Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1914 — VICTORIANA HUERTA AN ARTFUL DODGER [ARTICLE]

VICTORIANA HUERTA AN ARTFUL DODGER

Tries to Dodge Apology by Having U. 8. Fire a Simultaneous Salute * —We Will—Not S

The assassin Huerta, dictator of Mexico, and about the most contemptible governmental power that the United States has ever had to deal with, sought to dodge compliance with his promise to make the salute of 21 guns to the United States flag by asking" that the United States fire a simultaneous salute. When this demand of Huerta was conveyed to President Wilson he was considerably vexed because it was believed the incident was closed by the promise to fire the salute' and our willingness to acknowledge it by firing a salute in return. The president promptly caused a message to be sent to Charge O’Shaughnessy, to be conveyed by him to Huerta, saying that we would not fire Simultaneously and that the letter of the demand made by Admiral Mayo must be complied with and that Mayo would respond as he saw fit. President Wilson made it plain that he is getting mighty tired of the dilatory tactics of Huerta and will not temporize in this matter at all. In the meantime the battleships are steaming toward the Mexican ports and will probably be in a position to entirely blockade all ports by next Wednesday or Thursday. Huerta’s sudden definance has led to the belief that he may desire to create war with the United States in the hope that it will serve to unite the Mexican factions and thus avert his. fast crumbling republic. Congres*s is almost unanimous in

backing up the president in this attitude toward Huerta, whose repeated indignities to this country have .been almost past endurance. The people have generally been mighty well pleased that the United States has not felt obliged to intervene in Mexico for some time and hope that war may be averted, but are a unit in hoping that no insults willbetolerated. The time is coming, also, when the United States must make a demand for money settlement from Mexico for the losses sustained by our people in Mexico and for the cost of sustaining the refugees that were driven across the border. It is not probable that there can be constituted in Mexico a stable government that would be able to manage its affairs to take care of the responsibilities entailed by the war and that would mean that the United States must take charge sooner or later. If Huerta succeeds in forcing the United States into a war at this time, it is probable that “Old Glory,” once set upon Mexican soil will never be hauled down. It will be a march to the Panama canal. With confidence in our institutions and a firm belief that Mexico, rich in natural resources, will prosper as never before under the control of the tlnited States, we believe that our people generally will approve of annexation, notwithstanding the great responsibilities that would entail. Huerta will doubtless be given to understand that he can not run any “bluffs” on Uncle Sam, and President Wilson is to be commended for his firm support of Admiral Mayo.