The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-01

(Amerfcan SewspnperrnAn and Invesfi-
gator. who has lived for years In Mex
leo. and who has Just spent four
months there on special detail for The
starr
Copyright. 1919. Newspaper Enterprise
Associationb
CUAUTLA. Mexico. May L.
II spent so years . slave. but
now u looks like freedom at
last"
These are the most significant
words ! have heard In all Mex
leo.
They came from the lips Of .
grlxstrd old peon-one Of the
country's ~ pr cent. the man
who In the aggregate can make
az break Mexico and determine
her future relations with tire
United States.
"Our children" he said. for the
FIRST time in years. many for the FIRST
time In their lives, are attending
school.
I'VE are working half the old man
killing hours. at twice the old hun
ger wage. We have a chance to buy
our own land. We can come and go
az VIC please. And we can get JUS
ticc before the proper authorities"
They're Free Now
Tho only American among $1,000
formerly blood-thirsty Indians. was
sitting with them at one OF their re-
ligious festivais--in the revolt torn
empire OF Zapata now converted into
a s-niling. peaceful Mexican state by
Gen. Pablo Gongaiez. President Car
ranza's right hand man.
"Thc vast majority Of US are salts
fed" resumed the old peon. I'VE
know we have "A chance for ourselves
and better future for our children.
We have money for clothes. for food.
for cigarets--and time enough 10
smoke them without an overseer's
lash. Freedom at LAST
stepped into a puluue-reeking
cantina. A group OF former Ia
patistas invited me TO join them
to have a glass. II was like open
sesame. They chartered like chill
drcn. Presented me with cornhusk
cigarets. Told me tales of Zapata:
his perfidy. his ruthlessness.
His Army Dwindled
Not more than 500 rebels were yet
In arms when Zapata was killed.
they said. These. they explained,
had ousted Zapata from leadership
because he had refused TO divide the
loot with them. They told me of Ia
pata's former army OF $4,000 blood
letting surianos. and ayetes Jun
armed men carrying ropes)--who
formed the rear guard to carry away
the loot
/ went outside and sat down on the
curbing with a number of men, wo-
men and children from a nearby viii
lage. They spoke only Indian dia-
iect, but they lighted my cigarets
from theirs and gave me fruit and
melons.
was as safe among them NJ l
would have been under the eyes Of
. policeman In San Francisco or New
York.
Early tho next morning I mounted
a horse and rode thru, the town.
People were pouring into the streets
from the humble houses. Others
were walking or riding into the town
from the country or nearby villages.
Women were cooking breakfast at
the edge of the curbing. Hundreds
OF men were rushing about. scores
OF them wearing pistols. machetes
and cartridge belts. II looked like
a frontier town in gold rush days.
Alongside the old church where the
patriot Morelos had more than a cen
fury ago made a successful stand
against the Spaniards. n train was
disgorging families returning to
their home. now that Zapata was
gone.
A little man stepped out--the
bishop OF Cuernavaca. coming back
to his old diocese under the concili.
atory program OF Don Pablo after
eight years exile.
| rode into the country with Col.
Sanchez Nelra and talked with the
workmen in the field. They crowded
round to pose for pictures,
THEY LAUGHED AND SANG
WHILE THEY WORKED.
We rode to the headquarters of
one OF the 1000, 900 acre haciendas.
Tho gigantic sugar mill. formerly