Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-06-30
GOVERNMENT D F
MEXICO CL OSEL Y
WATCHES Y | | | A.
MUCH SPECULATION AS TO FOR
MER BANDITS FEELINGS TO.
WARDS oeREeoN AoMINlsTRA.
/ TON AND HIS ATTITUDE TO.
WARD FUTURE ELECTIONS.

!, Mexico City, June rs Despite lis
repeated assurances that he is NJ
,ilonger a bandit, but gentleman
Harmer of the state of Durango, thf
movements OF Francisco villa ave
gbeing closely watched in Official cir
lscles here. To some observers 1t IS
: difficult to believe that this former
guerrilla has accustomed himself tl
the routine OF ranch life and is now
finding In his growing crops and low
ing herbs the contcntment that a man
nf, his tremendous nervous energy de
rived in the past from daring deeds
of warfare.
Is Villa the staunch friend of the
Obregon administration that his
friends claim for him? VIII Villa stay
out of politics and play no part in the
forthcoming congressional clectionsr
In the event OF serious threat against
Obregons power would Villa rally his
1000 ranchers in behalf of the pr"si-
dent or would he lead his men in a
new revolution? These are the FIRE
quent questions Of the street here anG
the answers are as varied as those
who make reply.
The pacifcation of Villa is pro.
claimed by the friends of Provisional
President de Ia Iluerta as the one big
achievement OF his short administra-
ton in 1920. To secure the peace
pact with the famorus bandit 1t was
necessary for the Mexican govern
mcnt to grant him an extensive tracI
of land on which his faithful follow
ers, numbering some 1000 might
work and prosper, There was also a
transfer Of considerable cash which
Villa said he needed to develop his
new ranches. 1t is also understood
that one of the stipulatiOns of the
agreement was that Villa was to sta.
out of politics.
Villa. settled in the state Of Du.
range and the few persons who have
visited hisr hacienda report that he
is an enthusiastic farmer. OF late,
however stories have been creeping
out of the north to the effect that tur-
rowed fields and blooded dairy stock
are commencing to pail and that to
relieve the monotony the captor OF
Columbus is mixing just a tritie i'll
the state politics OF Durango. Some
reports are that he has been askrel
TO run for governor and has consented.
but persons close to the man deny the
rumors No matter what the facts,
the uncertainty Of Villas action is
causing considerable comment in the
capital, which within the past two
months has been put on the qul wye
several times by authentic state
ments that the Durango rancher WIS
on his way tor Mexico City to consult
with his president. He has never ar
rived ami there is small possibility
that he will come.
All of which has merely served to
revive the months old questioning,
VIII Villa stand fast no matter what
turmoil might arise in Mexico City?
If one is to believe stories of Villas
heavy investments in oil drilling out
fits and his rumored plan to rebuilt /
a stockyard and packing house at
Ciudad Juarez which his men destroy
ed several years ago, there is reason
to think that the Canutilla farmer IS
just that and nothing more. On the
other hand, visitors at the ranch say
that the Canutillo arsenal is well sup
piled with arms and ammunition.
But, as they say, Villa must arm him
self to protect his ranch from bandits.
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