TRUTH ABOUT MEXICO

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1921, Page 4

TRUTH ABOUT MEXICO

UNITED STATES AND NEW ZEA-

LAND TESTIMONY

VANCOUVER, Jan. 12,

The sensational American newspapers of the Hearst type have wrought such untold trouble in Mexican affairs in endeavouring to cause international intervention on the part ol the United States Government, that it is relresiling to recount some most interesting testimony just adduced by two prominent visitors to the Mexican Republic, one of the witnesses to the Southern Republic’s remarkable period of prosperity at present occurring being none other than Mr Robert Laidlaw, bead of , the Farmers’ Union Co-operative Company of New Zealand. I The other visitor to Mexico was Mr j Eugene H. Rotli, of San Francisco, i the managing director of four big theatres in the Californian metropolis, who was accompanied by Mr .lack A. laitington,- both of whom had a lengthy, trip into “ the wilds of Mexico,” where they made a study of the theatiic.il situation, and also made the acquaint- ( a iicc of the new President. Both speak enthusiastically of the tour of Mexico , City, describing the various business | and amusement lines in which the pen- ; pie arc interested. The lapse of seventeen years since bis last visit caused Mr Roth to remark that he was now astounded at the extraordinary development of the Mexican Republic, particularly after considering the difficulties of the last ten years in that country, through changes of administration and political and military unrest. He says the ( ity of Mexico' now lias a population of almost a million, and the influx of the foreign traveller to the capital is almost incredible. Arriving at 3 a.m. in the city Mr Roth anticipated a natural silence, but was surprised to liml the railway station a bum and drum of activity, with tnxi-cal*s and coaches lined up around the depot ready to take care of the incoming traffic. They drove around to’ fifteen hotels before they secured temporary quarters. There were as many automobiles as in San Francisco, thousands of I‘ord taxi-cabs 1 icing in evidence. The taxi-cab eliaiges were very hominnl, Fords being at the rate of 2 dollars, Mexican, an hour, and the bok.tor makes charging 4 dollars, Mexican, per hour. MEXICO HAPPY LAND.

“ Mexico to-day is a very happy republic. Everybody is inspired with •pep’ and energy, and anxious to develop the countless resources of their republic. This inspiration and confidence comes as a result of the acknowledged saviour of the country, their patriotic and democratic President General Obregon. Perhaps a keener idea can be given when 1 mention that one of the biggest, and best posted lawyers in the City of Mexico made the statement to me: “As a Mexican citizen, I am bold enough to make the assertion that President Obergon is truly the saviour of bis country. He lias come to the Mexican people and taken possession of tlit' country without slaughter of human lives or political influence, and has started bis administration with the selection ot a competent, patriotic, unselfish Cabinet, all of whom have vowed to give the best within them in the interest ot their country.”

“ One cannot help but feel a confidence in the stability of the present administration when he sees fearless, dear-eyed, determined, solt-mannered President Obregon walk in the streets and public places without a coterie of secret service and military attaches. “It was our good fortune to bp the guests of the President at bis private residence in the Chapultepee Palace, where we passed one of the most gratifying evenings. The wholesome and unceremonious greeting was positively a revelation. The President said that bis aim, and ambition was to invite the entire world to participate in the eountiy’s riches, and was anxious to promote aml assist foreign investors to develop its resources, as lie fullV realised the necessity of making the country safe for .’the investor’. President Obregon has passed a great many years of his life, directly and indirectly, in the United States, and is familiar with the progressiveness of the American citizen, and expressed the hope that the Americans would have confidence in him and his Administration.

“ Prosperity in the City of Mexico is very noticeable. Everybody seems to have money to spend, and spends it liberally. The masses are an amuse-ment-loving type.” Mr Roth then proceeded to dilate upon theatrical conditions in the Republic, noting- that the Mexicans had splendid music, but with no synchronisation to the picture displayed on the screen, operatic selections frequently being played while a murder or death scene were depicted. The music, however, was wonderfully executed. Mr Roth thought much good would result from the projected visits of Chambers of Commerce deputations from San Diego, Los Angelos, Nogales, Tiisson. and El Paso, as well as from Sail Francisco, where 200 commercial men were t„ lenW for Mexico in the middle ol January.

“All in all,” concluded the American theatrical manager,” we had a most satisfactory trip there, and suffered no inconveniences or hardships that we naturally expected to endure after ten years of unsettled conditions in that country.” MR LAIDLAW’S VIEWS.

“ Obregon is the man of the hour in Mexico. If lie can ouly obtain sufficient financial backing, be will succeed in bringing Mexico to the important position in the commercial world which should be hers,” stated Mr Laidlaw, of New Zealand, while in Vancouver.

