Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-09
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

It is especially inopportune for Mexi-
co to break out in another revolt, just
en- the eve Of President Hoover's Quaker
administration of the United States.
For the battling of Mexicans too close
to the United States border may easily
endanger Americans even in their
peaceful homes upon United States
territory. Already, news comes that
American troops have been placed 70
euard the bridge across the Rio Grande
snd to plant cannon pointing toward
the Mexican Ciudad JuareZ, with a
threat of intervention in case a. battle
brings shots into our domain, although,
from Washington. orders have been
forwarded temporarily withdrawing
such forces
It would be but few hours work for
the Mexican rebellion to force United
States intervention, in case the rebels
so desired to embarrass the Mexican
federal government, against which they
were in revolt. All they need to DO is
to keep on firing into the United States
and disputing as to which party IS
doing the firing. fatal to peaceful
citizens of Douglas or Ell Paso. ALREADY
500 Federa's have fed across the Rlo
Grsnde and been informed in Fort Bliss,
Tex. 1t is not too long ago to recall
how villa made deliberate RAID across
the American border, and, after MURDER
ing Americans, fed back into the Mex
lean desert, pursued by Gen. Jonn d.
Fershing on his "hot trail 1hat was
between the Federals and rebels at
Aqua Prieta. Mexico, which resulted IN
the killing of Americans on the Amer
lean side of the boundary, when Gov
sloan of Arizona appealed to President
Taft for Federal protection and urgeo
armed intervention, II necessary, III
order to stop the stray shots from Mex
icars fighting within few feet OF tne
international border. President Ia1t
replied to the governor:
1.-THE situation might justify me IN
ordering our troops to cross the oorder
to stop the fighting. or to fire upon potn
combatants from the American sloe.
But if I take this step, must face the
Feasibility of resistance and greater
bloodshed. and also the danger OF nav
ing our motives misconstrued and OIL
thus inflaming Mexican popular ndlg-
nation against many thousands OF Amerl-
cans now in Mexico and jeopardizlng
their lives and property. The pressure
for general intervention under such
conditions might not be practicable 10
resist.
.It is impossible to foresee or reckon
the consequences of such a course ana
we must use the greatest self-resEralnt
to avoid it. Pending my urgent rep
resentation to the Mexican government
I cannot therefore order troops at
Douglas to cross the border, but must
ask YOU and the local authorities. in
case the same danger recurs, to direct
the people of Douglas to place them
selves where bullets cannot reach them
and thus avoid casualty. 1 am loath
to endanger Americans in Mexico where
they are necessarily exposed, by taxing
a radical step to prevent injury 10
Americans on our side OF the border
who can avoid it by temporary neon
vcnience."
That condition of 1911, with its prob
lem. is identical with conditions now
facing President Hoover. A 6-year-old
American boy was shot yesterday in
Douglas by a stray bullet from the
battle
Another development of the revolt OF
1911. may be repeated before the pres
ent disturbance ended. The government
of Mexico appealed to the United States
for permission to transport unarmed
Pass to Ciudad Juarez. and authority
was given both by our Federal Govern
ment and by Gov. Colquitt OF Texas.
with the stipulation that the arms OF
the MeXicans should be carried as bag
gage on a separate train and that an
escort Of American soldiers. armed,
should accompany the unarmed Next
cans. So about 1000 MeXicans did so
Invade" Texas with our sanction
quite a different sort of invasion from
that Of Gen. Pershing in 1917. pur-
suing the hot trail' Of the villainous
villa, which pursuit under arms was
not made after any "watchful waiting"
by President Wilson, but in hot pursuit
Of the fleeing bandits who had invaded
the United States and committed
atrocities.
The present revolt has nothing to
do with the Gales governments con-
troversy with the Roman Catholic
Church. 1t is a protest against the
elleeed conspiracy of the Obregon. Gales
political party to retain control of the
government. contrary to the provision
of the constitution forbidding a Presi-
dent to be reelected. Or, in the COM
mon way of expressing it. the trouble
is due to the Tins" against the "outs"
over the Offices as spoilS of political
conspiracies.
Gen. Obregon served four years as
President, then came Gales. for four
year, and, with the aid Of Gales pow
erftl backing, Gen. Obregon proposed to
run again for the chief Office. He con-
strued the constitutional prohibition to
mean that President could not sue
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