The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-22
. Parties Committed to Opposite
Sides of Controversy of
Southern Neighbor.
MURRA YTELLs FACTS
Student of Mexican Affairs
Gives Inside Information
to JOurnal Readers.
BY Robert II. Murray.


In Mexico City for the New York
World and in charge Of the Mexican
section of the U. S. Committee on
Public Information during the World
War. For his latter brilliant service
to this country and the allies, he has
been decorated by Italy and recon-
mended for the United States Distin-
guished Service Medal.)
Since the downfall of Carranza and
his death, the common run of folk in
the United States seem to be more
anxiously curious about Mexico than
they have been for a long while. That
Is, those outside of government cir
cIes and the very limited group of
persons who are either materially, or
sentimentally, interested i'm Mexico.
The presidential campaign helps
heat up interest in Mexico, too. Every
one knows to whatt policy the Demo
cratic party is committed on Mexico.
That policy is the policy Of President
Wilson. 1t is based upon the funda-
mental principle OF keeping our ar
mics out of Mexico and our flag from
being hoisted over that country, If we
possibly can.
way one sometimes hears it put. If
non-interventfon and the leaving of
Mexico's sovereignty intact through
the last ten stormy years are to be
taken as the test of the Wilson pol
icy, the policy has been successful.
There be those who will quarrel with
this statement. Nevertheless it is
true. If one applies other tests, it may
be argued. and probably maintained
with a fair degree of color, that the
Wilson policy in Mexico has failed. 1t
all depends upon the way you look at
It. The extent to which your pocket
has been hurt while the Mexicans have
been fighting amongst themselves.
Too, every one who gives more than
careless thought to the matter seems
to be cocksure as to what policy the
republican party is committed on Mex
ico With these a republican victory
this fall is regarded as tantamount to
intervention, If the Mexicans do not
quiet down and speedily create condi-
tions OF law and order throughout the
republic which arc satisfactory to US
or to the American investor in Mexico.
Personally, / take no stock in this
teory. There is plenty of solid under
pinning for my opinion that the Re-
pubIicans will be exactly as chary of
fooling with the prickly Mexican cac-
tus as the democrats have been. We
may be given what in unregenerate
circles is technically known as ''the
Z buns rush." that is, swept off our feet
on Mexico. But l doubt it
Tumulting and shouting about
cleaning up Mexico" is one thing.
Turning our armies loose down there
is emphatically another thing. The
first is merely talk. The second is
war. And war. even war with Mexi-
co. viii be prolonged and serious BUSH
ness"
Mexico is a large and rugged coun-
try The Mexicans can and will, fight
Make no mistake about that
Mexicans posses an exaggerated love
for their country. Many times they
display their affection In manners
which are incomprehensible to us. es-
peciaIfy when seized up by our pre-
vailfng standards of good citizenship
and patriotism. That is one of the
multitudinous things about the Next
cans which we do not understand
Mexicans everlastingly complain that
we do not understand them. They are
korrect. We do not. Which is why it
is difficulty for one to explain TO the
folks in the United States who have
never lived in Mexico and who never
have come in more than casual contact
with Mexicans the why's and where
fores which impel the Mexicans to do
so many things that they do and OF
which we disapprove.
In any approach to. or considera-
ton of, current conditions in Mexico,
with respect especially to our interest
in the premises and what looms in the
~ "a
sponsiDility bulks big. Why are things
in Mexico in such mess? Why have
five governments since Diaz risen and
fallen? Why have eleven presidents in
ten years occupied the executive chair
for longer or briefer periods? Why
were two OF them slain?
We must trace in brief what has
happened. Let us have the answer
first.
Peace had endured in Mexico under
Diaz for 35 years. Diaz ruled with
an iron hand and an autocratic hand.
Above all, he insisted and made his
insistence the law, that American
and other foreign lives and property
in Mexico should be held inviolate.
That accounts largely for the wonder
full material development Of Mexico in
the Diaz regime.
fThe country ana Its resources could |
not be developed without ENCOURAGING |
foreign capital to come in and insur- |
ing it against loss so far as ii could be
insured by giving il protection through
successful repression of internal DO
ltieal strife.
We and our government knew no
Mexico save the Mexico of Diaz The
trouble and bloody scroll of Mexican