Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-11-04
"STOMACHS STICKING TO BACK
 BONES"

The following extract from an editorial printed in La Opinion, the leading newspaper of Vera Cruz, Mexico, indicates the condition exist ing among the children in the re- public, south of the Rio Grande:
 "The authorities, the parents of means, public spirited citizens, all should take up the work of seeing to it that the conditions of the great number of barefooted, nearly naked children who attend the schools now, hardly any of them ever washing their mouths and many of them with out a piece of bread, because of the prevailing misery in their homes, be changed.
 'What purpose do the physical exercises to strengthen the muscles serve the great number of pupils whose strength is already weakened by lack of nourishment, their stom- achs sticking to their backbones, to use a vulgar expression, and, are torpid as the consequence of their hunger? What nourishment do these poor little creatures get? Tn the morning. they get cup of an infusion of leaves, and a crust that would be immune to teeth that were not so sharp. For dinner, they get a plate of black beans with hot pep per and two or three meagre tortillas. At night, they get another cup of the same infusion of leaves, or, a cup of water stained with coffee. With such nourishment as this, and an ab- solute lack of the very elements of hygiene, anemia, tuberculosis, rick cts and all the other pack of infirmi- ties which inflict the human race, makes of our poor people an easy and sure prey which all attempts of our medical science to save is vain.
 ''It is necessary to admit that the authorities have done very little 10 remedy the filthy and sickly condi- tion of our unfortunate people. This statement should not startle us. Cup idity and politics have absorbed all our time; millions have been expend- ed in order to build palaces and daz- gle superficial spectator; ridiculous salaries assigned to directors and the moral education of the people neglected.
 Accustomed, as we are, to have the state provide for everything, the government to do all, the people ac- cepted with the indifference of a nussulman, benefits and injuries, sunshine and shadow, praises and kicks. But the revolution eminently reformative and renovating, suddenly shaking awakened them from the brutal sleep which dominated them, and now they see the evils which surround them, look for the cause and insist upon a remedy. It is now the duty of all of us to build the founda- tion for future society, but it re- mains for the government and our leaders to put their shoulders to the wheel for this glorious work of renovation.
 The above shows just to what con- dition Carranza and his sort have allowed the state of Mexico to des- cend. A presidential race is on In Mexico, and on it's results, depend, in a large measure, the welfare of the community for another decade. Chil- dren brought up in this manner won't have very much respect for their government or for any form of government. Under Diaz, czar though he was, conditions in Mexico were much better than they .s-e been under Carranza. The United States is vitally interested in the future men of Mexico. On what they are depends the future relations of the United States and Mexico And while it is difficult thing fo, the United States to attempt to in,