The Washington herald., 1921-09-29
Finds Mexico Misrepresented.

To the Editor, The Washing ton Herald:
Since American Notes" played
the Dickens with us, we know with
what fatal facility talented tourists
Judge a country or people in a few
hours or days or weeks.
william ]. Bryan's brief call in
Mexico taught him that her pros
perity grew out of free silver and
free trade" II the facts were that
Mexico had no more free trade than
China, SO much the worse for the
facts.
The other day a score or two OF
innocent bystanders accepted the
invitation of a political party which
combines the pangs of a living
death with those of a stillborn birth,
at 81 per each. to hear The Truth
About Mexico" AS usual the pro-
gram was short changed and no
one took amiss the stereotyped tx-
cuse for the absence of "a repre-
sentative of the Mexican govern
ment." which had doomed large in
the previous advertising.
A local celebrity lately returned
from touring in Mexico. filled the
breach and proved a jealous props-
gandist for his cult. and q warm
friend of Mexico.
He first few high in the sky OF
prophecy, predicting that Mexico
would have no more revolu-
tions. her native army having
Joined the union" An illustrative
incident of which a union chauffeur
was the hero, when he charged with
his faithful jitney the horse of q
Mexican general at the head of his
army, killing the poor beast and
making his rider eat dirt-wa'
loudly applauded. the more SO al
he was fined but half a days pay
and given a year to pay in.
When his feet at last reached the
ground the speakers personal rem
iniscences proved both credible
and interesting, especially on'
marking the customary lack oi
manners among American tourist.
and another noting a visit with the
workmen at the great railway re-
name of which was a little too
much for the orator.
He paid deserved tribute to the
industry. efficiency and loyalty o.
the Mexican workmen there. "t'
none Of which he knew a parable
in the United States" without &C
counting for the difference.
His rebuke to trouble -brewi in
United States Journalism was harsi
but fair. although he mentioned
only one little sheet in Texas ant
omitted all notice of the Hearst
controlled press. Again he did no'
explain.
He criticised with force and jus
tice the crooked meddling in Mex.
!co of three great American inter
ests. the liquor. oil and binder twint
trusts. and compared. unfavorablI
to them, their methods with those
Of their British competitors there
Then. soaring higher than ever
he completely rewrote the spanish
Mexican mining law, incidentally
reversing the latest Judgment oi
the Mexican supreme court regard
ing. article 81 of the Carranza con
stitution, but failed to prophecy
that courts response to his attack
Later and higher than ever hs
looped the loop, with the assurance
that the usual Mexican practice OF
combining the suffrage to soldier.
only was being reformed by the
present government!
Such airy acrobatics. mixed with
actual experience and bar-roon
hearsay In bewildering hodge.
podge, were too much for thewriter's
nerves, and he left while the
leaving was good, ignoring subse.
auent proceedings. But his prayer
for Mexico Is that she be saved
from her fool friends.
OLD RESIDENT OF MEXICO.