The Washington times., 1919-12-15
BELIEVE CARRANZA Is
FORCING HAND OF U. S.
~ WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.

forced by Carranza He Is known
10 be watching the Mexican situation
with anxiety, and the prediction Is
being freely made here that he must
soon abandon his policy Of "watchful
waiting"
Congress is watching the border
with hood in its eye. Senators and
congressman on both sides Of the
political fence openly express their
opinion that Carranza needs to be
spanked. and are drm in the belief
that until this is done in some form
or other, and in drastic fashion, the
present outburst of kidnapings, mur-
ders and property outrages will go on
multiplying.
Backs Secretary Lansing.
Despite the supposed attitude of
President Wilson against interven-
ton in Mexico, 1t is no longer q Sc
cret from anyone that he fully backs
up Secretary Lansing in the latters
firm stand in the case of the lSidnap-
ing, arrest and imprisonr'-nt Of
Consular. Agent William o. Jenkins by
the Mexican authorities of Puebia:
and at one time in that affair the
United States appeared within an ace
of armed action. Even the Presi-
dents critics admit that while he may
not be quick to leap into q fray he
makes thorough job of 1t when he
leaps. - ~- =.
Significance is attached to the
news that the Department Of Justice
Is sending a number of special agents
c. Suter, assistant to the chief OF
the Bureau OF Investigation, and
charged with keeping the bordc,
country under close surveillance. Re
ports have reached Washington that
almost anything may be expected IN
that vicinity and the Administration
no doubt wishes to have first hand
information on all that goes on
Lawiessness Increases.
Lawlessness has been on the In
crease since the Madero revolution IN
1910, and the belief is general here
that measures of repression against
Mexico cannot be long delayed A
| studied effort is being made by Car
rama himself. it is thought here, to
embarrass the United States. Killings
and kidnapings are on the increase
and border raids have been resumed.
The latest instance was the reported
abduction Of Frank r. Hugo, manager
OF the Dubies ranch, near MuZquiz, to-
sether with an Englishman. r. B..
Dawson, representative of an Eagle
Pass Lumber Company. It Is said
the Englishman- was released At once,
upon the discovery by the alleged
bandits, that he was a British sub
ject-
Should this informs alton be substan-
tiated, 1t would tend to prove that a
widespread plot exists in Mexico to
pander to Great Britain, Is claimed
by many. and at the same time de-
lioerately to pull the whiskers Of
Uncle Sam
Daily UnfrienAIy Aet.
Almost daily unfriendly acts toward
the United States are reported to the
State Department. The Administra-
ton Is determined to put q stop to
these, and Secretary Lansing, In his
notes to CarranZa- has intimated that
unless the provocation ceases, Mexico
must take the consequences.
Among officials in close touch with
the Administration it is said that II
the United States should be forced 70
go into Mexico. the manner of its 60
ing. and what 1t will do after II gets
there, will drive a lesson home to
Mexico that will long be remembered.
1t is pointed out that the President
Is believer in the axiom, "Be sure
+ you are right, then go ahead" and IL
Is whispered here that he is not nearly
as far from calling a halt in Mexico
as Is made out by some.
All thaat is needed now, It is said, is
| some one, concrete act which will
draw to a head all the iniquities per-
petrated against the United States
during the past six or seven years,
and Mexico will be brought to ac-
count.
Crisls stfu Exists.
The Imprisonment of Consular
Agent Jenkins came nearer being
that act than is generally supposed.
Had he not been released, those in a
position to know declare, Intervention
on big scale would have resulted.
His release, albeit on bail furnished
by stranger who is regarded as hay-
ing "butted in," had the effect of re-
ieVing the situation for the time be-
| ing. but 1t was only a relief, not a
cure.
The crisis with Mexico Is still on.
Any hour. any day. a border raid, an
other murder or kidnapping or other
atrocity perpetrated against tho
United States, might precipitate the
trouble.
President Wilson. II Is known,
wishes to avoid intervention in Mexico
IL at all possible. But he was also
equally for keeping out of the Euro
pean war. He Is said to be disturbed
over the Indications that a renewal of
the border troubles is possible. He
wishes the good will of Latin-America,
ircluding Mexico. and his advisers are
racking their brains to discover a
means Of curbing the trouble makers
across the Rio Grande without hay-
IDS TO resort to force. 1t is proving q
big puzzle and the solution may not
De found In that case Mexico must
look out
In the meantime the Senate may
again take trip as feeling over what
is called the Mexican high hand is