The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-20

lccuntry as each revolution progressed. Mexican newspapers made one ap- peal to the visiting newspaper men from America-that they acludint themselves with conditions of Mexico
 and with the country's internal af- fairs of the past and present. Ha0ing acquainted themselves with these cons ditions and affairs, they were asked to form their own conclusions and to express their own opinion in their own words to the Americans at hone.
 At dinner for Mexican and Amer ican newspaper men during the clos ing days of the inauguration week, several Mexican newspaper men de- livered addresses about Mexico in an effort to give the visitors the impress sions necessary for the proper con clusions. The story started with the
 revolution which ended the reign of Porfiro DiaZ a dozen years ago and ended with the revolution which busted Venuistiano Carranza and brought the Obregon forces into power.
 DICTATOR OUSTED
 General Diaz was overthrown after 30 years of power because he favored
 the rich and did nothing to advance
 the interests of the poor. Mexicans who discussed the internal affairs with foreign newspaper representatives in sisted that General Diaz had the opin-
 ion that the rich were Mexico and that peons were no more than a necessary evil. After one has travelled through that great expanse of territory between
 the Rio Grande and Mexico City " the
 eastern railroad and returned by the western route, he can readily under stand how this favoritism gnawed at
 the vital chords of great majority ct the population of Mexico ItNis ard Ito figure what percentage of the MeX- ican population is peon, but one is safe in saying that a great majority must be placed in that class.
 It was said that General Diaz gave no thought to the advancement of this great majority made no effort 0 es- tablish schools for them, did nothing to improve their surroundings; in fact. treated them as if they had reached the highest point in their civilization and that even the assistance of the government could not cause them to carve greater niche for themselves. SQUANDERING MONEY One fact is cited in support of the claim that General Diaz did not carry in his mind the interests of all classes In the heart of the City of Mexico is being builded national theatre by the government. It was started dur ing Diaz's heydey and the original plans called for the expenditure of approx imately $,500,000 of government funds The revolution came and work was tenn po-arily halted. but such progress had been made the project could not be abandoned. At the end of 15 years work is still being carried and it is esti- ! mated the building will be completed within two or three years and the thea | tre opened to the Mexican people. The main curtain is made entirely of glass and cost almost $200,0o0. It was constructed in New York and the Amer l jeans were informed that often it was necessary to use seven layers of varied | colored glass in order to produce tho proper effect. The curtain is a reproduc- | tion of the volcano Popocatepetl, which overlooks Mexico City.
 l The Obregon government has other l ideas about the proper expenditure of public funds and persons close to the | new administration said they regretted ! that the peoples money has been used l in such way. However. the invest ment has already been so great the proj- ect cannot now be abandoned.
 MADERO A DREAMER i Favoritism of the rich and neglect of
 
 wrested power from Diax and made Francisco I. Madero the provisional l president. Madero was a popular idol | when he went into office and Mexicans | called attention to the fact that he was ! elected preSidenet by popular vote. But | he was a dreamer. When he went into l office. according to the story given the 1 Americans, there was sS3;00o,o00 in the national treasury. This amount was ex- I hausted in few weeks One hundred | million dollars was borrowed and in a ! few months later this. too. was gone. Public opinion immediately turned and l President Madero lost his influence and ! his power. The Mexican people did not I believe him big enough to hold the reins 1 of government.
 1 Although Madero was discredited, Mex. l jeans hold no brief for Huerta whose | coup placed himself in power and sent l Madero to his grave. MeXicans would I pass over this event of their history with out comment. They share the opinion l of Americans that Huerta was usur- | per who gained power by force, a force 1 which had not the sympathetic support
 'of the masses. They welcomed the com 1 ing of Carranza because they desired the I elimination of the evil of Huerta. CARRANZA SUCCEEDS l Carranza also received the general sup port of the Mexican people during a ! greater part of his administration. He lost it because he attempted to set the | time when and the conditions under l which the national election was to be ! held so he might perpetuate his regime, | Enlist In
 Troop C