Imperial Valley press., 1920-10-21
Rv RALPH H. TURNER
United Press Staff Correspondent

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 21.-Mexico is
frightening up. 1t may be said, by
the same token, the Mexico also is
picking up" both socially and COM
mercially. The old-rimers, both Mex
icacs and foreigners, who have seen
ten years of revolution, hesitate to
venture a guess when asked how long
this condition will continue, but they
do not deny that Mexico today is more
wide awake, more cheerful and looks
20 the future with more confidence
than at any time IN the past eight
or ten years.
1t is five months now since Venus
tiano Carranza fled from his capital
and passed into the limbo of late,
lamented" Mexican presidents. 1t IS
four months since Adolfo de la Huerta,
his successor, took the oath of office.
And in little over month, Alvaro
Obregon, president-elect, will assume
the chair, which, if Obregon is
strong enough man, he may occupy for
four years. So it may be opportune
to take stock of Mexico today. .
1t should be said, in justice to de la
Huerta, that provisional government
Of only six months duration is con-
fronted with administration difficul !
ties which cannot be eliminated in
such brief period Of time. These
difficulties will be Obregon's heritage.
1t is up to Obregon to rescue Mexico.
If Obregon fails-but that is peering
into the future. This is a story of the
present.
The improved conditions throughout
the republic are reflected particularly
in Mexico City. 1t is not SO much any
great tangible achievement that ap-
pears reassuring, for such vital recon-
struction problems as the railroad sit
uation, finances, etc, still remain to
be solved, but it is the spirit of optim-
ism, the belief that better day has
arrived, that impress one now in NOV
ing about the capital. The people
seem better dressed ard of a lighter
frame Of mind. They seem to have
more money to spend. Business is
/ improving. The town is cleaner. The
depression CT many years duration is
beginning to lift. Mexico City presents
the busting appearance of metrop-
Ills going to work. Motor cars so
throng the streets that the traffic
problem is the most critical in history.
The hotels are full, either with Mex
leans who have returned from abroad,
or with foreigners, principally Amer
leans, who have come to seek business
opportunities.
| The beggers, it is true, are still
with us. In fact, they seem to have
increased, perceiving that their field
is more profitable with the dawn Of
prosperity. They range from the
small children, who, since the increas-
| ed American influx have increased
their income by learning to say, "Hel-
| 10, meester, please gimme five cents"
to the old men and women in rags who
extend their palms with supplications
"a. Dois." There is one, singularly
successful, who waits until the traffic
cops stop" sign has halted the long
stream Of automobiles on the main
thoroughfare. Then he passes from
car to car, collecting from all occu-
PANTS who are touched by his appeal.
The government has made no attempt
to eliminate the beggar annoyance.
The most signal achievement of the
provisional government, as President
de la Huerta remarked recently to
foreign correspondents, is the pacifi-
cation Of the country. 1t is the feel
ing of safety from bandit and rebel
bands that forms the basis Of the new
born confidence. But reconstruction
has been started in many lines, such
as the paving Of streets, the reduction
Of the army and the reorganization Of