The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-22

cooperation nor assistance 10 The
American troops who pursued the ban.
dts; that on the contrary. Carranza's
adherents halted the American pursuit
al Parral and became the protectors
Of villa and his banits: and that Car
ranZas government has shown that
u does not intend nor desire that the
outlaws, bandits and criminals who
have been guilty OF these murders and
outrages. shall be captured, destroyed
or dispersed, either by The American
troops OF by Mexican troops
Strong Indictment.
In the above statement I have used
the exact words Of Mr.. Wilson's sccrc-
tary, merely condensing the statement
and keeping exactly its sense. / have
not used one word not contained in
the statement. No Indictment hy me
Of Mr.. Wilson's policy could be as
strong as that furnished by himself
Immediately afterwards occurred the
trcacherous murder Of our troops at
Carrizal. Then Mr.. Wilson became
frightened. bowed in abject submis-
sion TO Carran2a. kissed the hand that
was red with the blood OF American
men and women, and. inasmuch as he
dared not hold Carranza responsible.
began In unmanly fashion to scold Car
ranza's wretChcd American victims.
Mr.. Wilson says he has kept us
out Of war The Democratic platform
says that the MeXicans have made war
upon and murdered our people. For
once the Democratic platform told the
truth. Mr.. Wilson says that some OF
the murdered men were barbarously
mutilated. In the press one such case
of mutilation is described Two troop
crs OF the Twelfth United States cav
airy, Henry Stubblcfcid and Richard
Johnson. one from Virginia and one
from New York. were Killed by Car
ranza's troops at Progrcso. Texas. on
September %. 1918. Stubblefc!d's
body was found soon after the fight
johnson was reported missing. hut
Mexican prisoners Informed our oili-
GERS that Johnson had been tortured
and beheaded his body thrown into
the Rio Grandc and his head and ears
cut off and displayed to the populact
Of the Mexican town OF Conception as
evidence that American troops had
been routed This was not an excep.
tional instance; 1t was typical Of what
has gone on unchecked in Mexico.
MIR. Wilson and his followers are
fond OF asking when we criticize his
action. What would won have done +?
Either one Of two courses could prop
erly have been followed. II would have
been dcfensible to have recognized
Huerta. in view of the fact that other
great powers had recognized him; and
Of course. il was quite indefensible
To refuse to recognize him. and yet
recognize Bcnayides in Peru. and Car
rama in Mexico. In such event we
would have held Huerta to strict ac-
countability' by acts. for restoring
order in Mexico and for protecting
American life and property.
Fine Words.
This course would have been de-
feasible. Personally. 1t seems to me
that 1t would have been even better
TO have done exactly what Mr. Wilson
said he would do. but did not do. He
said to Congress on August 81 1913:
We should let everyone who assumes
to exercise authority in any part OF
Mexico know in the most uncquiyocal
way that we shall vigilantly watch tine
fortunes OF those Americans who can
not get away. and shall hold those re-
sponsible for their suiferings and loss
es to n definite reckoning This can
be and will he put beyond the posi-
Witty OF misunderstanding. on the
same day he sent TO the American
consul general and consular agents
in Mexico two kilograms instructing
them to notify all officials. military or
civil. exercising authority, that they
would be held strictly responsible for
any harm done to Americans or for
injury to their property These were
fine words. Excellent words! They
were as good rs the words in the
Democratic platform. four years ago
and now, to the effect that all Ameri-
can citizens. at home and abroad. must
be protected in their rights, and no
wrongs permitted against their per-
sons or property, The trouble is that
neither the promises and menaces of
President Wilson nor the pledges in
the Democratic platform, were worth
the paper on which they were written.
nor the breath expended in uttcrins
them.
Mr.. Wilson's note was explicit and
emphatic. II he had meant what he
said. and II he had possessed the
smallest fraction Of the resolution AMI
courage Of such a Democratic prcsi-
dent as Andrew Jackson, he would
have lived up to this notice lie would
have acted al once against every lead
pr whether TIunrta Eillu NJ rarrau-