The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-07-29
MEXICAN MATTERS

"A O1SDaJCn " says.
Misled in their Investigations of con-
ditions in Mexico, William Bayard
Hale and Lincoln Steffens in turn
misled President Wilson into believing
that President Caarranza was "the
peoples champion" the House rules
committee was told by William Bates,
an archaeologist, of Baltimore. The
committee is holding hearings on the
proposal to investigate the Mexican
sitaution. Hearing that his opinions
were based on a first hand study of
conditions when he toured Mexico in
1917 and 1918, Bates described Car
rama as "an enemy of his own peo-
pie first, the United States second,
and then all civilization" The Mexican
president, the witness said, is more
anti-Saxon than anti-American and
hopes to set up the supremacy of the
Latin races and desires to drive Am
erican and British capital from his
country.
Mr. Bates said that after their in
vestigations in Mexico for the presi-
dent Hale and Steffens were employed
by the Germans. The American peo-
| pie are not we'll informed of affairs in
Mexico, the witness said, because
American diplomats are able to talk
only to Carranza representatives and
the American press has received Car
rama propaganda,
"Who prepared the propaganda ?"
asked Representative Smell of New
| York.
at was written by Carrancistas and
handed to the Associated Press repre-
sentatives, and if they did not send it
out they would be given "a hours to
| leave the country" Bates said it was
we'll known in Mexico that the Ger
mans had wireless near Mexico City
F.; during the war, relaying the messages
to Spain and thence to Nauen and
there was another wireless station or
a German-owned plantation in a dis,
tant Mexican state. He said he in.
formed Secretary Baker of the wire
less stations in 1918 and had writer
him several letters regarding his in
vestigations in Mexico. Because of nj:
close friendship with the secretary, h
asked the committee not to reques
him to make public the letters, say
ing they contained many statement
. made because of the close Relationship
between himself and the secretary.
81 tried to inspire the secretar!
ahead of the crisis l felt sure woul
come, to do things that cannot b
\ done automatically"
Bates said there were very few &C
tual bandits other than Caarranza'
soldiers who are let loose for the pun
pose of loot and are usually headed b
their officers. He added that five rev
dictionary bands exist and in district
under their control he felt safer tina
in Mexico City.
There is no guarantee of life G
property where a Carranza soldier
near" he added. when away frol
them everybody is smiling and peace
fUl."
81 Conditions in Mexico, he testifie'
are steadily getting worse becaus
the Carranza government is simply
military government where officer
and men are unrestrained. Carranz
/ officers, he added, levy tribute on IL
I dividuals and communities. In tn
I connection, he told of seeing the ruiz
& of a farm house which had been burr
/ ed, with a sick woman" perishlng
the flames. He also testified that
4 colonel in the Mexican army, who b
came involved in a dispute with
y town council, killed the eleven counc1
I men, but never was arrested for
act.
Bates said he never knew of ba
cit being prosecuted and said mo
R robberies and murders had been cor
mitted than he "could tell about IN
day"
= Americans, according to Bates, a
mot the hated nation with the Me1
81 can populace." The kissing of t
J American ambassador, he said, occu
g red Immediately outside the palace
Mexico City, and could not have ha
pened but that there was the san
sentiment within the palace.