The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-24
Just as Much Excitement Down
There as in United States
Over Coming
Election.
WATCH DEVELOPMENTS
carranza Government Wondering
What Attitude Of Next Presl-
dent VIII be Toward
Mexico.
TBy S. l. Freed, United Press Staff
Correspondent

10y .. l.. EISeuy OhieCo ASoo N'sNA~
Correspondent
TCopyright 1919 by The United Press]
LAREDO. Texas, Dec. 24.-Mexico
is fully as interested in the national
politics of the United States as are
the Americans themselves. This is
due to the general belief in that coun-
try that the next general elections
here will have an important effect IN
the relations between the nations.
In it's recent diplomatic intercourse
with the United States, the Carranza
government has assumed that repub-
lican congress would not help Presi-
dent Wilson any too freely, and at the
same time that Wilson would not
"play into the republicans hands" on
any phase of the Mexican situation.
For this reason the complexion Of the
next American congress and the re
suit of presidential booms are absorb
ing the interest of Mexican leaders.
They are eager to obtain the opinion
of Americans in Mexico as to'who will
be the next president. They show a
particular interest in General Wood.
IT may be taken for granted that the
attitude of every presidential candi-
date toward Mexico is being carefully
investigated by President Carranza.
AS for, the average American in
Mexico-he is quite frank in his belief
that the worm will turn" under the
next administration in Washington.
At present there is very noticeable
lack of faith in each others attitude.
on matters affecting the two countries
according to well informed persons. 1t
/. "a
Jenkins and Wallace cases failed to
develop a common basis upon which
settlement could be reached. Neither
country, it is contended. accords full
faith in the others evidence
For instance in the Wallace case
Mexican officials are satisfied with
the testimony of their own citizens.
that the American provoked the fatal
attack upon him by riding his mule
over machine gun squad. The Ameri-
can investigation. however, developed
that Carranzista soldier kicked Wal
lace's mule, causing the animal to shy
into the squad. After shooting Wal
lace the Mexican soldiers poured
LIQUOR over his body to make it appear
that he was drunk. American friends
Of Wallace testified that he never
drank.
Latest developments in the Jenkins
case similarly illustrated the conflict
which apparently influences every dip
Iomatic interchange of the two coun-
tries. The American consular agent
reported to his embassy in Mexico
City that he personally heard poems
retract their original testimony against
him and state they were coached to
say at first that he was in collusion
with his abductors. Although repeated
ly promised transcript of these re-
fractions. the Puebla court finally re-
fused to give Jenkins a copy and later
even denied the poems made retrac-
tions.
In dozens of instances of Americans
murdered in Mexico, the Carranza
government hiss shown the same IN
ciination to depend wholly upon their
own version of circumstances which
were later entirely refuted by inves-
tigation of the American state depart
ment.
The escape without punishment of
Mexican murderers has created
situation in the Tampico oil region,
which Americans say, has resulted IN
Americans being treated like dogs by
Mexican soldiers. Pay roll robberies
there are increasing.
American diplomats in Mexico are
et a loss as to how to improve the
Carranza governments viewpoint
toward American protests against |
murders and other matters requiring |
exchanges. Even the
formal courtesies have been over (
looked by the Mexican foreign office, !
he last Jenkins note being given to |
he press before it was presented to |
he American embassy.
Although taken separately the var
o,,s affronts TO the United States in |