The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-31
n [ v MEXICAN
FARMERS
BROKE
Agriculture There and in Arr
zona Reels Under Stagger-
ing Misfortunes
BY O. M. KILE.
Copyright. 1o2G.)

By o. M k1LlSs
Copyright. 192G.)
ALBUQUERQUE. N. NJ. May
0ls-New Mexican farmers are
broke. The last bulwark Of the
cattle industry was swept away last
week, when the Cattle Loan Cor
Doration at Albuquerque, organized
TO take advantage of funds made
available through the War Finance
Corporation, was forced to close it's |
doors. The loss to the Federal
government will be considerable. |
More than fifty banks in this State
have failed during the past twoE
years.
The sudden deflation of cattle
prices in 1920, coupled with three
years Of drought, have dealt agri-
culture in New Mexico and Arizona
staggering blow. In many SEQ
tions, mile after mile of dry farm
ing lands have been completely
abandoned. The houses are vacant
and there Is no sign Of life. The
owners have simply loaded their
families and their furniture effects
onto their decrepit nivvers and van.
ushed.
others are hoping that the banks
will soon close them out, so that
they too may have the agony over
with and get away. Much Of this
represents lands that were taken
during the war period to produce
Rlgh paid wheat and should never
Ihave been plowed. It was a losing
gamble from the start.
Sheep Men Do Wen.
l. While there seems to be little
hope for the cattle men VINO are
heavily in debt. the sheepmsn are
doing very well. Good prices and
good grass make sheep prospects
iuook especially busy this year.
such OF the cattlemen as can II.
nance the deal, which are few, are
schanging over to the "wooleys."
despite their traditional hatred for
sheep and sheepmen. Dry land wheat
Gives promise Of good crop this
pear and the relatively small irri-
gated areas present q most welcome
contrast to the general air of desc.
sat1on outside the towns. The mil
aion-dollar seed loan granted by Con.
gress this spring at the insistence
or Senator Jones Of New Mexico.
has been q hfe-saver to many,
A thing the Fastener has diff.
CuIty in approaching is the fact
xhat 30 per cent OF the population
Df New Mexico IL Spanish. Whole
districts speak practically no Eng.
uSh. Some Of these families trace
back directly to the Spanish con.
querors Of three centuries ago. but
the majority are of mixed Mexican
descent. The latter have learned the
art OF living on almost nothing. A
Few handfuls Of beans, some corn.
And some peppers-in other words
xriJoleS, tortillas, and chili-consti.
tute a full larder. This type of
FARMER still hangs on. It ia the
xarmer from the North who moves
eway-the man who has bet Uncle
sam his labor against a homestead
title, and lost.
Sentiment IL Progressive.
Politically speaking, there Is much
progressive sentiment in this sec.
ton. Mr.. McAdoo stands well
throughout the Southwest. IaFoI-
lette's possible candidacy IL being
carefully watched by the EnRlish.
speaking voters-the Spanish nav
no attention to politics, thew are
closely held and vote the Repub.
mean ticket, just as they are told
Carl Magee. the man who has
shaken New Mexican politics from
tOp 10 bottom, and who was largely
E5eeponsinie Tor bringing about the
4nvestigation Of Albert Fail, saws
nat new Mexico will not be able
20 support La Toilette. much as it
would like to do so. To sniff the
progressive vote between the
Democrats. and Mr.. La Toilette
would almost certainly return to
power the very crowd new Mexicoh
mas fought SO hard to dethrone.
says Magee.
Fall in SecIusion.
Former Secretary Fall, while still
At liberty, is in reality a prisoner
prisoner to remorse. He is liv-
Ing the LIE or a recluse. Old
friends and former pals who cali at
Three Rivers to visit are told that
Mr.. Fall sees no one. Reports are
to the effect that the former sec.
rotary is suffering no new physical
disability: It is case Of broken
spirit rather than broken health.
Magee As Senator.
AS a force in the State, Mr.. Fall
Is completely down and out. There
is a strong revulsion of feeling
against the political ideals and
methods he represents. This seems
likely to carry with It. the defeat of
Senator Bursum.
The opinion prevails that Carl
Magee could be elected Senator
next fall IL he would consent to
run. To date he was steadfastly
refused on account Of the business
necessity Of re-establishing his
newspaper, the, State Tribune, which
his enemies all but wrecked at the
time he was fighting Fall.