Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1914 — VALPARAISO MAN DISAPPROVES POLICY [ARTICLE]

VALPARAISO MAN DISAPPROVES POLICY

Thinks U. S. Should More Aggressive Policy in Mexico— Returns From Visit.

Valparaiso Vidette. Abe Lowenstine, of the Lowenstine department store, who has just returned from a sojourn at ElPaso, Tex., across the Rio Grande from war-ridden Mexico, does not believe in the "Wilson policy of “hands-off.” In an interview' this morning, he stated his opinion in no uncertain terms. “The Mexicans will do nothing but fight,” he said. “They jeopardise the lives of thousands of American citizens and theyhave already destroyed millions of dollars worth of American property. I believe, personally, after seeing conditions as they exist .'t ElPaso, that something should be done.” One of the last events which Mr. Lowenstine attended before he left ElPaso was a mass meeting of citizens of that place which was held for the purpose of protesting against the Wilson policy. Resolutions were passed to this effect and the matter will he taken up with W. J. Bryan, secretary of state. “The people wanted to hold this meeting on the public square,” said Mr. Lowenstine, “but the mayor asked them not to. Then they chose a theatre, but it would not accommodate anywhere near all of the immense throng; so out on the broad commons the speakers gave vent to their indignation.” ElPaso is crowded with refugees. The hotels are filled to their limit. When soldiers stricken with defeat come over the river they are held" as prisoners, but they escape before long and hack they go into Mexico to fight, for fighting is the only ambition of their lives. Every little boy, according to Mr. Lowenstine, wants to go to war. As soon as he is in his teens he gets a gun and a donkey and takes a hand in the rumps. All is turmoil at Jaurez, where the strife between the factions has ruined the city. The federal buildings have been turned into stables for iho rebels’ as have some of the finest homes in the city. Occasionally the sounds of shots from that direction tell the peace-loving people of ElPaso that more Mexican blood is being spilled, only for the sake of the spilling. If the Mexicans would remain on their own side of the river with their depredations it would not be so had. There they might kill each other off and the Texans would not care, hut many of their expeditions are planned in ElPaso. The place becomes crowded with refugees from one side or the other. Then, in a down town street they hold a meeting, money is subscribed and a company formed, and over the river they go to fight again. To get their living they plunder the estates across the border, no matter to whom they belong.

This manner of foraging is what led to the killing of Benton, the English subject, according to Mr. Lowenstine. Benton lived in ElPaso. jQver in Mexico he had a vast estate oh which many cattle were kept. Villa’s men drove them all away and Benton went to headquarters to protest. After that he

was killed, and mainly because he was a white man, say the ElPaso people, for they declare that Mexicans hate the jwhite men as bßd as Texans despise the Mexicans. Unless the United States steps in and does something to relieve the^ Grande it is possible that Texans alone will rise in arms and cause some excitement. Were they independent of the federal government, s this would surely he their course, is the belief of the Yalpo man, who studied conditions thoroughly while there. “People residing any distance away from the boundary of the two countries know hut little of what many: Americans have to bear,” he said. The papers at large get only a meagre supply of the news. At the same time he handed out an ElPaso paper that gave an idea of what a preponderance of work the reporters in that city have to do, and nearly all over the conditions brought about by tile Mexican upheaval. Other events there are trivial compared to this.