az wished
a copy Of the report. Tins Wa about m
o'clock ~ night. We waited Id The Her
aid office until | o'cloek for the governors
reply. But no rvpls. This we thought
rather strange, ina~much a. We had been
informed that a direct wire from Browns
vile had been placed IN the governors OF
fee AT Austin. The following dav about
noon. however, We received a message
from the governors SECRETARY, which read
"YES, If NO EXPENSE TO Us
Oh course II was Toe hate then. a. al the
state papers carried the report we sent
to the Associated Press.
In the meantime the state troops had
been mobihzed and ordered 10 Brownsville.
Some had arrived. more were coming.
We nave always believed that the tor
mer governor had made up hi> mind 70
send the troops, whether conditions war
ranied ii or not. Events proved that Col
Quits act was an unwI>e and impul~ive
one, and entirely nnwarranted.
The true conditions might have been OBJ
tanned. bat he chose otherwise.