Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-01
Nations Will Prosper
as Christian Education
Grows, Declares Babson

1t Is evident from the newspaper dis
patches that attempts are again being
made to stir up trouble in Mexico.
| First We hear that Obregon is very i'll
and then that Esteban Cantu is plan
ming an uprising. Recently in New Or
leans Roger w. Babson has talked with
men who had seen Obregon within a
few days Mr. Babson outlines the sit
uation as follows:
/ ct is true that Obregon still has
trouble with the stump Of his arm,
! He has even considered going to the
Mayo Brothers hospital at Rochester,
Mimi. where some of his associates
have been, to see what can be done for
it. Otherwise Obregon is in fair physi-
cal condition and as I am preparing this
statement he is on a trip of inspection
at Vera Cruz.
''Esteban Cantu is trying to consoli-
| date the different factions opposing
Obregon, including certain old Carran
zistas. It is believed in New Orleans,
San Antonio and FL Paso that Cantu is
the only leader, with the exception Of
tilIareal, who can cause Obregon any
serious trouble. Cantu was the COVER
nor of Lower California under the Car
rama administration. He carried on a
very independent government and his
main objection to Obregon is that the
latter insisted that he, Cantu. obey
the laws of Mexico. OF course. the oil
situation is a great factor in Mexican
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 peo
pie. He certainly cannot satxfy his
own people without getting into trouble
with the United States.
British CompIicate Matters
"The situation is still further compli-
Gated by the British interests and de-
sires. There have been times when
Obregon and our state department have
almost come to terms but something
has happened to upset the apple cart
In New Orleans they tell me that this
something" is British interests who
are operating in competition with the
American oil companies. At any rate,
at best it is 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 Obre
gon is doing as well as anyone could
do. Certainly today he deserves the
support of peace-loving people. It is
surprising the great improvement that
has taken place in Mexico during the
past two years. Transportation is rap !
in comparative safety and last month |
even the passport restrictions were re- |
moved.
"Of course, there is no gainsaying the |
fact that Mexico's wealth of oil is !
largely responsible for her unhappiness |
Certainly 1t was oil that started the |
conflagration. On the other hand, we
cannot travel in Mexico without be- /
ing impressed by the wretched social |
conditions there existing With q pop
ulation of 100000. there are few
rich people, while the remaining 30 |
per cent of the population are handi-
stition. 1t is truly pitifnl to see these
poor poems, enslaved first for labor and
then for war. aimlessly working or
fighting for purposes they know moth
ing about and being led by promises ap-
pealing only to their lowest instincts.
Great Natural Wealth
''Truly the Creator has given Mexico
a great wealth of natural resources:
but the great mass of her people are at
present in very hopeless condition,
inferior from every point of view
"A study of Mexico is additional evil
1ence that nation to be prosperous
must be founded on religion and edu-
cation and that one is useless without
The other. There may be honest doubts
n the minds of many as to whether the
people of Mexico have either of these
Granting, however, that
ler people have a primitive form of
.eligion given them by the priests who
ire so numerous in Mexico; the fact
nevertheless remains that the people
themselves are living in ignorance.
churches and the ringing
oells cannot help having some good
but religious teaching soon
.esults only in developing Of super
'tition unless this religious teaching
8 combined with worth while educa-
ion. An unlearned man may with re-
igion become great power for good.
tut he does SO not by remaining In
ignorance and filth. Religion that is
vorth while shows itself In developing
clealiness and a desire for !
"Yet. knowledge itself without re-
igion is a dangerous thing. This was
orcibly illustrated in the case Of Ger
many. and is evident today when one
tudies some of the younger Mexican
eaders. Disappointed with the at
itude of the established church in
'1exico, they have thrown aside al
egiance to an interest in all churches.
Iany of these young Mexicans are pro-
essed atheists. They are keen on
economy, sociology, and
he like, but have no regard for religion
t any form. They reject all kinds,
rue and false. Education supplies the
ools with which people may work; but
eligion determines the purpose for
'hich these tools shall be used. Natural
esources or political power in the
ands Of men not actuated BY sane
eligious principles makes q very dan
erous situation. Lack Of real religion
Germany was the cause Of the great