New-York tribune., 1920-08-09

AhC HtdteHeHL mas, neVerthe-
less, been made 'and is being inten-
tlonally and insidiously circulated The
two men are working in close harmony
10 =. prlng about stable condition in
Mexico, with the difference that one of
'hem Is facing problems of the mo-
meht, while the other ia looking for
ward to the problems of tomorrow.
General Obregon naturally takes a
Keen interest in the congressional cleo
tions. His Congress is the machine
with which he will have to work, and
ms work will be good or bad as his
Congress is good or bad. Many poll
TEXANS have attempted to secure their
election under the shadow of Obrepon's
wings, and he sometimes objects to the
use OF his name in this way. In addi-
ton to this he is surrounded by men
who are looking forward to future
iavors, and it is necessary for him to
keep close watch in order not to in
cur obligations which may later prove
embarrassing.
General BENJAMIN Hill occupies q
peculiar position. AS commander Of
the garrison of Mexico City and the
surrounding suburbs he has the respon-
slbllity for the safety of the city. To
an American this means little. The
responsibilities of the commanding Off
Ger at Fort Myers are not cnerous.
Things are different in Mexico, how
ever Here the capital presents a per-
petual problem and infinite possibili-
ties of trouble. Those who witnessed
the military coup in 1913 and saw Felix
Dlaz IN the penitentiary one day and
commanding an army the next can bet
ter appreciate the situation
1T is almost automatic that the po-
lice of no large city are able to cope
with determined mob. The military
must be and almost invariably are
called out. Mobs are endemic in Mex
leo City. One can be raised on the
slightest provocation, and there is al
| ways a disorderly element ready to be-
gin violence. These mobs must be han
died by troops, and General Hill has
the job
Troops Guard Capital
During the small hours of the morn
ing one sees motor trucks filled with
soldiers quietly moving across the city
and realizes that some one is on the
job, and that probably little foresight
means that nothing will happen. Some
one suddenly found out that these
nightly movements of troops were
going on just about the time that Con-
gressional elections were to be held
and the cry of imposition was raised
at once. AS matter of fact, there
was nothing new about it.
An additional problem is presented
by the presence in the capital of a
large number of officers who appar-
emily have nothing to do. The War
Department is getting them tabulated
and put to work as rapidly as possible,
but there are many who are just wan
dering around and are constantly
r q rcr t,.O11 10 II orC1, ierh
that some of them are not involved
in some brawl generally ending in a
shooting affair This also is General
Hills job. The police cannot handle
the case and it is up to the military.
These four men have the situation
we'll in hand at the present time, There
are unquestionably forces at work both
inside and outside of the country
which may sweep things from under
them at any time. The air is filled
with thousands of currents working
at cross purposes which may unite into
a thunderbolt when the proper time
comes. Both sides cannot win in the
coming elections, and there will be a
disgruntled element in nearly every
state in the country. The industrial
and agrarian problem is cause for un-
easiness in Mexico as elsewhere and
has infinite possibilities. The army
must be cut down to fit the nations
income, and it is not going to beat the
sword into pruning hook willingly.
In several cities in the United States
little groups are gathering who would
like to see their faction back in power
again and are working to that end.
Many of them have everything to win
and nothing to lose and are willing to
take chance on almost any forlorn
hope. At present the Mexican people
are weary of revolution, but within a
few months that will wear off and the
little difficulties which now amount to
nothing will become centers of infec-
ton and the new regime will face its
second great test-the counter off en-
sive.