New Britain herald., 1922-04-01
MEXlCO'S WEALTH IS CAUSE FOR HER
 UNHAPPlNESS, ROGER LARSON FEELS

It Is evident from the ncwspape, dispatches that attempts are agair being made to stir mp trouble fl Mexico. First we hear that Obrego, is very i'll and then that Esteban Can Ill IS planning an uprising, Recent, In New Orleans, Roger w. Babsor has talked with men who had seer obregon within n few days. MT l'absoh outlines the situation as fol lows;
 "1t Is true that Obregon still Ina. trouble with the stump of his arm which he lost during the revolution He has even considered going to tho Mayo Brothers hospital at Rochester Minnesota, where some Of his asso eiates have been to sec what can be done for It. Otherwise, Obrcgon is 1T fair physical condition and as I an preparing this statement he is on [ trip Of inspection at Vera Cruz.
 "Esteban Cantu is trying to con. solidate the different factions oppos. ing Obregon. including certain old Carranzistas. It is believed in New Orleans San Antonio and Fl Paso that Cantu Is the only leader, with the exception of Villareal, who car cause Obregon any serious trouble Cantu was the governor of lower Cal lfornia under the Carranza admins tration He carried on a very inde- pendent government and his main ob- jection to Obregon is that the latter insisted that he, Cantu, obey the laws of Mexico. Of course the oil situation is 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 people. He certainly cannot satisfy his own people without getting into trouble with the United States.
 '"The situation is still further com plicated by the British interests and desires. There have been times when Obregon and our state depart ment 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 a 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 do- ing well as anyone could do. Ger tainly today he deserves the support of peace-loving people. It is surpris- ing the great improvement that has taken place in Mexico during the past two years. Transportation is rapidly being 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 Mexico's wealth of oil is largely responsible for her unhap- piness. Certainly it was oil that started the confagration. On the other hand we cannot travel in Mex ico without being impressed by the wretched social conditions there eX- isting With a population of 16,o0o,- Nn0 there are few rich people, while the remaining 99 per cent of the population are handicapped by ignorance, filth and superstition It is truly pitiful to see these poor peons enslaved first for labor and then for war, aimlessly working or fighting for purposes they know nothing about and being led by promises appealing only to their lowest instincts.
 "Truly the Creator has given Mex ico d great wealth of natural re- sources; but the great mass of her people are at present in very hope less condition, inferior from every point of view.
 "A study of Mexico is additional evidence that a nation to be pros porous must be founded on religion and education and that one is use less without the other. There may be honest doubts in the minds Of many as to whether the people Of Mexico have either of these funda- mentas Granting, however, that her people have a primitive form of re- ligion given them by the priests who are so numerous in Mexico; the fact nevertheless remains that the people themselves are living in ignorance. o' -hodrols. churches and the ringing bells cannot help having some good
 irious teaching soon results only in developing of super
 ,is religious teaching
 q .i'n worth while cduca- ton. An unlearned man may with
 .,. pecoue a great power ior good, but he does so not by remain ing in ignorance and filth Religion that is worth while shows itself in developing industry cleanliness and desire for knowledge.
 "Yet, knowledge itself without re- ligion is dangerous thing. This was forcibly illustrated in the case Of Germany, and is evident today when one studies some of the younger Mexican leaders. Disappointed with the attitude df the established church in Mexico, they have thrown aside allegiance to an interest in all churches. Many of these young MeXi- cans are prcfessed Atheists. They are keen on philosophies, economies, sociology and the like but have no re gard for religion of any form. They reject all kinds, true and false. Edu- cation supplies the tools with which people may work; but religion deter mines the purpose for which these tools shall be used. Natura re- or political power in the hands of men not actuated by sane