Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-05
NINE ARE KILLED
IN DISTURBANCES
IN MEXICAN TOWNS
Woman Reported Beheaded,
20 Wounded--Boycott
Depresses Trade.
GREAT THRONGS HEAR
DEBATES ON CONFLICT
Priest Who Accepted Regulations
Excommunicated-Valuable
Crown Reported Missing.

By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, August 5.-Pessi-
mism regarding the religious conflict
between the government and the
Catholics was more pronounced today.
Business depression, born of the
economic boycott declared by Catho-
lies in protest against the govern
ment's religious regulations is grip
ping portions of the republic and caus-
ing apprehension in other parts, in
Guiding the capital.
Peace feelers have proved futile and
there is a lessening of hope even
among the numerous volunteers who
have been making efforts TO pave the
way for an understanding.
Many Fatalities Reported.
Newspaper dispatches from outlying
points give belated reports of greater
disturbances than have been recorded
thus far. In a serious clash at Quad
alalara, one of the strongest Catholic
centerS in the country. six persons are
reported to be dead and IA wounded.
At Torreon, the newspapers report,
one is dead and eight are wounded;
one person was killed at Cuernavaca
Ndliu dl IL pudlu a. WUkIdilt DSiLGSCu W
have been Protestant, is said TO have
been beheaded by crowd frantically
excited over the suspension of Catholic
services.
Apparently the capital is feeling the
situation much less than some other
parts of the republic, but many busi-
ness men are filled with. foreboding
that a sharp pinch and business slow
down are due here soon unless set
tlement is reached
Small numbers of worshipers are
seen in the Catholic churches, which
has been the case every day since the
withdrawal of the priests. The
Cathedral continues closed pending
completion of the inventory of it's
treasures for the government.
Police Restrain Crowds.
Police reserves with drawn pistols
restrained crowds in the streets last
night endeavoring to force their way
into an already packed theater where
Secretary of Agriculture Leon and a
Catholic leader, Herrera Lasso, were
debating the government religious
policy.
Public interest is intense in these
debates, which are being held through
out the country between government
supporters and Catholics. The au-
dience in the theater here last night
seemed about evenly divided in it's ap-
plause of the respective speakers.
There have been no fights or rioting
during the debates thus far. The de-
partment of education is broadcasting
the principal debates.
President Gales again has reiterated
the intention of his government to
enforce. without fearing interdicts or
supernatural punislments" the Mexi-
can constitutional provisions regard
ing religion.
Holds Message Personal.
Gen. Gales replied to this effect to a
telegram from Augusta b. Leguia,
President of Peru, requesting re-es-
tabl1shment of harmony between the
Mexican government and the Catholic
church. The Mexican executive said
he would consider Leguia's telegram a
personal expression and as not i'm
plying Intervention by foreign power
in Mexico's purely domestic affairs.
Evidently" the message to the
Peruvian president added, your eX-
cellency has not received truthful
reports of the Mexican government s
attitude regarding the Catholic clergy,
as otherwise your opinion would be
unheSitatingly favorable to the Mexi-
can governments viewpoint.
The clergy, in accordance with it's
traditional conduct, which throughout
history has unclaimed so many seri.
Gus calamities in Mexico, opposes
evolution, which recent times has
developed in Mexico, both social and
political
Declares Attitude Impossible.
''The clergy desires once again to
prevent the development of this trans
formation, which Is universally recog.
nized. The clergy has made public a
statement in rebellion against the
constitutional laws of the country, an
attitude which Is unbeaIable not only
in countries of the advanced social
and political condition of Mexico, but
in any other country at present or in
the past centuries.
If God is the supreme manifesto
ton Of good, both in individuals and
nations, / do not believe in this In
stance He has taken sides with those
who for more than a century have
been responsible in Mexico for in
ternal calamities. international inva-
sions and intrigue, as well as unrest
in the conscience of the people,"
Aside from Gen. Gales reState-
ment of the governmental attitude
there has been no change In the
controversy between the government
and the church during the past "a
hours. There are no late indications
that a peaceful solution of the situa-
ton Is near at hand unless they be
found in the statement that the
church will never give its approval
10 any armed uprising against the
governments religious regulations.
Seeks Peaceful Action.
Mgr. Pascual Diaz, Bishop of Ia.
basco and secretary of the National
Catholic Episcopate, so informed the
Associated Press. He said that the
church would 'go to Calvary if
necessary in the present religious
struggle. The bishop said uprisings
were headed by ambitious politicians
who pursued worldly gains.
THE church only approves peace
ful and orderly social action like that
undertaken by the League of Defense
of Religious Liberty" declared the
bishop, presumably referring to the
leagues declaration Of an economic
boycott. =
The episcopate in a general slate
ment to the newspapers assert that
the episcopate will accept no settle
nnent of the controversy except that
It includes recognition OF the rights
Of Catholic priests as Mexican citi
!, zens. It also announces the receipt
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