Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05

Cwho went to Mexico specially. to gather this
material and spent two months there max
ing the acquaintance of the leaders,
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspaper
SyndicateD
THE oft repeated statement that all the
brains have been driven out of Mexico has
no foundation in fact.
Many able and brilliant men have been killed,
driven into exile. have left the country in dis
gust IN consequence OF the revolution. There
is no denying that. But they were men who
had achieved prominence under the old con-
ditions They were nearly all aristocrats.
Now, aristOcracy and wealth have no monop-
oily against ability Not against native ability at
sny rate. The only advantage that class has is
that il is better educated than the peasants. So
the only difference between the brains running
Mexico today and those in Office when Diaz had
control is the difference of education. The Glen
tiicos were nearly all highly educated men.
Many of the Carranzista leaders have had few
advantages in that line
However there is a good deal more TO states
manship and generalship than mere education.
There is native ability. and the revolution with
its five years of civil has developed an
enormous amount of that. Farmers and store
keepers and country lawyers without any mil
itary training whatever have turned out TO be
brilliant commanders and able generals.
This has been one of the great surprises of
the whole war. These unframed commanders.
leading unframed troops, have in every instance
outgenersled and beaten the trained troops OF
the Federal army led by professional soldiers.
What sort OF generals could Daz and Huerta
have had" said General AlvaradO. when we
farmers. who knew nothing about war. whipped
them in every single battle and they always had
the advantage OF numbers"
This was not bOastinG IL is simply state
ment of fact which the CientiicOs couldn't for
the life of them understand. and which ! find
they are now inclined TO belittle. They lay the
blame for their unbroken record OF defeats pure
II to luck. The TevOlutOnists. on the other
hand are equally visionary. They attribute their
triumphs 10 the righteousness of their cause.
Both sides overlook the factor of ability and
courage.
As the revolution brought forth latent mill
tsry talents so il is now bringing forth unsus-
pected executive ability. Doctors. clerks. me-
Chanics and even day labOrers occupying i'm
portant posts in the CaTranza government. Some
Of them are rapidly showing statesmanlike quail
ties. Many others are proving to be wOeful mis-
fits. II will take the First Chief long time 10
sift the sheep from the goats and get the person
mel of his administration to its highest avail
able point of efficiency.
All revolutions i'm the history of the world
have brought but a few big men TO the front;
brought them suddenly from security into the
Iimelight of public admiration and large affairs.
The Mexican revolution is no exception TO the
rule. To be sure. no Napoleon has been devel-
oped vet. If there is one in the making il is too
early in his career TO recognize him
/ doubt III Senior CarranZa will play the role
OF MeNico's NAPOLEON. To begin with. | don't
believe he is at all ambitions to do anything of
the kind. Also. while he is a very able man and
an impressive figure in Mexican affairs, he lacks
the personal magnetism 10 make him popular
idol.
THE MEXICAN BIG FIVE.
In addition to Senior Carranza. there are four