Evening star., 1926-03-04

American newspaper comment finds
Americans themselves largely to
blame for the conditions In Tia Juana,
the notorious Mexican town In which
whole family-the Peteets OF San
Diego-committed suicide recently to
drown disgrace. Approval fs given to
steps already taken to clean up the
place, and there Is an emphatic de-
mand for action by the United States
Government that will make such q
state Of affairs impossible In the
future.
Americans, while demanding JUS
tice. likewise will feel inclined to
blush over the fact that the mistreat-
ed women placed themselves in posi-
tions where mistreatment was posi-
ble," declares the Ann Arbor Times
News, while pointing out also that
the parents must share the oiame TOT
the affairs, since 1.-The girls disap-
peared while visiting a saloon in the
resort town with their parents "
The New York World laconically re-
marks: "Our people do not have to go
to Tia Juana. Most Of them have
gone in search Of that which they
disreputable resorts
and vice"
Tho Long Beach Press-Telegram
states that "Tia Juana has been main
tanned as q wide open resort because
of the big patronage that came from
the United States. Hence this coun-
trv." continues the California paper,
"nn,,st share In the odium Of encour-
aging lust that kind Of a resort. The
Peteet tragedy should see a right
about face policy from the American
side. The human tide that has flowed
into Mexico from the California side
should be stopped" Taking a similar
viewpoint, the Los Angeles Express
savs But for American visitors and
the money they spend, Tia Juana
wouldn't last overnight. The way
then. to clean up Tia Juana," sug'
gests the Express, els to keep Amer
leans from going there. If Americans
were required to secure passports De-
fore they might cross the border into
Mexico, 1t Is reasonable TO suppose
the rush to Tia Juana soon wouio
end"
"ria Juana was not nearly so re-
snonsihle for the recent horrible trag.
edv az is the streak In the makeup OF
the public that, to say the least, con.
trib,ited much more than 80 per cent
toward making 1t possible" says the
Fort Worth ecord-Telegram.
"paonle do love to see wickednesi
ma 20 miles to take q look" declares
the GAINESVILLE Daily Gazette. They
think there Is q glamour about TINS
sort of Summing which takes on tn
air of a sociological study" continues
the Gazette. Instead, 1t Is study II
nure and unadulterated cussedness ant
crine. Tia Juana should be treatet
like the bubonic plague ana wlpes
out"
That Americans have even a greater
responsibility than the fact tnat tne!
supply the customers for the town !:
declared by the Reno Gazette, wnici
explains: THE proof that most OF tht
saloons are owned by Americans ant
nine.tenths Of the persons that ge
their living from them are Americana
| ia overwhelming. The Foreign Club,
resort owned by a syndicate Of Anneri
can sporting men, is being enlarged t
twice It's former proportions to accom-
modate the expected Spring rush o
visitors"
! Observing that "Tia Juana was sc
up for Americans, not for Mexicans.
the Fort Wayne Journal-GaZette see
! little profit In blaming Mexico for tn
ulcerous spot" as it points out tina
Americans are under no compulsiol
| to visit the vice resort and there /
nothing else in Tia Juana which woul'
attract a carload Of Americans in
year"
1.-THE Government Of the Unite
States we'll knows that the vast ma
dority Of the persons who cross the lin