The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1917-01-12
WHAT NEXT AND WHEN NEXT.

After months of palayering and
dickering with Carranza We are right
where we were before it commenced.
We arc in the position OF the dog
chat has just been kicked and doesn't
possess the nerve TO bite back.
General Carranla has officially and
definitely refused TO ratify the proto-
col signed 10y the American and Mex
lean commissioners, and by this act
| has again demonstrated The Mexican
contempt for everything American.
Kicked. Just plain kicked again!
II The American people have no
pride left the honor of our country
and tie lives of our people mean
nothing what about the American
pocketbook? Even the most craven
wretch on earth is sensitive to the
welfare Of his purse.
1t would be of interest to know
just what this Mexican tiasco is cost
ing The country per day. With Per-
shing and his twelve Thousand men
in Mexico, with thousands and th0us-
ands OF National Guardsmen sucking
their thumbs on the border, with
every available officer and man in the
regular army doing police duty along
the Rio Grande, the cost lis piling
away up into the millions.
The American tax payer is putting
up this money and he gets nothing
in return for it. He doesn't even
gain the, respect OF other countries
and other peoples.
Two facts are self evident. Car
rama hasn't the power to take Villa
If he would; he hasn't the inclination
to do SO IL he could. Time has proven
the truth Of both these statements.
Another one. CarranZa hasn't the
power to protect American lives and
American property in Mexico And
he wouldn't if he could. for Carranza
is Mexican of Mexicans, as stubborn
as mule and as blind as bat to all
things except his own assininity.
And yet we wheedle and dawde
and palaver.
We keep an army on war footing
at an enormous expense to the tax
payers. aid yet We are not at war: we
haven't an enemy at whom we can
consistently point gun. Because
neitherCongress nor our government
officials seem willing to admit the
fact that conditions exist in our back
yard that would have started the
guns OF other nations to belching fire
and lead years ago.
But one thing is evident and from
that we cannot escape. The bills are
piling up and we tax payers have to
meet them. In plain street parlance,
we have TO dig down and whack up.
General PershiDg was sent into
Mexico to capture Il notorious brigand
who was Il least responsible for the
shooting mp Of an American town and
the slaughter Of American citizens.
BY order Of our government Pershing's
army is cooped up in camp and not
allowed to make move, while this
same brigand has been swapping his
fingers at them and capturing towns
under their nosesei and making him
self ruler Of all northern Mexico.
Great, isn't it, Mr.. Tax Payer?
We have had SO many fool moves in
connection with Mexico that we are
wondering what the next one will be,
and when it will be?
The people Of this country do not
thirst for war with Mexico, but they
do want Justice, and the time is com
Ing when they will demand IL In no
uncertain terms.
And. toe the people are becoming
tired of pa, ing taxes for the purpose
of keeping big army on the border
when that army has nothing more
exciting to do thgn TO play base bali
and leap fog.
We love peace as ardently as any
red blooded human, but we are rapid
ly coming TO the conclusion that the
only thing left for Us to do is to go
into Mexico with gun in one hand
and scrub broom in the other.