Life — July 9, 1914 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

JULY 9, 1914 ** While there ts Life there's Hope" No. 1654 Published by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY J. A. Mitcuets, Pres‘t. A. Miter, Sec’y ond Treas. 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York Fegtish Offices, Rolls House, Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. W* shall not have to fight General Huerta just yet. The Niagara Falls con- ference has got us out of that trouble, and arranged for a meeting of repre- sentatives of the two Mexican factions, who will try to work out an acceptable solution of the matters that they have been fighting about. It is hoped that with. the aid of the conference they will be able to get together on a provisional government, and that peace will be restored to Mexico on a basis that will be hopeful for the future of that country. Meanwhile, at this writing, General Villa’s military activities continue at high pressure, and with important re- sults and with very interesting by- products, The latest result is the cap- ture of Zacatecas, after bitter fight- ing. A by-product of this action is the reported decease of Colonel Fierro, an active soldier of the old school in Mexico and known as “ The Butcher", It was he, as may be remembered, who killed Benton, the British subject. If half the stories about Fierro are true, he has been the most cruel and mur- derous warrior in the Constitutional army, remaining none the less a very great friend of Villa, who admired him to excess and would not restrain his irregularities, It will seem good riddance if he is really done for. Of course we are not yet out of the Mexican woods, but things look better, and the conference of mediators is no longer derided by prudent observers, whatever their politics, but is consid- erably admired as a piece of machinery =) worthy of this age of invention. Al- most everybody who has sense seems to think that getting in the leading South American republics as participa- tors in the measures for Mexican relief was a very valuable innovation which should have results of the highest consequence in the great work of maintaining order and liberty in this hemisphere. If the new machinery works as well as is hoped for, it is hard to see what is to hinder even Mr. Bryan from coming out of the en- tanglement with a shining reputation as a diplomat. r is a question deeply beclouded with difficulties who, if anyone, is to be the next Governor of New York. As we understand it, there are to be no conventions, but primaries, at which every voter can put his penny in the slot of whatever candidate offers the flavor that best suits his taste. We are all beginners hereabouts in direct primaries, and very uncertain what they are going to do with us. At this writing Mr. Roosevelt has got back and announced that he will not run for Governor. His declaration has been met by assurances from F. W. Bird, B, Colby and other Progressives that he will have to run, and will see the need presently, That is, of course, an interesting opinion, but it lies in the shadow of the suspicion, confirmed by Mr. Rousevelt’s physician, that the Colonel's reasons for not running are better than Mr, Bird and Mr, Colby have supposed, and that he will have his way about it. There is this disparity of view be- tween Messrs. Bird and Colby and the Colonel as to whether he shall run for Governor, there is the disparity be- tween G. W. Perkins and the Brothers Pinchot as to whether Mr. Perkins can remain a Bull-Moose, there is a dis- Parity of a tactical nature between Mr. Montgomery Hare and the rest of the State Democrats, and the usual dis- parity between Tammany and the rest of the Democratic family. Mr. Hearst calls himself a Democrat, but belongs with no group. All the others seem to like to flirt with him, and Governor Glynn has just been off with him in a private car to Chicago and the Northwest. District Attorney Whit- man is regarded as the hope of the old-style Republicans, but the Progres- sives are not pleased with him. Altogether New York State politics are very much mixed and disheveled, and since habit, and our comfort, and the Prosperity of the business interests, and a decent regard for the opinion of mankind constrains us to have a Governor, it might not be a bad plan to get some mediators and have an intra-State conference at Niagara Falls or Lake Mohonk. The. idea of sending Mr. Root back to the Senate is the only idea in New York politics as yet disclosed that has a pleasing aspect. That idea is so obviously good that it is almost popu- lar, except, indeed, with Mr. Root himself, who seems to disapprove it. Mr. Hearst's American seems alarmed about it. “ When,” it cries in large black editorial headline type, “ Did Root Ever Serve the People?” Why, bless you, dearie, didn’t he go up to Syra- cuse that time and make that famous speech saying William Hearst was a bad egg? You must have forgotten. Don't you call that serving the people? HERE have been a few generat misfortunes that have not been charged to the administration, as the