The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-13

Stating that Carranza has control of
every state in the Mexican republic as
proved by the regular election of con.
stitutionalist governors in sympathy
with him; that the bandit plague is
being successfully controlled by the
government, and pointing to numerous
beneficial reforms in which Mexico Is
succeeding, B. Willis Beede, authority
On Mexican affairs, and field secretary
of the Five Years Meeting Of the
Friends Board of Foreign Missions,
pointed out some of the reasons Mex
leo should be left to settle her own
affairs with only arbitrary assistance
from the United States, in an inter
view Tuesday.
Intervention would stir up hatred
between Mexico and the United
States; would mean the loss of grow
ing trade, the killing of confidence be-
tween this country and other Latin
American countries who would ques-
ton where our next step Of invasion
might be, and would be contrary to the
right of self determination of nations
to which we have just finished sacri-
ficirg thousands Of lives and spending
millions of dollars" said Beede
He pointed out that the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalo signed at the close
of the Mexican war in 1S4S expressly
stated that any differences between
the two countries should be submitted
to arbitration
mo arbitrary steps have been taken
to settle the present fuss" he men
toned.
Country Always Exploited
Historical understanding gives a
clearer setting to the present situa-
ton, Beede said.
Looking at Mexico's history from
the time of the conquest of Cortez
melts great deal of the difficulty of
the situation.
"The early explorations were for
gold; thousands of people were killed,
and tribal laws and customs were
broken down. Up to that time the
Mexicans, or more properly the native
Indians, had emerged from the sta te
of barbarism and had certain defined
social laws, and fairly good agricul-
tural system. The people have never
been able quite to recover AS a re,
suit they are today unstable in their
social and economic life.
THE conquerors intermarried and
produced the present Mexican, who is
more excitable and less dependable
than the Indian.
Through the Spanish conquerors
came the e=ts bii=hr1aent of great land
ed estates. which are now being brok.
en- down through the states' govern
ors." said Beede.
In 1911 at the time of the revolu
ton, Diaz while head of the political
organization as a president in name
| was In fact a supreme ruler under
cd col .i4f-
politicOs' small corrupt groups. He
kept the people in a state of servitude
Very little was done to educate the
people, in fact between so and IS pei
cent of the Mexicans are illiterate to-
day, situation with which foreign
missionaries are struggling
| Under the peonage system, great
estate owners forced debtors to re
main on their estates to work out their
indebtedness. Debtors were compelled
to buy their clothing and food from
stores established by the land owners
and in many other ways kept in debt
They were underpaid and poverty ex
| listed on a wide scale.
Carranza Faces Storm
"Then the storm broke, MaderO de
posed Diaz, and in turn Huerta, Zapata
Angel Villa Felix Diaz, and Planque
aroze. Into this stepped Carranza
It is readily understood that after
such a period as had preceded him
the government would be greatly dis
organized; commerce and crops at {
standstill; the railroad system broken
Two hundred thousand dollars is being
spent every month to purchase rolling
stock"
Beede pointed out some high spots
Of the reconstruction period which has
followed Carranza's entrance into
political affairs. The new constitu
ton guarantees. he said, that there bt
free elections, liberation Of the poems
provisions for the breaking down o
the landed estates, church reform ant
the lettering of conditions for skilled
labor. granting the right to organize
and strike.
Many people have attempted t.
translate this as an evidence tina
Mexico has gone Bolshevik," said he
However, an understanding of tn,
historical conditions under which tn,
people had lived clears this belief.
"The use of more and better quail
fed young men in government service
has been big step in lettering The
Mexican government was parti
cularly impressed by the abundance O
young men when l visited the Mexican
congress last year." said Beede. H,
pointed out that Diaz had surrounded
himself by small group of old men
Diaz Gave Concessions.
Under Diaz great concessions were
given American oil men; they wer,
charged no taxes. CarranZa's consti
tuition provides taxes, and states tina
only Mexicans by birth or naturaliza
ton, or foreigners who will agree be
fore the department of foreign affair
to be considered as Mexicans, in re
gard to their property, are to OWL