Imperial Valley press., 1920-03-17
.CANTU BRANDED
VASSAL COUNT
TO CARR ANA
Senator Albert Fall in San Di-
ego GiUes out InterUielU on
Conditions BeIOW the Line;
Coz. CGntu is Scored.

SAN DIEGO, March 17.-The south
ern district of Lower California was
characterized as ga government by
japanese fisheries" by Senator Albert
B. Fall in an interview given out to-
day. He explained the peaceful con-
ditions prevailing in the southern part
of the peninsula as due to the fact
that the Japanese have practical con-
troll of the district through their COM
mercial interests.
"And Governor Cantu, of the north
ern district is not such friend Of the
United States as lot of people think
he is" said the senator.
The senator refused to comment de-
finitely on the Cantu government and
it's present relation to the central gov
ernment at Mexico City. He admitted
that he had heard prediction of trouble
in Lower California, but would not say
whether any evidence relative to these
predictions was before TIE committee.
He characterized Cantu as "sort
of vassal count to Carranza."
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Members Of the Fall investigating
committee refused to discuss the tes-
timony given yesterday by San Diego
ministers regarding conditions at Mer-
icali and Tijuana. Senator Fall said
that their disclosures were made to
him in executive session, and he did
not feel at liberty to talk about them
He and other members of the COM
mittee seemed but little impressed with
the testimony.
It is probable that the committee
will leave San Diego this evening for
Los Angeles. This depends on what
ever word is received today from wit
aesses who are to be called. II these
men find it more convenient to come
to San Diego to testify. the hearing
may be continued here.
Members of the committee were en-
tertained at luncheon at the Cuyamaca
| club by San Diego business men. The
luncheon was arranged for by G. A.
Davidson under the auspices Of the
Chamber Of Commerce.
MEXICAN REBELS
Mexican rebel leaders hold the ut
most contempt for the Carranza gov
ernment and laugh at its efforts to
maintain law and order. Testimony
to this effect was given yesterday be-
fore the Fall subcommittee of the
senate committee on foreign relations
by Wilbur Forest, correspondent of the
New York Tribune.
Forest was called before the COM
nittee principally to testify regard
ng the authenticity of a letter alleged
TO have been written by Frederigo Cor
doba, bandit leader, and circulated
among United States senator's. Forest
said that Cordoba himself character
lied the letter as an absolute forgery.
The letter purported to be signed
admission from Cordoba that Consular
Agent W. o. Jenkins connived with
him at his own kidnapping. Forest says
that in personal interview the rebel
chieftain denied that Jenkins was
friendly with him or had anything to
do with the kidnapping.
TOLD OF MEETING
Forest told of meeting the rebel
chief in house in Mexico City. He
had previously gone to Pueblo in an
effort to locate him and learned that
he was Drawing his enemies and spend
ing the Christmas holidays in the cap
ital itself.
The correspondent was taken to the
house under guard and admitted to
the presence of Cordoba. The rebel
leader gave him signed statement
to the effect that he "was interviewed
in Mexico City in the midst of his
enemies" This was signed, "Fed. Cor
dova." The Jenkins letter was signed
with the full name 'Frederigo." The
bandit asserted that he never used
such a signature and that the letter
was a rank forgery. He showed For
est a portion of the money obtained
for Jenkins ransom.
He said he had kidnapped Jenkins
principally to show the impotence of
the Carranza government to enforce
law and order or protect citizens of
foreign countries. Jenkins was Sc
lected because of the fact that he held
an official position under the United
States government.
HAD PLOTTED
Cordoba, says Forest, admitted that
he had plotted with other rebels not
only to kidnap Jenkins, American
charge d'affaires at Mexico City, the
British and Spanish consuls at Puebla
and the American consul at Guadala-
jara.
Cordoba further said he had been
sent to cement the rebel forces in OAK
aca, Jalisco, Puebla and Morelos. He
also declared that the rebels could
seize any city in Mexico and hold it
for "a hours. Carranza troops were
powerless to prevent such seizure, he
asserted. and only lack of ammunition
prevented the rebels from keeping per-
manent possession.
Forest testified that he 'beat de-
portation by about "a hours" He said
he was escorted to the train by Gerald
Brandon and Ralph Turner, of the
United Press, taking them with him