The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-24

Carranza to transport his troops over
American territory and American rail-
roads to where he needed them most
to fight General Villa has so infuriat-
ed the Mexican people of the interior,
a large majority of whom are opposed
to Carranza. that there is very great
danger. I think il probable that there
will be a massacre of Americans not
in the north alone, but probably in all
Mexico, of whom there are hundreds
in the north and thousands in the
whole country yet and to a great ex-
tent unable to get out
Il myself saw the 5000 Carranza
troops go through Ell Paso from La
redo to Douglass, October 81, and saw
the battle of Aqua Prieta a day or two
later, and met General Villa at Naco,
after the battle, and talked with him
at length 1 see that they have shift
ed Carranza troops over American
territory back and forth from Nogales
to Aqua Prieta by permission of the
state department. and right now they
are starting a CarranZa troop move
ment eastward over American terri
tory and American railroads to Dor
der points several hundred miles east,
probably opposite Ojiniga. While the
recognition of Carranza was a colossal
blunder, our right to do so probably
could not be questioned nor our right
to place an embargo on the shipment
Of arms and ammunition, provided we
applied It to both Carranzas and Viii
las armies; but when we apply the
embargo to Villa only, and allow Car
ra dZa to transport his troops over our
territory, conveyed by American SOL
diers, and otherwise aid and assist
Carranza, why is not our action an act
of war, and are we not an ally of
Carranza? We have gone beyond rec
ognition. We are an active ally, and
our action, if IN Europe, would bring
a declaration of war in "a hours.
rs it the desire of our administra-
ton to precipitate a war with Mexico
and her 100000 people? If so, we
can readily understand our Darttcipa-
ton. 1 was told in Mexico a year ago
that if we made war on Mexico we
would have not Mexico alone to whip.
You can readily understand that this
transporting of CarranZa troops over
our territory is infuriating the masses
in Mexico; they are quick tempered,
hot blooded people, and regard the
action OF our COVER! Mt in aiding
Carranza as an effort b.. saddle a pres
ident ON them by q foreign power,
and they hate and resent foreign in
reference in their internal affairs.
IF the transportation of Carranza
troops over American territory is not
stopped at once and Immediately by
the president and Secretary Lansing
sincerely believe that these justly in
furiated people will retaliate in a
frightful way; and if they do, the
blood of several hundred, perhaps a
thousand, murdered Americans will
be on the heads of Wilson and Ian
sing on account of their i'll advised
and reckless action. Is CarranZa or
the desire to aid him more important
than the lives of innumerabie Ameri-
cans? My information is that the feel
ing is so great that Villa will not be
able to control his people, or, to use
their words, He will not be able to
hold them down 1t IS possible that
! tFai TlG a in
stopped at once and where they are
and further transportation over Amer
lean territory denied, and those en-
route returned, that a possible massa-
/ ere can be avoided, but if these troops
are transported j now arranged the
president and Secretary Lansing will
have to answer and be responsible for
such consequences as result. Our
troops cannot save our helpless people
in the interior of Mexico from the
consequences of ill advised and inn
practical action at Washington. Car
rama is impossible, and stands no
more show of being president of Mex
leo than the man in the moon.
"Will you be so kind as to read this
message from your Democratic friend
and constituent at once to Secretary
Lansing and to the president, if he
| will condescend to hear it, because if
the worst comes the odium will fall
on them. l would greatly prefer that
no publicity be given this communica-
| ton at this time"
/ After the reading of the telegram
Senator Stone asked the Kansas sena-
| tor if the latter personally knew Mr..
/ Thomas. Mr.. Curtis said he had known
Mr.. Thomas all his life. and that the
latter was a prominent Democrat OF
| Kansas.
Il know Mr.. Thomas Also" said
Senator Stone. Il have known him a
number of years. Within the last two
years he has come to see me at Wash
/ ipgton and other places to confer with
me. T heard what he had to say. He
came TO me as the agent and en-
ployee of General Villa, In a sense his
representative to this country to con-
fer with American OFFICIALS in the Villa
interest. What there was in It for him
1 do not know" Senator Stone argued
/ that the Kansas senator. indnrsed the