East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-08-17

hopelessly divided us and we were
at swords points over methods rath-
er than our general policies. We all
agreed that the lands must be recon-
verted into public domain as far as
possible and be re-distributed to the
people under the provisions of the
constitution of 1857.
Francisco Villa. our ablest general,
military genius and beloved by all
the soldiery, stood for an absolute
and unconditional epnfiscation of the
great estates. He said: These
properties were acquired from the
dictator with full knowledge of the
methods by which he had dtspossess-
id the people and these landlords are
but the receivers of stolen goods II
they are looking for their money back
let them go to Diaz who was the
thief from whom they purchased. The
lands are ours; We have marched our
troops across them and have won
them by our valor and the edge of
the sword; we will do with them as
we please. We will make them again
the heritage of our people"
We pointed out to him that though
these great estates were immoral,
they at least were legal, for their I'll
ties had been issued by a government
not only recognized by foreign gov
ernments, but a government submit
ted to by ourselves That the people
who held them were the subjects OF
foreign powers and all powers guar
antee the rights and privileges OF
their people in other nations. That
if we confiscated without compensa-
ton we would have these powers de-
scending upon us and our national in
tegrity and the liberties of our people
would be crushed out in a general
invasion.
Villas Mistake.
He could not or would not see the
justice of our contention and the last
straw was added when We elected
Alvaro Obregon to be minister OF
war. a post which Villa coveted. An
gered beyond reason at our choice
he flung out of the council, declaring
that the next time he saw us It
would be upon the battle field.
Three days after Huerta left Mex
leo. Villa was collecting taxes in the
northern tier of states to finance his
campaign against us IN the cam
paign that followed he demonstrated
his brilliant qualities as general. At
no time has he appeared to better ad-
vantage on the field, put since we re-
garded the cause of liberty and de-
mocracy more threatened than ever
before (though villa declared himsej
the champion G. these great causes }
we steadfastly opposed him. Defeat
ed often, we persistently returned to
the contest ana finally broke his
strength. We drove him into that
desert section between Zacoticos anG
Chihuahua (Chi-wa-wa) where food
was scarce and travel difficult. The
American administration realizing
Villas wrong -keadeiness, recognizit.g
our SOLIDARITY to true liberty and de-
mocracy and supported morally by all
,hp Latfn-Anortcan countries, closed
the American ports along the borde:
and declared an ambargo on arms
entering Mexico.
Unted and out Of ammunition, the
Villa soldiery rapidly fell away from
their leader They came over to Us
TO he fed. We took charge Of them,
differed them and modified then.
along the railroad whore they could
he kept under discipline and prevent
ed from wandering about in hungry
maraudng hands.
The Columbus Raid.
Reduced from the proud position
of leader Of revolution to be merely
the chief of a bunch of bandits
Nnla ragged in his disappointment
Marching Northward in this frame OF
mind, he became the easy victim OF
those who would corrupt him We
claim that some one reached him We
do not know what was give nor what