Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-06
U. S. CITIZEN
IN PLOT WITH
MEX. REBELS
Reveal Witness at House
Hearing in Intrigue
to Gust Carranza.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright 1919. by The Argus.


Washington, D. c., Aug. 6.-Dis-
closures of the fact that William
Gates, who testified before the
house committee on rules recently
against the present Mexican gov
ernment, was and is a secret agent
NQf the southern rebels in Mexico
issRbout to be made by the Mexican
government and communicated to
the United States government.
Documents have come to light
showing that Mr.. Gates, whose
home is in Baltimore, Md, but who
spent many years in Mexico, has
been actively at work in an intrigue
against the Mexican government
and that he boasted of alleged aid
given him by Newton B. Baker,
secretary of war, and of interest
displayed by the late Colonel
Roosevelt and various Mexican ele-
ments in this country.
Fails to Find Sympathy.
Investigation at the war depart
ment reveals that Mr.. Gates was
listened to as any American travel
Ter who comes from the southern
republic with information but that
at no time was any of his data
presented by the secretary of war
either to President Wilson or the
department of state. On every oc-
casion the secretary told Mr. Gates
with whom he had previously been
personally acquainted that matters
affecting the political relations of
the United States and Mexico must
be presented directly to the de-
partment Of state or the White
House.
Mr.. Gates tried very hard to get
the sympathetic ear of the war and
state departments in his efforts to
bring about a union of factions
which would overthrow the Car
rapza government. Failing in this
lsS indicated he would put the
whole matter before the house COM
mittee on rules, which is now in
yestigating Mexican conditions and
which is of course dominated by
the Republicans who just now are
endeavoring to show I that the
Democratic administration didn't
handle the Mexican problem at all
well.
Causes Mexico to Wonder.
Mr.. Gates has testified at length
and his testimony has caused the
Mexican government, which is duly
recognized by the United States. TO
wonder why an American congress
sional committee should give an
audience to a representative of a
rebellious faction in Mexico. In
deed, the MeXicans point out that
when Americans begin intriguing
in Mexican internal affairs resent
ments are produced which adverse
ly affect legitimate American in
terests.
Mr.. Gates correspondence speaks
of the articles he has contributed
to the North American Review"
and Worlds Work" His. letters,
Photographic copies of which have
Sbeen made and sent to the Mexican
a9bassy here as well as the gov
eminent of the United States, show
the intimate relationship of Mr..
Gates with the factions in Mexico
seeking to overthrow Carranza
They were written to H. L. Hall of
Santa Monica, Cal, who has for
years maintained close contact with
the Zapata movement in southern
Mexico The first letter written by
Mr.. Gates as recently as June 5
last says:
Relates His Activities.
'It is with much pleasure l have
to acknowledge your letters ana va
rious papers. The letters from
General Amezcua Ia rebel generaD
1 will return in due course as re-
Quested. Meanwhile, l wrote to
General Amezcua and have just
received a very gratifying letter
from him in return with numerous
papers and notes. And also he has
deemed it proper to give me formal
credentials to use as the represen-
tative here of the southern move
ment. This will be of much assist
ance, and 1 saw we'll to make the
fact known to certain people in
Washington yesterday.
"Of what is actually going of real
moment, it is impossible to write,
as you can judge. The Gayon ar
rest was nonsense; sure nothing
will come of it. Some people don't
kpsw what to do. (Gayon was ar
rested by American authorities re-
Gently on charges of completely in
the movement of General Banquet
to overthrow the Carranza govern
ment in the state of Vera CRUZ.
Tells of Protest.
Word of the permission to let
Carranza troops cross our territory
10 attack Villa reached me by teIe-
phone in New York last week. In
less than five minutes l had Wash
ington on the phone myself and pro-
.ested in no uncertain terms in
quarters where it counted. 1 was
Continued on Page Five)