Evening star., 1922-04-01

Il is evident from newspaper dis
patches that attempts are again be-
ing made to stir up trouble in Mex
leo First, 1t is heard that President
Obregon is very i'll. and then that
Esteban Cantu is planning an up
rising. Recently i'm New Orleans
Roger w. Babson talked with men
who had seen Obregon within few
days. MIR. Babson outlines the stu
alton as follows:
cit is true that Obregon still has
trouble with the stump of his arm
which he lost during the revolution.
He has even considered going to
Mayo Hospital Il; Rochester. Mimi.
where some of his associates have
been. to see what can be done for It,.
Otherwise Obregon is in fair physical
condition and as ] am preparing this
statement he is trip of inspec-
ton at Vera Cruz.
''Esteban Cantu is trying to con-
solidate the different factions oppos-
ing Obregon, including certain old
CarranZistaS. 1t Is believed in New
Orleans, San Antonio. and El Paso
that Cantu is the only leader. with
the exception OF Niliereal. who can
cause Obregoa any serious tronble.
Cautu was the governor of Lower
California under the Carranza ad
ninistration. He carried on very
independent government and his main
objection to Obregon is that the lat
ter insisted that he. Cantu. obey the
laws Of Mexico OF course the oil
situation Is great factor in Mex
lean politics. Obregon is between the
devil and the deep blue sea. If he
conforms with the wishes of the
United States. he gets into trouble
with his own people. He certainly
cannot satisfy his own people with
ont getting into trouble with the
United States.
Situation Complicated.
THE situation is still further COM
nlicated by the British interests and
desires. There have been times when
Obregon and our State Department
have almost come to terms, but
something has happened to upset the
beans. In New Orleans they tell me
that this something is British in
petition with the American oil COM
panies. At any rate. at best it is u
three-cornered fight and even If his
Intentions were the best Obregon
would have a hard time to pacify all
three interests One thing, however,
is evident. namely that Obregon is
doing well as any one could do. Ger
tainly today he deserves the support
of peace-loving people. II is surpris-
ing the great Improvement that has
taken place in Mexico during the past
two years. Transportation is rapidly
bein restored. One can travel now
in comparative safety and last month
even the passport restrictions were
removed.
"Of course there is no gainsaying
the fact that MeSicos wealth of oil
is largely responsible fer her unhap-
pinesS Certainly it was Oil that
started the confia grafton. On the
other hand. we cannot travel in Mex
leo without being impressed by the
wretched social conditions existing
there. With a population of 16.000.-
600, there are few rich people.
while the remaining 90 per cent of
the population are handicaDped by
ignorance. filth and superstition. 1t
is truly pitifui to see these poor
poems enslaved first for labor and
then for war. air1lessly working or
fighting for purposes they know moth
ing about and being led by promises
appealing only to their lowest in
stincts.
Many Live i'm Ignorance.
Truly. the Creator has given Mex
leo great wealth of natural re-
sources. but the great mass of her
people are at present in a very hope
less condition, inferior from every
point of view.
"A study of Mexico is additional