Arizona republican., 1920-02-22

An interesting conclusion reached by
ihomas Armstrong, Jr., member OF
me recent buSinessmen's excursion on
he Southern Pacific of Mexico along
ne west coast as far Culiacan is
mat the revolution with all its horrors
iTd loss. the checking of industry il
caused, was after all a good thing in
nat 1t has given at least that part of
Mexico solid foundation on which to
oulld- Though it resulted in the tenn
porary expulsion of the so-called "old
families" the former ruling class, it
save to the lower, the only other class,
position it could not otherwise have
attained, creating thereby a middle
Glass.
Another result OF the observations
OF Mr. Armstrong in the course of the
ten-day's excursion is a conviction that
there is no other part of North Amer
lea which offers such opportunities to
me man of capital and energy as the
country along the west coast.
The conclusions of Mr.. Armstrong
were based on his own observations, on
his conversations with people of both
classes, businessmen, professional men,
with men in their offices and in their
homes, where they talked with the
greatest freedom
Another result of his visit was the
explosion of the stories that there is
a deep hatred of Americans in Mex
leo. On the contrary, he said the
American visitors were received ev-
erywhere with the great test cordially
by the people of all classes. There
was undoubted sincerity in the well
come extended to the excursionists.
We might have suspected" said
Mr.. Armstrong, that the warmth of
the welcome of the men and women
might have been assumed; that they
might have held their real feeling to-
ward US in restraint. But such a sus-
picion was removed by the attitude of
the children toward us. They could
nave been under such restraint.
If their parents had been unfriendly
at the bottom towards us, the chill
-dren would have known that and 1T
would have been reflected in their con-
duct toward us.
They were about us all the time,
wherever we went and they were uni
iormly courteous and polite.
The Start From NogaIes
There were about eighty persons on
the excursion leaving Nogales. A
large part of the excursionists were
residents of Nogales though there were
some from other parts of Arizona. The
train which carried the visitors was
solid Pullman train with a dining
car. The first stop was made at Her
mosillo. where the visitors were re-
ceived by the chamber of commerce
and Mexican officials, who made felic-
itous speeches in Spanish and on being
translated We're found TO breathe OF
welcome and cordially.
The business men of the city greeted
she visitors warmly and were eager
'or an interchange of ideas and hoped
hat as a result of the excursion there
would be a closer commercial rela
ion.
The general condition of the people
Of northern Sonora was found to be
poor. They had suffered more from
he ravages of the revolution and the
owns and villages north of Hersomillo
were found TO be half depopulated.
BUSINESS had been generally checked;
he banks We're closed and there was
not a prospect of an early resump
ton in that part of the state.
All the business of the country, that
IS of that part of the country, is con-
Quoted in American currency. There
were no Mexican bills, though Mexican
gold was in evidence and was readily
exchanged for American currency
Become Mexican Electors
The party arrived at Hermosillo on
the eve of the election of a queen of
the festival The americans quickly
chose a candidate for regal honors
from the field and boosted her with
their cash with the result that she was
elected There was no question raised
as to their right to exercise suffrage
in this case, but then the Mexican cleo
tons are rather loosely conducted as
a general thing,
There was here discovered some
thing that promises much for Sonora
he installation of public school sys-
tenn. 1t is somewhat different from
hat in this country in that it is sup
ported in part by voluntary contribu-
ions, in part by taxation by the state