New-York tribune., 1920-01-30
Mexico Nav
.
BE an Issue
In Campaign
Republicans Possibly VIII
Make Question a Plat
form Plank; Demo-
Gratis Lack a Policy
By Wilbur Forrest

Ell PASO, Tex, Jan. 29@That the
Fall Senate committee now continuing
It's border inquiry into Mexican affairs
here is very effectively creating Re-
publican Presidential campaign ma
terlal has become apparent to political
Observers 1rrefutable documentary
evidence that the Democratic Adminis-
tration has consistently lacked any
oennlte policy for number of years
with regard to Mexico must inevitably
be made in Senator Falls report to
the Senate, based on the committees
ilndlngs to date, it is pointed out
Even IT the chairman of the investi-
eating committee were pro Administra-
ton IN politics he would be forced to
admit in his coming official report
tina. the Administration lack Aof
"handling" Of Mexico is largely re-
sponsible for the present state of chaos
in the southern republic This report,
1T ls understood. will be brief and
strictly to the point.
Mexican Pledge Predicted
Coupled with all this comes news
from Washington that Senators Fall
has been appointed member of the
Republican platform committee which
Will frame the pledges with which the
party must go before the people in the
coming elections. This angle, in view
of what those close to the Mexican
investigation are privileged to know,
made it appear that the Mexican stua-
ton may become one of the main issues
IN the Republican campaign and may
form pledge to long suffering Ameri-
cans in border states and in Mexico
itself that Mexico will be "handled"
should the Republicans win.
The Republican candidate who
promises to apply dash of "Roose-
vcltism" upon the Mexican mess will
at least find himself overwhelmingly
popular in American border states, not
wlthstanding Democratic proclivites of
these states in the past, according to
the observations of The tribune COR.
respondent. His popularity should also
spread throughout the United States on
this pledge alone. those in touch with
the Senate committee revelations be-
lieve.
Witnesses Are Intmidated
Rounding up of witnesses who will
testify before the Senate committee
here beginning Friday continued to-
day with considerable difficulty due to
what must be termed a rather clever
intimidation campaign being carried on
by the Carranza government. 1t is
highly possible that much valuable
evidence bearing on the niquities of
the Carranzistas and Villistas in this
sector must be given to the commit
tee in secret sessions, if at all.
The columns of FL Paso's two Mexi-
can newspapers are now filled with
dire threats Of what will happen to
either MeXicans or American property
owners in Mexico if they appear before
the Senate commi-iee. This intimi
dation propaganda is also reflected in
the two local English language journals
which publish coDious interviews with
Senior Sandoval. the Mexican Consul
here. Sandova to-day engaged an
American stenogranher to record the
name of every witness and copy his
testimony for the Carranza government
Rush 10 Serve Subptenas
As result Judge Dan Jackson, mem
bers Of the Department Of Justice and
others engaged in CORA ling persons
who have had intimate though unfor-
der and destruction across the border
during the last few months and years
were. working frantically to-day with
subp@nas to catch some of their pros
pective witnesses before they escape
to the tall timber. Some have already
left town, it WAS learned
A ma ajority of those on the witness
list still have property interests in
Mexico and have become terrorized at
the last moment in the face OF the
Mexican intimidation campaign.
Senators Fall and Smith both of
whom made flying visits TO their
homes, respectively in New Mexico and
Arizona, are expected here early to-
morrow in time to inaugurate the re
sumption of the Senate inquiry before
noon. A sufficient number Of witnesses
to keep the committee busy several
days are, however, on hand, The
Tribune correspondent learned