The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-23
THE INSPIRATION OF VILLAS
RAID.

The invasion of American soil by
bandit Villa and his following OF cut
thrOats, has caused more excitement
in the United States than any event
which has transpired in the present
century, the torpedoing Of the Lusl-
tania not excepted. The invasion by
Villa and the killing OF American SOL
diers on their own soil has caused d
current of popular sentiment against
the marauder that grows IN intensity
as fuller details of the raid come to
light.
And what will be done? The ques-
ton. in view of what steps have al
ready been taken by our government
does not need further answer. IL is
a safe proposition to say that Presl-
dent Wilson and the American con-
gress will see to it that full satlstac-
ton and reparation is exacted, there
fore it will be no use for those sell
APPOINTED arbiters of the public well
fare to grow blatant and direct the
campaign from their street corner. AS
Mr.. Herbert A. Owen remarked to
the writer on Felix street yesterday:
81 am willing to let President wilson
and congress settle the matter Tor
me-" so it may be just as we'll II all
other good citizens follow this whole
some suggestion.
But there is a feature that now
that Mexico is to be searched for the
, bandit Villa, that it is hoped that the
strong arm of the American govern
ment will reach and drag to the llght
at the same time that it drags VIVA
to his punishment, and that is the
American interest, whatever 1T may
be, that is inspiring Villa, that is nm
ancing him, that is using him as
bloody catspaw with which to bring
about American Intervention, that
.expects. from such intervention, to
reap luscious harvests-if this, too,
were possible, the fervency OF our
amens would be redoubled.
Few. from the beginning, have be-
lieved that Villa was his own master
his own creator. 1t has long been
a matter of common knowledge that
conflicting coteries Of financlers ana
exploiters, in this country and IN
Europe, have been struggling for an
unprecedented prize-control OF the
unlimited wealth Of Mexico. 1t IS
these selfish interests, playing to the
limit the game of dynastic politics.
that have been responsible for no
one can guess how much of the
blood shed and the ruin wrought IN
the now desolated land south of us:
It is possible that there IS none OF
them now making use OF the foulesl
of all Mexican leaders to force
such action by our government as
will save their stakes. 1t is posslple'
we say. But appearances are more
than suspicious.
These surmises, we'll or i'll found
ed. are of course merely incidental 10
the main question. Whatever ana
whoever backs Villa, he cannot pe
permitted to flount the sovereignty
of the American government on us
own soil. He cannot be permitted to
seek out our citizens in their homes
and kill them and then retreat across
the Rio Grande to safety. Apparently
the CarranZa government is niue
better than an opera bouffe contrlV-
ance. The soil Of Mexico is still warm
with the blood of eighteen American
miners callously slain by Villa pan
dts, whose apprehension and punish
ment was promised by Carranza. Inc
promise has not been fulfilled. and
there is no sign Of any reasonably ell
ficient effort having been made 10
fulfill it. To the Carranza govern
ment, it seems, we look IN vain lol
a redress of grievances.
And such is the situation when
President Wilson and congress mas
tn face-and he and the legislators
will solve it with all Of it's intricacles.
st. Joe Observer.