The labor standard., 1919-09-01

| and they would today be in possession of that much-needed border port but for the fact that they brought about l American intervention in their. plans bXfring over the border into the Texas cffy. The Americans did not go to Juarez to help Carranza, as some peo- pie think, but solely for the purpose of safeguarding the lives of Americans on the Texas side of the Rio Grande.
 The next more important rebel force in Mexico is that under com mand of Manuel Pelaez, who dominates l the oil-producing regions of the Tam l pico country. Pelaez has under his | command 5000 we'll organized and fair | ly we'll equipped men. The value of l the foreign oil interests in the ter l ritory in which Pelaez is operating is estimated at more than $3OO,OO0,OOO. Pelaez is said to be broadly in senti- ment, and to this Is due in large part | the failure of the Germans and their Carranzista sympathizers to gain con- trol of the oil fields while the Euro pean war was actively under way. Allies Like Meixuerio. Under Guillermo Meixuerio, in the state of Oaxaca, is another rebel force of several thousand we'll organized men. Carranza has made desperate but intellectual efforts to dislodge Meix- uerio, who is easily one of his most feared opponents, and whose record is such as to win the sympathetic approv- al of the allies. Meixuerio is a full blooded Zapotec, lawyer, and man of fine education.
 Next in importance among the rebel groups is that commanded by Felix Diaz. Under Diaz, according to off, cial information, there are approxi- mately 5000 men. The Diaz forces, however, unlike those under Pelaez, Angeles and Meixuerio, are loosely or ganized and are said to be in great need of ammunition and other war ma- terials. Despite this handicap, how ever, the Felicistas, as the Diaz reb- els are known, continue to be force, and all the efforts of Carranza to break up the organization have failed. The Felicistas are operating in the state of Tamaulipas in the north and in part of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Vera Cruz in the south. The southern Fe- 1icista area forms the center link in the rebel ocean barrier.
 The state of Morelos and small parts of the states of Mexico and Guerrero form the area in which the famous Zapatistas are and have been operat- ing for the last seven years. AS for Cantu, in Lower California, the situation there can be dismissed with word. Cantu is in absolute control of that part of Mexico, and Carranza is making no effort to interfere with the independent state that Cantu has set up. E $ T -"'
 SmuggIe Arms Tn.
 The seventh of Carranza's troubles are the Yaquis of western Sonora. They are operating in bandit groups and number probably several thousand. Like the Villistas, they are armed and equipped by smuggling from the United States. The Yaquis are among the hardest and best fighters in Mexico, and little if any effort is being made by the federal government to restore order in that part of Sonora under their domination. ..s
 Lastly, the bandits. Official reports
 
 outlaw bands are to be found. Their number is unknown, but they are powerful enough to hold the attention of considerable part of CarranZa's kard-pressed little regular army of co., 900 men.
 Briefly, what precedes gives the line up of the factions that are fighting for control of Mexico. Here are some of the facts, officially established, that have resulted from the countrywide internecine strife in Mexico.
 Economically Mexico is in the midst of crisis which is characterized by the intense poverty and the actual want of the great mass of the people. The morale of the population everywhere was never lower than at the present time. The general health of the peo- pie is everywhere bad. Cattle raising, the principal industry of the nation, is today only about ten per cent of what it was in 1914. Of all Mexican in- dustrfes, the growing of henequin alone shows progress. All textile factories and sugar mills, with few exceptions, are out of business, and those that are operating are run down and in need of repair. Practically all of the coun- try's 16,OOO miles of railroads are de- moralized or destroyed as result of rebel and bandit activity. Not a cent of interest has been paid on the na- tional foreign debt in more than five years.
 More than 75 per cent of the popu- lation is now absolutely illiterate. The national credit Is gone, and the for e;gn oil interests are, despite the ap- parent friendly attitude of Pelaez, menaced. AS an indication of the health of the people, latest reports es- timate the yearly death rate in Mexico City is 21,O0O, while the reported birth rate is only 7,500. It is believed how ever. that correct census would show larger birth rate, although the 7,5OO estimate is official.