The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-10
FAMOUS MEXICAN
OUTLAW GIVES UP
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w LAW I1 ED -
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Later he made more formal state
ment, which follows
Mexico and the Mexicans, includin,
myself, are tired of fighting. 1t il
best now to settle down and go t,
work. I'm eager to show that cal
work as well as fight. I'm soldiel
and am ready to obey orders
The last sentence he emphasized
with low bow and sweeping ges
ture to General Martinez, who re
spond with another bow.
General Martinez later in the weel
will have charge of the Rehabilitation
Of the Villista troops. Each man is tc
be given small ranch. Villa will be
given a large ranch and a persona
body guard Of fifty men, whom he will
select and who will be on the govern
ment payroll Villa today expressed
himself as anxious to have the cere
monies over with so he can settle down
to the simple life of a gentleman
Eancher and take things easy the rest
of his days.
Villa received one of the greatest
0vatious of his career when he rode
back to San Pedro. The news of the
arrival had spread and a crowd esti-
mated at 5000 people came rushing
into the plaza where they welcomed
the former bandit with a chorus of
lusty "vivas'
Forcing his way through the throng,
bowling right and left, Villa was near
~ overcome by his emotions. He fin
ally was moved to make very elo-
quent speech, which was wildly cheer
ed.
The main theme of Villas speech
was that the people ought to forget
politics and go back to work. He said
that he had set them good example.
Villa was attired in riding breaches,
leather leggins reaching above the
knee, a cotton jacket and huge som.
brero. Shortly after his arrival he
discarded the straw for handsome
felt hat of American make which was
presented to him by his admirers. De
hpite the fact that he is now forty
eight years old and that he and his
men had ridden on the last leg Of their
journey, for tTenty-four hours across
the desert, without water, Villa appear
ed to be in the best of condition. he
looked rugged, healthy and stalwart
and apparently has thrived during the
last two months while eluding govern
ment soldiers. In fact he looked as II
he had taken on some fat
Il will settle down on a ranch at
Canutillo, Durango, where Ill raise
cattle and crops" Villa said to the
United Press. Il admit that's con-
siderable change from my life of the
last ten years, but / believe III do
more for my country if / keep out of
politics all together. l have not de-
sired to hold public office of any kind.
l hope to be able to help better con-
ditions in Mexico, including education
Personally, / could not write my
name until I was grown man. !
still have a very poor education, Dut
my words are sincere and when say
I want peace / mean it,
villa refused to discuss politics in
detail or express any opinion about
the present federal government, ex-
cept to say that he intended to abide
by its laws.
Describing his trip from Chihuahua
to where he surrendered, he said he
Travelled six hundred miles in twelve
days and that for forty-eight hours he
was on the desert without water. He
said he knew the government was
looking for him, SO he decided to tell
where he was. but sought safe terri
tory first &c. he said, he had to cap
ture a town anu then reveal his pres
encc.
Villa was the center Of Joyous
celebration in San Pedro today. He
and his men were lioniZed. 1t was
semi-holiday.
Bands paraded the plaza, playing the
old Villa revolutionary song La Gu
which being interpreted
means 1.-The cockroach" and in which
Villa is represented as boasting he will
get the whiskers Of Carranza" and
make himself a garment out of them
One of the most dramatic episodes
of the day was the meeting between
Villa and General Escobar, one of the
Carranza leaders responsible for the
execution of Felipe Angeles, Villas old
aide and close friend. Villa had sworn
TO kill those responsible for Angeles
death. Today he met E,scobar face to
face while he was standing with a
group of officers talking about Merico.
Angeles" said villa, was Mexi-
co.'s greatest general. Also he was my
$500
him."
AS he spoke he fixed his eyes on
Escobar and glared. EscobaEr kept
MS hand on his gun. The atmosphere
was very tense for moment. No
body spoke. Then General Martinez I
,actfully changed the subject and the /
srisis passes.
Villa moved freely around the town, i
.heered at every turn, but it was no
iced that he always had body guard I
If five heavily armed men at his heels.
His troopers looked fierce and wild. i
They were typical of the reckless band
hat made Villas name terror
throughout the north and which even
,luded Pershing's expedition Some
we're long and lean with big mustaches,
lressed in the fashion of Texas cow
men with chaps and stetsons. Others
we're more Enthusiastically Mexican, I
Lttired in tight-itting leather trous-
RS, braided jackets and enormous z