Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-11
More Mexico
Dope in Ford
Libel Case

Nj. Clemens. Mich. June Ih--The
story Of disorders along the Mexican
borde-. from the first -umbiinEs Of
the revolt Of Francisco Madero
against President Pordrlo Ciaz n
1908 down TO June %. 1915. continued
Today n the hearing Of Henry Ford's
libel suit against the Chicago Trl-
bune which On the latter date pub
lisned an editorial headed Ford IS
al Anarchist
The witnesses were John r. Ear-
old. an immigration Inspector al
Brownsville. Tex. E. =. Reynolds. the
chief Inspector n that district. and
Norman Walker. for - years an FL
Paso newspaper man and since 1916
correspondent. uf The AssocIated
Press at e Faso. the gateway of
most IF the news of nort hern Mexico.
Harold was ZIP translator Of the
Plan Of San Diego taken from the
person If captured Mexican. Ba-
clio Ramos. n 1915 The document
bore he signature Of about - Mex
leans and outlined plan for an up
ASlilk VI -hSA-tGIlS III DtI b1NI SIdASa-
negroes n other states and the for
nation If republics. Attorney Alfred
LucklnE, representing Mr. Ford. as,
4 translator Of the plao. was about
20 he offered n evidence, objected on
the grounds that a federal Judge and
federal district attorney n Texas
had investigated the whole plot and
found Il trivial. Of 10 importance
whatsoever and for the further rea-
son tina. cuunse! for the plaintiff had
had no tine 20 examine Il. Judge
Tucker instructed that the subject
be skipped until M. Luck;nE had
studied the plan.
II appeared IN ne testimony If M.
REYNOLDS mat the original copy AK
en- rom Ramos had disappeared and
he had aever been able 70 trace It.
NJ REYNOLDS testified that Mexican
raids INTO American territory became
more frequent after discovery Of the
alleged plot.
NJ. REYNOLDS said that the Browns
vi1le immigration district stretched
800 miles along the Rio Grande In
1915 he estimated that this stretch
was guarded by about 2nnp soldiers
hut n 1916 when the National Guard
was moblliZzed the number was IN
c-easeG ~ 60. 400
re told of d railroad tram which was
wrecked by Mexican bandits VINO n
Vaded Texas Oct. Is. 1915. He said all
the passengers were robbed taree killed
and FIVE or SIX wounded BY Mexican
bullets. IN ms official capacity ne tes-
t;ffed ne talked % thousands Of Mexi-
cans ana learned that sentiment was
stronE- anu-Anerlcan among hem.
Re and a deputy. ne said had a per
sonal encounter with TWO Mexican etfi-
-ors whose paper e Dempc-ato pub
.lshed n Matamoras. across the Rio
Grlnde from Brownsville had published
-aold anita nerican articles and a
VICIOUS and unfounded attack IN the
Immigration service Al another time
Car-anzistas ana villistas hartIed for
tsree weeks for the possession Of Mata-
-noras. Bullets fell n Brownsville. ne
esrltied. ana citizens took measures Tor
self-proIectlon. Hundreds of refugees
found asylum n a relief camp es1ao.
hshed At Brownsville
Mr. Walker was permitted 70 tell an
almost uninterrupted narrative Of his
experiences and onserva tons of burd.r
conditions during MS residence IN Fl
Paso
He had investigated many tales NJ
German propaganda. ne SAID. nut mad
never been able definitely 20 authen-I-
cate any If them. He DID not know
whether the rail on Columbus. y. NJ.
was due 70 German propaganda. he
SAID. The ARRIVAL of the National
Guard, he testified, had a wholesome
effec. n the Z Paso district. In gen.
eral ne did not believe ~ace feeling
WAS apparent n the Fl paso district
and ne considered that ne two races
got aionE on Terv friendly basis This
~ sad. was particularly true among
the educated classes who for the most
part. believed the interest nj the Wash
ui.Eton government n Mexico was un-
selfish.