El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-22

busy directing the movements OF the
I federal troops.
Poor and amiable boyl I can see
now why the Carranza regime col
/ lapsed so readily.
CarrnnEn's Error.
The real and immediate cause OF
Carranza's downfall was his obstinate
attempt 10 impose upon the country
the presidential candidacy Of Bonillas.
II It had not occurred TO him 10 insist
on this solution and had allowed the
presidential campaign to follow its
natural course, letting Cen Oregon
and Pablo Gonzales fight It out. he
might have completed his presidential
term in peace.
And he probably would be revered
as an idol today by his own sub
ordinates. The reader VIII probably
ask why Carranza hit upon a candi-
dacy so unpopular as that Of Senior
Bonillas- To answer this I can offer
only conjectures, or rather. must re-
peat what I heard IN Mexico.
As the majority Of 1Iexicans are
firmly convinced that Carranza Is a
tricky politician, because OF his re-
serve and deep laid Vaccinations. they
give the following explanation OF his
conduct in the Bonillas affair;
Why BoniIInsf
Bonillas was to be a mere tool IN
the hands Of Don Venustiauo. He had
cance-because he did not belong 10
any party, and because he was wholly
unknown in the country. Bonillas
would thus owe his position entirely
to his protector and would not be
likely TO bite the hand that fed him.
This business is q Mexican game
which must be taken into account, for
the country is a famous hotbed Of
political treason and there Is always
fear that the friend OF today may be-
come the enemy OF tomorrow.
II you help some one TO get along
IN the world in Mexico, you are al
most sure soon to receive n kick
from him. He Will boot You 10 show
bis self respect and Independence.
With the anonymous Senior Bonillas
there was no occasion TO fear such a
kick. A creature OF CarranZa- he
he would continue TO surround him
self with a circle OF friends selected
By his protector to be his advisors and
shOrssighted critics did not at
tribute this purpose 10 Carranza.
They thought that the candidacy OF
Bonillas was a stratagem invented
for the occasion.
we know the viejo barbon," they
said, abiding TO CarranZa's white
beard. He has launched the candi-
dacy OF Bonillas for the mere pur-
pose OF irritating Obregon. Obregon
VIII rise against the government and
a long war viii follow. Carranza Will
then declare that It IS impossible 10
hold elections and viii continue In
the presidency indefinitely"
Others, more far sighted. came
nearer the truth. in my judgment.
when they discussed the situation
'Carranza." they said. really
wishes 70 be succeeded in the presf-
dency by BOnillas- Under the dlrec-
ton Of Carranza. and with a legis-
lature composed OF Carranza deputies.
Bonillas viii see 10 II that the con-
stitution IS revised. eliminating the
Of the president. After the article Is
eliminated Don Veuustiano viii be-
come president again and he viii get
himself reelected indefinitely
The method IS not new Porfirio
Diaz did that very thing. He began
his political career bv rising against
the reelection OF presidents. and after
he became the chief magistrate OF the
republic. he yielded the place for a
briet period TO one OF his own hench-
men, had his own constitution
amended, and thus opened the way for
I believe that Carranza really
wanted Bonillas TO succeed him; but
cannot refrain from judging that
in this, Don Venustiano rendered his
protege very poor service
BoniIIas The Victim.
OF all the personages who figure
in this last Mexican revolution.
Ronillas n the man who inspires my
deepest sympathy on account OF his
misfortune.
His role has been that OF certain
good though HImple-mInded eharnc-
tiers Of the comedy. who inevitably pay
FOR the faults OF otherss and who,
despite their reluctance to get mixed
up IN guarreIs. receive all the blows.
Why did they not leave him alone7
he was living so peacefully in WASH
ington as the dlnlomatic representa-
tive Of Mexico His post seemed dea-
tined % become perpetual II Obre-
gon were 10 succeed Carranza, the
general would surely keep Bonilias as
American ambassador because they
are both from Sonora and have been
friends since their childhood. No mat
ter who might be elected president.
Bonillas would be kept IN his post,
respected as a good man who serves
his country the best he knows how,
and who, residing abroad, could hold
completely aloof from all domestic
political quarrels.
But alas, Don Feuustiano conceived
the unhappy idea Of selecting Bonillas
ambassadors ambition, dragging him
away from the sweet environment Of
his family and the noble tranquility
OF Washington.
Ten months ago the Mexicans were
unaware Of the existence OF Bonillas.
A few knew that a gentleman by that
name lived in the capital OF the
United States and they even suspected
that he had done great things for
Mexico. although they were not quite
sure what these things were
And 10, all OF sudden, the govern
ment launches the name Of this man
a name that arouses no echo in public
opinion-as II Bonillas we're provi-
dental parsonage. destined 70 save
the country.
Killed By An EpIfhet.
The people OF Mexico City have a
keen sense Of hunor and show 4
veritable genius for inveuting nick
names. Moreover, the Spaish Ear
zuela companies, the experts in light
and comic opera. play a great deal IN
the theaters OF the Mexican capital,
so that the public OF that city has
repartee which characterizes the peo-
pie OF the popular quarters OF Madrid
Among the songs written for the
Zarzuela theaters OF Madrid there Is
one which has become extremely popu-
lar, and Is sung in all the theaters and
music halls OF the Spanish-American
countries. The song tells the story OF
a poor shepherd girl who has been
abandoned and Wanders over the face
OF the earth not knowing where she
was born nor who her parents we're
She knows nothing about herself ex-
cept her nickname. which is Flor de
te or Tea Flower"
The malicious people % Mexico
rTffw INN a1fafa1u ohrfefauaT fna Car