Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-06
Mexico Found Safest;
Carranza Soldiers Called
Worst OUTLAWS in COuntru

How did you find the Carranza
soldiers with reference to the author
ity that they had? Were they really
in authority or were they in control q
They have the control that any
body of soldiers who are ready to
shoot at a moments notice have in
a country where few others have any
guns"
Asked about punishment for crimes
In Mexico Mr.. Gates said:
II think that If you happened to be
offending somebody high up in the
government you might find yourself
in difficulty, or you might find it diff
cult to- get of. but If it were an at
tack upon personal property that did
not offend any body in government
circles. I am satisfied that immunity
would be completed"
What proportion Of the bandits are
Carranza soldiers, or do you know"
Safe Travel In Rebel Territory.
Il will have to give you a conclu-
sion which l reached from journeying
through the country and trying to see
everything at first hand. You under
stand, that I vent through the coun-
try and was on good terms. not only
with the C~arrancastas. but with other
factions also. I went into it in a very
different way from most people. I
have been to places where our cor.
sui told me I could not go two miles
out of town and expect to come back
with my clothes. I tried everything
OF that kind that I could find, my
judgment after that Is that there are
probably very few actual bands in
southern Mexico apart from the Car
rama soldiers who are allowed % go
out for the purpose of looting, with,
perhaps. their officers at the head Of
them"
The Evolutionary factions, what of
them ?"
"They principally come under five
men or leaders, that situation. / will
say. being effectively set out in the
article in The New York Times, I
have already referred to you. The
leaders are Villa, in the north, Pc
laetz in the oil district: Felix Diaz,
n all that general territory coming
down to Guatemala or from Guate-
mala to salina Crux. Then. there is
the state Of oaxaca. under Meixueirio.
and the Zapatietats in Morelos."
DO they operate in different sec
tons Of the country. m~aurauding and
robbing the people?"
have travelled along through
territory controlled by the Zapatistas,
and l have travelled alone with two
seventy-old Indians in that territory,
and I felt safer than I did in the city
Of Mexico. I was allowed to 60 as I
pleased. and I have seen a quiet, ordi-
nary country life. l have seen few
court disputes being adjusted in the
towns. They go along in a quiet way.
with no division at ALL"
lis that section controlled by Diaz? p,
No. sir, that is that state Of
oaxaca. That is q state government,
and It has a quiet. peaceful civil ad-
m~inistration. I would have no hesi-
tatton in going through all Of that ter
ritory alone"
You said that you would feel az
safe there as you would in the City Of
Mexico. Why"
Because there Is no fear Of the
Carranza soldiers there. I am abso-
lutely safe In saying that there Is no
immunity to life and property any
where within reach Of the Carranza
Speaking Of matters within your
knowledge and experience, would Won
say that the conditions have improved
within the last three years?1" Z
The conditions have been steadily
getting worse. It IL nothing whatever
but armilitary organization whereby
the officers are in unrestrained milf
tary control" .
The Kissing ofsthe American am.
bnssador In Mexico was brought IN.
and1Mr Gates was asked II that was
a reflection Of the attitude OF the
government.
MI. Chairman" he replied, .the
CArrAnza soldiers wear the kaiser,s
button. They wear them at Easter,
ana ] nave had to shake hands with