| Show Why Villa Is Vicious If If ri we could on only I believe that Gen Gen Pancho Villa was sincere in what he said to Governor McDonald l of New Mexico re ico yesterday we co could ld look ahead with bright hopes for the early settlement of the tha Mexican 1 affair Villa was the typical dark skinned flatterer at th the interview You have the greatest government on earth and your president is is- the best said the general to the governor And in the same breath he Ite gave solemn assurance that in his lis heart there was no longing for the rulers ruler's scepter t that at his only determination nation was to continue fighting until his people are liberated liberated lib lib- lib lib- crated from the bondage that has been the curse of Mexico l so 50 I long It was likewise encouraging to read that Villa had decided I Ito to end the system m of murdering captives There is grave doubt though that a man o of such ferocious nature made more cruel by bya a life of bitterness can cnn overcome the desire for quick vengeance when he finds his enemies in his grasp It is difficult for the American public to understand such a character as Villa To the reader who scans the daily accounts of his savagery and butchery wonder must arise as to how a man could become so e. It isn't so difficult to understand however however how how- ever when one studies his life record Villa was one of thousands of underfed uneducated and mistreated mistreated mistreated mis mis- treated peons on a great Chihuahua hacienda He and his people had about as many rights as the negroes of this country did in inthe inthe inthe the slave days with probably not so good care He had a pretty sister 15 16 years old whose beauty and nd innocent info inno cent youth appealed to the lustful eye of the hacienda owner lord and master over th the Villa family and thousands of others The girl crl was brutally attacked There were no courts or officials of the law to whom Pancho Villa could appeal with confidence that the same justice would be meted out put to tp the rich as to the poor He had to become the law Jaw himself And he did He was prosecutor judge jury and executioner The fierceness and hatred of his n nature ture were aroused Timidity Timidity Timid Timid- ity in the vassal state changed to boldness and reckless eckless courage in the outlaw life for Villa of course had to become a banditT bandit T There ere was nothing to do but fight and kill and it was not long until he had made his name and terror synon synonymous terms When he started on his present campaign as a Carranza soldier Villa had eleven poorly clad and un un undisciplined men with him In a week his ferocious and cruel tactics so much admired by the Mc Mexicans had drawn to him a large following and soon he was the idol of the rebel army anny Battle after battle he h won by his hie fierceness He has slain with a ruthless hand The tearful pleadings of wives begging for their captive husbands' husbands lives Jives have found the ears of Villa deaf i How could such a heart as hi his have room for mercy While Diaz was being praised for the long peaceful and I prosperous rous reign in Mexico 1 he was tolerating and encouraging the conditions that bred the Villas and the Terrazas factions The Terrazas family owned thousands and thousands of acres of land under the Mexican system that held from the Villas and their cla class s such rights The writer looked from car windows on miles and miles of rich grazing land with thousands of cattle all owned by the rich Terrazas family family almost almost an empire under private private vate yate ownership Nothing was done to make good citizens of the poorer classes They were not home owners They were chattel Their heir Education ducat ducati n was neglected It II will be a great ma man maii indeed who can bring about peace and contentment down there Maybe l Carranza can do it if Villa will win not allow the hero ero worship of his followers to turn his head If he can be content to remain a soldier and allow a man mart better fitted for the rulers ruler's chair to take the reins of government there i io et a chance for it seems certain the Huerta government must fan faI before the advancing orde from the north I 1 never will win be pe president of Mexico said Villa yesterday esterday to Governor l I never went to school a day in my life and I am not prepared for the post My lly alphabet has been the sight and trigger of a rifle my books have hae been the movements of the enemy This i is quite as eloquent as Othello's description of himself For since these arms alms of mine had seven years' years pith till now some nine nirie moons wasted their dearest service has been in the tented field Villas Villa's service has been in no tented field until lately but it itha ha has taught him how to fight |
