The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-22

! To the American intelligence the
backing and filing of the Mexican
commissioners In the Atlantic City
conferences is eXplicab Bile only on the
general ground Of Mexican unreliable
iiiy. IT, however. we will try 10 put
| ourselves in their place, we Will 90
! their perSpicaciLy somewhat moro OF
Justice, although we may not feel more
chariIably inclined owards their
motives.
In previous editorial. I pointed out
the two essentials for the success or
the de facto government, as being the
! one, prestige, and the other, money.
One alone will not suffice; the two
! together are Indispensable for the
elimination Of Villa and similar bandit
revolutionaries and for the ordinary,
legitimate running expenses OF the
CarranZa administration.
The Mexican commissioners are
very property - loyal to what they
deem the interests Of the government
which has delegated them. They real
iZe, far more shrewdly than can even
1.-The United States commissioners who
confer with them, the absolutely es-
sential nature OF the two factors IN
ivolved prestige and cash. 1t is right,
as we'll as patriotic, that they should
so realize their countrv's necessities.
The application of the means for
which they contend Is quite another
matter.
Prestige for Carranza, under cur
rent conditions, is identified with the
withdrawal OF the Pershing column
which, in the eyes of all Mexico, is
an armed invasion and a national
humiliation, for the abatement of
which MeXicans look to their de tacto
administration. However important
10 our safety we may consider the con-
tinued presence of General Pershlng
lin Mexico, that presence is regarded
hv Carranza and his adherents as the
major impediment 10 national acquies-
cence In his authority and as the
chief factor which Keeps alive the
esentment that enables Villa 10 re-
main considerable foe In the field.
THUS. for the present, it. would appear
that unless the United States assent
IN The withdrawal Of General Perish
ing's column, the conferees must re-
main in a deadlock.
The matter Of money has narrowed
down, with Senior CarranZa. to exploit
lIarion OF such resources alone as are
available from foreign investments.
Mexico's import and export charge
duties arc now insufficient to dcfray
i,hn COSTS Of the civil administration
even in time Of peace. Domestic
lakes, on the native industries, are
practically nil because Of the idleness
enforced by conditions Of disorder.
There are left, as sources Of revenue,
only the foreign investments, mainly
railroads and mines. But the railroads
| are not available as assets for taxa
..,rT0I nm
Years ago took over the major por-
| lion Of Mexican rOreign-built railroads
in exchange for bonds and now the
de facto government, with all com
mllnication Interrupted by revolt, has
! dcfaulted on The bond interests and Is
confronted by that phase OF foreign
| investment as liability instead Of an
asset.
| No asset presented a possibility or
| rNploiIatiOn By the government except
! lha COUntry's mineral resources. by
reason of The anarChiC conditions the
gold. silver and copper mincS-nper'
lated by American capital and n"ccs-
sarly under American expert manage
lmrnI--had suspended; vet, even after
the issuance Of the instruction by the
| president Of the United States that
| they flee Tor their lives. tn" majority
Iuf the American managers Temalnfti
III their posts. rnd"aN0rinG |" WORK
| their mines ii Senior IarrHnAa could
force the resumption ct mining acilN-