Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-04
by Beck

Hardly had Mr.. Wilson gotten him.
self turned around when he had his
first foreign situation to deal with.
1t was with Mexico and was a legacy
from the preceding republican adj
ministration. The republican chief
tains said they left ii Tor Mr.. Wilson
because they didn't want to embar-
rass him in dealing with ii. The
democrats declared the republicans
had passed the buck" 1t came to n
crisis when Huerta, the dictator.
seized the rcinS of government, and
President NaderO and VicC-president
Suarcz were murdered. Mr.. Wilson
had very fixed ideas of his own on
succession to the presidency by as
sassination. He thought it pretty
general in Central America and he
told confidants 1t was going to stop.
He withheld recognition from Huerta
and the situatin boiled until Hucrta
troops attacked some American blue
jackets at Tampico and Mr.. Wilson
ordered the occupatin of Vera Cruz
by the American army. Tho ofiiciaf
reason given for the occupation was
that the German ship Ipiranga was
about to land arms and ammunition
for Huerta and the occupation was to
prevent 1t. The United States de-
manded salute to the flag. which.
critics Of the Wilson administration
took delight in pointing out, never
was given.
Events in Mexico solved their own
problem in n few months when Car
rama. another newly risen leader.
elected Huerta who fed. American
troops were withdrawn from Vera
Cruz. and later President Wilson ex-
tended formal recognition to the Car
rama government But in 1920. Car
rama in turn fled in the face of an
armed revolution and the Mexican
problem came back to a Republican
administration for set leme t.
"Watchful waiting" was not alone Mr..
Wilson's.
Mr.. Wilson was much criticised for.
weakness" in handling the Mexican
situation, but his friends said he saw
Il world-wa coming and had told
them he did not propose TO have
the United States caught with one
hand tied behind its back" He did
not propose to be engaged in a war
with MeSaco at such a time. Al all
events. the world was broke the same
year. Woodrow Wilson added his ap-
peals 10 the futile effort to stay it,
sitting by the bedside OF his dying
wife on a memorable August 6. 1914.
Mrs. Wilson passed away that day.
and with a world taking fire about
him. he took her body TO her girlhood
home in Rome, Georgia. for burial.
The president was almost Frustrated
with his grief. ard returned alone 10
the White House TO face his burden.
Mr.. Wilson saw II would be world
war and that the United States even
tually would be drawn in. But he
realized that the country drawing its
population from the states OF Europe
which were going to war would face
n much divided sentiment and q rery
difficult situation. His first words to
his couEtrymen were a caution to
strict neutrality.
Mr.. Wilson's efforts were devoted
to keeping his country neutral IN
til the submarine outragcs began.
He was at first unable TO believe
that the atrocities had the sane
tion of the German government but
was convinced when they sunk the
Lusitania. That incident brought
the first rift in his official family. |
Jennings Bryan. secretary
Of state. an avowed pacifist. opposed
Mr. Wilson's course and left the cab