During bis travels in the United States, Mr Laidlaw was invited to accompany members of the 1-os Angelos Chamber of Commerce on their special train to witness the inauguration ol General Obregon as President of the southern republic. Every opportunity was afforded the party to see the country, and aside from the festivities which were part of the ceremony , the views of Mr Laidlaw on the economic position and possibilities of Mexico attracted much interest in Vancouver. “Mexico seems to be recovering from a long-drawn-out nightmare of revolution and pillage. At an expense of some 2,500,000 dollars tbe bandit Villa has been settled on a large estate. With him, pensioned for life, are fifty

of bis former generals and senior officers. It is a lot of money to spend in bribing an erstwhile bandit to keep the peace, but if the experiment succeeds it will be much less costly and unpleasant for Mexico than a continual state of guerilla warfare,” said Mr Laidlaw.

“Obregon is the strongest man in the country to-day,” continued the New Zealand visitor. “He is setting out to give Mexico a truly democratic rule, unlike the autocratic regime ot Carranza. He has the respect of t’ic United States, and it is expected tnat when President Harding is at the bead of the American (Republic, General Obregon’s Government will lie recognised officially.

“Mexico requires one thousand mil lion dollars to set her on her feet. Acthe moment she has no credit. There is no paper money, nothing but bard cash, gold, silver, or copper.

Illustrating the wild extravagance which has characterised the rule of Mexico in the past, Mr Laidlaw instanced the half-completed, mngni cent opera house in Mexico C ity. I bat structure will cost 25,000,000 dollais when it is finished. It is built of pure, white marble, and will rival the finest building in the Old World. And yet last year 7000 school teachers were discharged from their duties because "there was no money in Treasury. Obregon plans to bring such things to ail efld, stated Mr Laidlaw. LOTTERIES POPULAR. “Mexicans are born gamblers. Every man, woman, and child sells and buys tickets in the State lotteries,” be added. “They indulge in every conceivable form of gambling. Bull-fighting, their favourite sport, attracts enormous crowds. Our party attended aga a performance, at which no lewet than 00,000 persons were present, and evi' Sunday the great Arena at .Mexico C i<y scats 20,000 persons, who pay from four shillings to a sovereign. for their seats.” The common people, outside ot D e cities, said Mr Laidlaw, are only hull civilised. They live in squalor aim filth, but with it all they have an extraordinary love of pomp and display. As an example of this, the firemen aie brilliantly caparisoned, and every oi a of them carries a sword, while tiny have a band which sports kettle-drum-' and brass trumpets. Latest dispatches to \ ancouver ‘ro.n Mexico state that treasure hunting Is now one of the occupations ol I'ran 'S co Villa. Simple dwellers in the counti surrounding the former bandit chiefs Haeinda Calmtillo, believe that \ ill.', with the aid of occult power, lias dug up an immense treasure which has been buried for ages. While it is said that Villa lias s;e: really found gold or other treasure, his readiness to join in the hunt is lookc.l •upon as confession that lie is eager . . find some quicker way to fill his money chest than growing beans and liau'ing them to market. In the throng of adventurers wiie have flocked to Villa’s hacienda in the hope of sharing in some way the 2.500,000 dots, be is supposed to have receded from the Mexican Government, was a treasure-finder named Piacho, wit mi the rustics and peons of that isolated section of the State of Durango credit with a mysterious, bewildering power to walk right to the spot where gold is buried. Villa is superstitious. It is said that lie has a strain of negro blood, and this superstition may eotne from some ancestor who wandered through African fastnesses. He listened with interest In Piacho, and was easily induced to •nail forth in search ot millions hidden in the earth by men who lived long ago —perhaps minions of Montezuma, who buried gold so that the Spanish conquerors could not get their greedy lingers upon it. Villa has made several trips away from his hacienda of late, and rumour

asserts that he made bis journey in the hunt for gold. There is still much criticism of the placing of the ex-bandit in possession of 200,000 fertile acres when the movement in Mexico is for small farms, divided among the people. It has been proposed that at least part of the great hacienda he cut into little farms for the peons (poor peasants). This agitation is strengthened by the prevalent belief that Villa will not make a success as a farmer, and will ultimately become a burden upon the Government, if he does not become actnailv troublesome.

In the meantime, banditry lias not disappeared, for, having plundered Yucatan, the native Bolsheviki of that Mexican .State are invading neighbouring communities that still possess some stores of wealth.

Reports have reached Mexico City to the effect that “ militant Socialists ” from Yucatan have marched into the State of Campeche, where they are terrorising the inhabitants and robbing right and left. Yucatan is declared to be practically a desert. Under a regiment modelled upon that of Russia, the farmers lost their American market for sisal, and were overburdened by oppressive taxes. Subsequently, when agricultural pioduction practically ceased, the Socialist leaders began lighting among themselves, completing the desolation of one of Mexico’s richest States.

The irruption into Campeche is merely another phase of the same campaign of terrorism and plunder with which 1 Inerts could not sufficiently cope, and which will cause General Obregon to exorcise some severity in order to restore order and relieve the people ol their rascally oppressors.