Milford chronicle., 1920-01-16
UNCLE TED'S
BED TIME STORIES
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-Ups, Too
THE MEXICAN DISGRACE

The other day you promised you
tell US all about Mexico, Uncle Ted,
said Jack as he pulled his Uncle Te,
into his favOrite chair. Il want L
know all l can about it because Tom
my Smith, who was a soldier in tn
big war. is going to help some of u
boys give a Mexican show"
We'll Jack" answered his uncle, ."
don't know whether l can tell yot
much to help you get up your Mexican
, show but / can tell you a few of the
things that have happened in tha
country in the past few years and how
hundreds of Americans who live there
bave been killed and robbed and how
m&hy others have had their homes de-
stroyed. It's long story so you and
Ruth will have to be real quiet so
can tell you as much as possible.
Il shall start after the summer OF
1912, the Nrst year that Woodrow Will
son becams President. That summer
had been G Met in Mexico but in Octo-
Der Gener;ryFelix Diaz, nephew of the
former Pursdent Diaz, led a revolt
aginst thdar5v@rnment which was then
headed By President Madero. He fail
ed at the time but after being sentenc-
ed to death was released and again
went after Maderp. The next Feb
ruary General Huegta, who had been
helping MaderO. deserted and the re-
suit was the arrest (Of President Ma
derO. While Madero land Suarez, who
had been his vice president. were be-
ing taken from the Palace in Mexico
City to the penetentiary they were
shot and killed. Huerta, became Pres
ident then and everyone in this coun-
try was anxious to see what President
Wilson would do, because of the many
Americans living there and the near
ness of that country to our own. 1t
was important that he act firm and
make the new Mexican government
understand that he would stand for
no nonsense. Henry Lane Wilson was
then our ambassador in Mexico and
he urged President Wilson to recog-
nize Huerta as the Mexican President,
but our President would not do so al
though Spain did so in April. -91S,
Great Britain and France in May, and
many other countries a little later. A
great many people believe that this
failure to recognize Huerta was the
first of a thousand big mistakes that
President Wilson made in dealing with
Mexico and that had he recognized
Huerta it might have saved years of
trouble and hundreds of lives"
why did they thinks this?' asked
Jack.
Because, Jack, the attitude of the
United States encouraged Huerta's en-
emies who called themselves 'COnsti- /
and after capturing sew
eral towns they set up another gov
ernment with Carranza, who is now
president, as provisional president.
3v June they controlled nearly all OF
North Mexico. Because President VII
;on didn't agree with Ambassador
wilson he was called back to the
United States and resigned July A.
e12 and John Lind, former governor
# Minnesota. was sent to try and set
le the troubles in Mexico for Wood
ow Wilson. But he failed and MI
wilson admitted it in a message TO
,ongress on August 9th of that year
rhings went from bad TO worse III
lexico with Villa, the Dandlt ieaueI'
apturing many towns ana hliiinS
americans and British. On April o.
914. Mr.. Lind gave up the JoD anu
anne home. Villa fought hardeI anu
tarted what finally caused the down
iii of Huerta. While they were ngnt-
10 at Tampico on April 13, 1914, shells
iii near the city and damaged many
il tanks Rear-Admiral Mayo, VINO I
1en commanded the U. S. Fleet sta- z
ored in the harbor, ordered the nre l
iracted awav from them, and on April
4 when some U. S. Marines were c
'nding at Tampico to get gasoline Ior /
,eir Iannch. they were arrested Dy
-exican federal troops. The Mexican q
lionel who arrested them changed ms l
ind released them and apologlzed
If Admiral Mayo was angry and de- 1
,snded that the American nag De
'Iuted as an apology Huerta reIus- L
/ To do this. Our fleet was then OF
red to Mexico and President wilson p
.derad that our flag should be salut- h
by Huerta before b p. m ApI,l -. 10 Il
he salute was never given anu Cne
,lv result was the LANDING Oh ouI Il
arines and few days later and the
ss of many of their lives. Ever D
nee that time, with the shiftlng ana
langing of affairs in Mexico, Presl- II
inf Wilson has done nothing put
nd notes and warn Mexico until II s.
Is become a joke with. Mexico anu II
e does as she pleases. :.
"In 1915 a convention was neld III Il
ashington between representatives s.
the United States and the South u
nerican countries to try ana Drlng
ace in Mexico. Villa agreed to make d.
ace hut Carranza demanded that ne
made president. In August of that 81
ar Mexican bandits crossed into l.
.xas and raided American towns
ia kent I'D his attacks upon Amer 81
ms and in March, 1916, he attacked te
e army post at Columbus, New Mex pi
}. killing seventeen persons, some
Idiers, and burning and steallng =
I'M MANY buildings. The American NJ
men had to be removed from the
yn to safety This kept up all along 81
border until the Americans were IN
nger of their lives at all times. sI
eryone wanted us to send our pa
,ops into Mexico and stop this ter ne
lie thing but President Wilson re-
ed to be rushed and kept on with 81
at he called 'watchful waiting.
Finally General Pershing was sent IT.
o Mexico with 1000 men with or G- el'
s to capture Villa, dead or alive. %
would have done so. but was order
hack before he had the chance. On
.ober 10, 1917, after dozens OF Am
cans had been killed, American