The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-08-11
Who OWNS MEXICO
ASKS LA TOILETTE
Declares United States Capitalists
Hold More Property Than MeXi-
cans ThemselveS-This Accounts
Largely For''Intervention'D

cans ThemSeiVeS-ThiS Account.
Largely For''InterventiOn"D
A recent issue of La Follett's Mag
azine contains an article, signed by
Senator R. M. La Toilette, of Wiscon
sin, entitled, "Who Owns Mexico?'
In view of the fact that Mr.. Hughe:
devotes so large a proportion of hi:
speech of acceptance to criticism o
President Wilson's Mexican policy
this notable article by Senator La
Toilette acquires renewed interest
and is we'll worth reading by all stu
dents of national politics.
The Senator points out that the
amount of investments in Mexico by
United States capitalists, spectators
and promoters is 1,057,770,000
while the amount invested by Mexi-
cans themselves is reported as only
S793,187,242. This extraordinary
fact, the Senator believes, accounts
largely for the demand for Inter
vention" in various quarters.
Important parts of the article are
herewith reproduced:
The people of the United States do
not want war with Mexico. The
Mexican people do not want war
with us. And both President Wilson
and Carranza have manifestly done
everything in their power to avert
war.
What is it, then, that menaces the
Of oh rtrio
1t dates far back of the Columbus
raid. That outrage upon the resi-
dents of one of our border towns was
the logical outcome of conditions for
which the Mexican people were in no
wise responsible. Worse than that.
The Mexican people were really in
nocent victims of traitors in our
midst. For it is charged upon the
highest authority that the raid was
inspired and arranged for in our own
country.
Do you get the full meaning of
that statement? Benedict Arnold
was not more guilty of treason.
The secret service of this govern
ment has a long arm and a strong
arm. The net may yet be drawn on
the "higher-up." 1t is fair to as
sumo that President Wilson did not
disclose all Of the facts in his posses
sion when he declared officially few
days after the raid that:
There were persons along the bor
der actively engaged in creating fric-
tion between the governments of the
United States and the defacto govern
ment of Mexico for the purpose of
bringing about Intervention in the
interest of certain owners of Mexican
properties"
There you have it. The gentlemen
who want war with Mexico are the
gentlemen who have Mexican prop
critics." They are very powerful
lot.
They prat about patriotism"
They clamor for preparedness.
They have tried to plunge the coun-
try into hysteria of fear that we
are going to be thrown into war with
Germany or England or Japan.
These American. investors" in
Mexico-millionair using ev-
they can control
tnelr '-.---.-- as>.-, e---ss> ancrc. heir
magazines, their political Influence,
all their dark and devious Ways
to bring about Intervention" In
terVentlon means war. War means
blood, and killing, and bereaved fam
lilies, and unmentionable horrors.
And all for what? Profits! Privilege
Profits! Who owns Mexico? Really
owns it?
Let us glance at few figures. Dol
lars, they are-millions and millions
of them. And they tell the story.
What follows shows the wealth of
Mexico, according to nationality of
ownership. 1t is taken from the
United States Consular Report No.
16S, issued July Is, 1912, by Consul
Marion Letcher, Of Chihuahua. This
table was prepared by William H.
Seamon, late of Chihuahua, who, ac
cording to the statement of this Con-
sular Report, has had long expert
ence in Mexico as a mining engi-
neer:"
American S1,O57,77O,000