Life — November 6, 1913 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

NOVEMBER 6, 1913 “White there ts Life there's Hop. No, 1619 lished by LIFE PUBL! J. A. Mitcuete, Pres’t. 17 West Thitty-fi HING COMPANY A. Mittra, Sec’y and Treas. t Street, New York English Offices, Cannon House, Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. LECTIONS in Mexico come on Sundays, when people can be sure to have leisure to vote. They held one on October 26th. Candidates m for President were voted for, but there is no news at this writing that anyone was elected. Reports say that voters were y they went to the Sunday bull-fight in much larger numbers than to the polls. The result of the election may not be de- clared for some weeks, as returns come in slowly; but the supposition is that no candidate got votes enough to satisfy constitutional reqiirements, and that General Huerta will hold over as act- ing President until further notice and a new election. This is embarrassing, but not at all unexpected. The opinion prevails con- siderably that President Wilson's policy toward Mexico has been wrong, and that he should have recognized Huerta, thereby strengthening the credit of Huerta’s government, and enabling him to borrow money enough to put down the other revolutionists and pacify the country. Pretty much every- body of diplomatic exoerience con- siders that that was the only practical thing to do, and that President Wilson should have done it. Certainly it was the easiest thing to do. The reason why President Wilson did not do it is perfectly well under- stood. He has wanted to do better for Mexico than seemed possible by the recognition of Huerta. He wants, epathetic, and that in Mexico Ci obviously, to help the Mexicans to in- fuse vitality into their forms of con- stitutional government. Their political machinery calls for election of Presi- dents by voters. Dr. Wilson insists on expecting them ‘fo use their ma- chinery and choo: President. He wants to recognize a man of their choice, not a man who has seized office and holds it by force of arms. is great popular sympathy with Mr. Wilson in this desire. Our people would like to help the Mexican people. They would like to see them in possession of all those blessings of republican government which we enjoy—common _ schools, newspapers that print all the news and a great deal more, cart-tail orators, Sulzers, Hobsons, suffragists, trust laws, currency bills, a fair se- curity of property, and the privileges of the Chautauqua circuits. They want to sce the Mexicans really interested in life, and taking hold of it like folks who have something coming to them. Our people like no more than Dr. Wilson does the idea of Huerta and a government resting on force for the benefit of great land-owners, and min- ing companies, and railroads, which would leave the mass of the Mexican people just where they are. They want extremely to back somebody in Mexico who is worth backing and will work effectively for civilization. anti- That is why, though President Wilson seems so far to have accom- plished so little for Mexico by his hesitations, there is great popular sym- pathy and patience with him in his aspirations and endeavors. We all know, and he knows, what the Mexi- cans are; that a very large proportion of the thirteen millions of them are of Indian descent, without the dis- position toward representative govern- ment that we have derived from Europe; that to expect them to choose and elect a President is a good deal like expecting the infant class to elect a teacher; that they have never so far had a permanent government that did not rest on the will of a strong man, and that the material development of their country, which is essential to their rise in civilization, cannot go on unless order is maintained and property secure in their country. It is incredible that a man of President Wilson's in- telligence and opportunities of infor- mation has any delusions about Mexico and the Mexicans. We can take it for granted that if he has so far re- jected the counsels of the diplomatists, it has been not because he did not understand their position and the rea- sons for it, but because his faith was stronger than theirs, and he has be- lieved he could do better than they thought possible. OOD luck to his efforts!) Nobody can guess the issue of them, but there is no doubt of the strength and integrity of purpose that is behind them. And Mr. Wilson in this matter has a great power in his hands. His own character is a great force; the obstinacy of his expectation that the Mexicans shall elect a President is a great force, and behind them both is the fact that a government in Mexico must have the countenance of our gov- ernment at Washington before it can borrow money. Possibly Dr. Wilson will be able to schoolmaster Mexico up to a point where it will produce a government that is worthy of recogni- tion from civilized countries. It is worth doing, and worth taking some comicbooks.com