The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-22

Arturo del Toro, an American citizen.
recently arrived In New York from an
extended trip OF several months through
Mexico. He Is an extensive land owner,
has been a large employer Of Mexican
labor and for many years Has lived
among the Mexican people as one Of
them.
The Mexican people do not want war
with the United States" said Mr.. del
Toro. ''They are not enemies of the
Americans. They are our friends. They
know that we have that which is neces-
sary to them to lift them up and give
them peaceful, prosperous and happy
existence. They cannot see why we
sould not give them this needed help
without war.
Help is what the Mexican people
want, help to find themselves; some one
to point the road and n friendly hand to
guide For these they are looking and
praying to the people and the Govern
ment OF the United States.
Look for one moment at the situa-
ton; with country racl1ed and torn by
revolutions, industries idle, ranches
abandoned, mines closed with the ma jor
part of the population idle and on the
verge. OF starvation; with large. areas
under the control of opposing leaders or
ruling bandits with an impoverished
treasury and no credlt--Senor Carranza
went into office.
The rule of Carranza compared with
that of Dias has been naturally radical
10 the extreme. The rule of a revoiu.
ton is always revolutionary. In the
making Of the new Mexican Constitution
the pendulum has undoubtedly swung
too far in the direction of the idealiseic
liberal. But President Carranza himself
as well as his people now fully recognize
the Importance Of modifying the more
radical Of tho new laws, especially those
effeottng the interests of the foreigner in
Mexico. This Is particularly noticeable in
the sincere effort of the present Mexican
Congress to secure an adequate and just
revision Of the statutes covering the
petroleum interests.
The American "ExpIoiter."
Mexico recognizes that she needs
American enterprise and American
money. We're the Americans forced to
leave Mexico tomorrow the oil indus
try and all the other industries of the
veloped would soon drop back to the
condition they were in before American
Initiative saw their possibilities and
American money made them productive
For the Mexicans as people are not
developers.
And right here le' me say a word
for the American 'exploiter.'
THE term 'exploiter' is never heard
down in Mexico. Having played an ac-
tive part in the agricultural develop
ment of Mexico during the Diaz regime
have had personal knowledge of many
Of the more important investments made
by foreigners in the various industries
mining and industrial as well as agri-
cultural, and of the more than a bill
lion dollars of American capital there
invested do not know of a dollar that
has not brought its full value to the
Mexican.
THE Americans have built thousands
OF miles of railway through the ulin-
nabited wilderness. The Americans have
given to many of the cities lights, sew
ers. pure water, paved streets and street
car service fully equal to that In our
own cities. The Americans have trans
ferred vast areas OF virgin lands into
productive ranches furnishing work to
the natives at higher wages than ever
before received. They have developed the
mineral stores of the country, have es-
tablished many new industries and
have carried their enlightened ideas, so
cially and commercially to all classes
II these men are 'exploiters' then Column
bus and every man who followed him
across the sea and who has taken part
in the development of the United States
is an 'exploiter.'
81 for one. an American, who knows
Mexico. have always been made to feel
proud, by the Mexicans themselves, Not
those little bands of American 'ex-
ploiters' who forsook the lines of COM
fort and safety and staked their money
and their lives In the jungles of Tam
pico. The work which they did and
are doing has had but one effect. II
has brought greater possibilities for la
Dor, for peace and for happiness to the
Mexican people.
And the Mexicans' friendliness to
the American is nearly everywhere ca
hibited.