El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-05


national line can me get a better
slant at the Mexican situation than
here at Fl Paso, a city which has
grown big in spite OF the bandicaps
across the border and in spite OF the
fact that, as the main gateway to
/ the south. business with Mexico has
been stagnant for many years
Mexico is important because with
| Europe in economic paralysis. no field
is more fertile. no resources more &C
cessible for development, and no trade
so easily obtainable than that across
the border. Trade excursionists have
just gone from Chicago and other
cities in the central west TO survey
business possibilities. They have come
back impressed So has everybody
been for years about Mexico-im-
pressed Only at the border here
where they used to do business with
Mexico on large scale can one di-
vorce sentimeutality from practical
propositions and decide whether from
a business viewpoint. Mexico is ready
for a resumption Of business along
lines to which Americans were ac-
customed in the peaceful days a dec
ade ago
same Old Condition.
The situation has not altered much
in those years. There are still two
schools OF opinion-those who think
Mexico viii never be right until some
thing like a mandatory is exercised
in that country as Il is proposed TO
exercise It in backward countries I'M
der the league Of nations and those
who think MeLico's evolution. while
slow and irritating, is nevertheless
progressing, and that In another year
or two, perhaps, with a more flexible
executive in Mexico City than the
present president, a better under
standing may be reached and BUSH
ness resumed
Folks back east haze been inclined
more or less 20 look upon the Mexican
problem as a border proposition pure
and simple. But IL Is something more
than that. II considered from a bust
ness viewpoint. Mexico needs lumber
and coal for her mines and plenty
OF raw and manufactured products 10
bring her out, so TO speak From
whence would these materials Gomez
Certainly not from distant Europe.
They would come from the eastern
and western sections Of the United
States. the great producing and manu-
featuring regions which today are
looking uervously abroad in the hope
that foreign countries may absorb
our rapidly accommodating SURPRISES
and thus keep labor employed and D
dustrial disturbance.
The Great American Market.
Markets are the central need Of our
economic situation. South OF us is a
great market. American capital is z
anxious to develop its own properties. {
Unquestionably this would rebound :
not merely 70 the benefit Of the Amer /
lean owners but to the submerged /
so percent who cannot forever de- ]
pend upon n paternalistic government. I
but must receive its stimulus toward &
a higher ethnic development out Of
the Improvement Of living and work /
ing conditions and the increase in in /
dividual opportunity.
American capital stands ready
to help Mexico as well rs itself.
Thus far the General ndministrn-
tion IN Mexico has refused 10 be
helped. But In spite OF that,
Mexico might have developed
further along economic lines II
firm policy had been adopted in
denlinE with the bandits who in
fest the rich regions Of the coun-
try.
All thought OF opening Up the great Z
chihuahua district, for instance, while
Francisco Villa plumbers about at viii
with Baudits Active.
Only last week, bandits wrecked
train on the Mexico North Western
J
after the railroad company. which
owns lumber mills at Pearson and
MADEIRA had refused to pay a ransom
70 a bandit crowd commanded by one
of Villas lieutenants. The train was
run onto a long trestle and burned
so that train and bridge were de-
strOyed-and rolling stock Is one Of
the scarcest things in Mexico now /
adays, too. il makes shipping eX- {
traOrdinarily difficult Last week an
FL Paso house wanted to ship a car Z
load Of potatoes TO TorreOn. No cars
were available II had 10 build q /
top on an old flat car TO get the ship !
ment through.
SUCH things cannot stimulate trade I
on q large scale There is q move I
ment afoot TO have the United States .
government send cars into Mexico J
through arrangements with the rail- Z
road administration but who is TO /
guarantee their return or that they I
viii not be Immediately accepted by I
rebel bands q private cars for them /
selves or kindling wood for mountain /.
fires2
Presumably the Mexican federal
government wants TO eXterminate the I
bandits. but the generals sent into the .
district uist south OF here either are I
unwilling to proceed vigorously 4
against villa or they are afraid their
troops viii not 90 after the bandit 4
chief
League OF Nations.
League OF uatious2 Wen, the FL ]
Paso folks have had q diplomatic and 4
international problem on their hands I
Tor years and they can be pardoned [