El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-12

showing in what manner he obtained
Possession Of his extensive land hold
inss in the state OF Chihuahua. He
denies having rendered any aid what
ever 10 enemies Cf MeSico's peace.
Not one square inch" says he, O.
the land he owns was ever received
by gift from the Diaz government Of
amy other; on the contrary, he bought
all his lands from the original legiti-
mate owners OF the titles. and has the
documents TO prove II. Not only that
nut he obtained most of his holdings
10y purchase at a time when the re-
gion was overrun by Apache indians
ana mad in consequence been aban-
aoned by the land owners through fear
Gen. Terrazas shows how he placed
families or the land. aided them to be-
come self supporting, and himself en-
ployed and paid armed forces Of rural
guards to protect the settlers against
Apaches and finally to rid the country
OF the saVaEes. The region now he
further says. has been rendered bar
rem and uninhabitable once more by
tne acts OF lawless bands, and the set
tiers dispossessed.
lie refers modestly to his record Of
public service during his Sc years OF
life, and alludes to the many times he
took up arms to defend liberal princi-
pies Of government, enforce public
rights and defend the national soil
against invasion. He was honored
with the trust and friendship Of many
Of MeXico's famous patriots and is con-
tent now to rely upon the san judg-
ment OF the future as to whether he
has fulfilled his citizen obligations or
not.
His statement in the form of an open
letter. follows.
Gen. Terrazas's Statement.
In the issue of the I'll Paso Morn
ing Times Of the 23rd of April. last
there appeared certain statements at
tributed to the Consul OF Mexico. in
this city. Mr.. Andres Garcia, and as 1
am mentioned in said statements in
terms which are offensive to me, not
so much due TO the disrespectful tone
Of same, as on account Of the grave
falsehoods stated, it is my duty to
rectify same, placing matters in their
true light before the serene and i'm
partial judgment Of all sane persons
on both sides Of the boundary line.
II quote below reference made 10
me in said statements:
our work is beneficial because
drink rs "a curse to the populace: we (
have ascertained our natural wealth: !
we propose to divide land among the I
populacc, and it viii never be seen 1
again that any Terrazas owns fifteen :
million acres Of land in Mexico. against .
fifteen million MeNicaus who have absO- .
lutely nothing
AS is easily understood by the para
graph quoted, tho object of its author
is to maliciOusly prepare public opin-
ion against me by establishing
monstrOus contrast between my lot and
that OF all other MeNicaus. giving TO
understand. with an excess OF malice.
NAT the origin of my property has
Erect relation to abuses attributed TO
prior politics in Mexico. and that ],
with no other merits and for no othc
motives, than political patronage. was
'bie to accumulate large tracts OF lana
n my country to the detriment OF mr
Aspcrsion.: rot True.
against such colossal and insidious
',.l gE erations. which have no other
ouudatiou than an unmerited animos-
ty Of its author against me. 7 wish /
% make known in a most energetic
way, that the express statements con- (
veil as those insinuated more or less Z
aptiously, are absolutely false.
1T IS also absolutely false that
wn fifteen million acres Of land in
iexico. The figures are extraordi- +.
arily exaggerated, consequently the Z
uthor Of said paragraph has not stated I
he truth. it is untrue, as is we'll
nOwn, that all MeXicans do not own l
and, and I can affirm that in the I;
tate Of Chihuahua alone, there are !
.asses, and some of them own mil !
ons Of acres. The same is the case in =
he rest Of the states Of the Republic =
Mexico, from ali Of which it is clear
lat I am not the only land owner
my country, and that in the Re n
lblic Of Mexico there are thousands n
land owners. The foregoing facts 8 v
'e well known TO all MeXicans as well /,
TO all foreigners who know Mexico, Il
I'D the malice OF the author is clearly d
scernable. o
Got All Lands Honestly. u
ION the other hand, the lands which [ II
own, ] acquired legitimately, which | i
am willing to prove when necessary.
lese lands were acquired with the
rnings Of my honest work.
THE majority Of these lands had o.
en abandoned when I bought them, y
7ing to the frequent incursions Of the
lache Indians, from which the State
chihuahua suffered greatly at that Il
ne; the owners not wishing 70 live al
them. exposed TO the danger Of the
wages, and the consequent lack Of
oduction, they decided to dispose Of -
p land. selling to me, due, I sup
Sc. to the fact. that I was the best :
yer and the only one who dared to
y them, Notwithstanding the fore
ing facts.
The parties from whom I bought
b properties all held legitimate and
ar titles 10 the land. dating back
4
s were made over to me in legal
m and are in my possession. When
time comes and IL is necessary, ]
all present same I'm order to prove
d assert my rights, thereby con-
nding my interchangeable defamers.
Redeemed From Apaches.
When I acquired the properties
ich are inspiring so much covetous-
Is and which are the direct cause
my being necessarily DETAINED. the
jority Of them were deserts. unin-
,ited and subject to the devastst-
incursiOns OF the Apaches.
J. setting aside all thought Of dan
, personally placed upon them Next
families. built houses for them
opened UP farming lands. which
e been and are being cultivated
producing much more than is nee
lry for the maintenance OF the
lilies
I also kept an armed force, paid by
TO defend them against attacks
the Apaches. The state received
hing from these lands. as they only
red as haunts of the Indians. Since
the properties, they are
ing taxes TO the Nation, State and
icipality 4
they we're the source Of living to
Isands of families but since peace
disturbed, due to revolutionary