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The Commoner
VOL. 16, NO. 4
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President Warns in Mexican Situation
An Associated Press dispatch, dated Washing
ton, March 25, says: President Wilson tonight
issued warnings that "sinister and unscrupulous
influences" aro spreading alarming reports about
tho Moxlcan situation with tho object of forcing
intervention by tho United States "in tho inter
est of certain Amorlcan owners of Mexican prop
erties." In a formal statement tho President
told tho peoplo of tho United States to bo on
their guard and not to credit such stories. Ho
urged thoso who dlssemlnato nows to test tho
aourco and authority of every report from tho
border, and called attention again to tho gov
ernment's announcement that tho solo object of
tho punitive expedition now in Mexico was to
punish Villa and his followers.
Nows services supplying newspapers had been
asked, tho President said, to assist in keeping
this view constantly boforo tho Moxlcan and
American people, to tho end that tho expedition
should not bo given tho color of war.
ALARM STORIES SENT OUT
Tho warning was Issued after careful consid
eration by tho Presldont and his advisors of
many official reports fronVfriroughout tho United
States and Mexico, Including consular dispatches,
flaying that tho alarmist stories of tho intentions
of tho Washington government wero having an
undesirable effect upon tho Mexican peoplo and
American residents in the southern republic.
Tho possibility that General Carranza's hand
might bo weakened to a perilous extent should
tho Mexican public misunderstand tho American
expedition has boon a prevailing factor in tho
ontiro operations ngalnst Villa. Tho question
of alarmist reports was considered by tho cab
inet yesterday and the President conferred at
length with Secretary Lansing before ho issued
his warning tonight.
Drastic steps may be takon if the warning is
not heeded. Various suggestions havo been ad
vanced for legal procedure to remedy tho situa
tion, ono measure suggested being invocation of
tho law against circulating of reports calculated
to incito arson and riot.
Tho purpose of tho American commanders was
doscribed as ombraclng co-operation "in every
possible way" with tho forces of General Car
ranza and withdrawal from Mexican territory as
soon as tho object of tho oxpedition is accom
plished. The President solemnly warned tho
peoplo "that there aro persons all along tho
border who aro actively engaged in originating
and giving as wido currency as they can to ru
mors of tho most sensational and disturbing sort
which aro wholly unjustified by tho facts.
THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT
Tho statement of President Wilson follows:
"As has already been announced, tho expedi
tion into Mexico was ordered under an agree
ment with tho do facto government of Mexico for
tho single purpose of taking tho bandit Villa,
whoso forces actually invaded tho territory of
the United States, and in no sense intended as an
invasion of that republic or as an infringement
of its sovereignty.
"I havo therefore asked the several nows scr
Tices to bo good enough to assit tho administra
tion in keeping this view of tho expedition con
etantly before both tho people of this country and
the distressed and sensitive people of Mexico, who
are very susceptible indeed to impressions re
ceived from the American press not only, but
also very ready to believe tha. thoso impressions
proceed from the views and objects of our gov
ernment itself.
"Such conclusions, it must be said, are not
unnatural, because tho main, if not tho only
eourco of information for tho peoplo on both
sides of tho border is tho public press of the
United States. In order to avoid the creation of
erroneous and dangerous impressions in this
way, I havo called upon tho several news agencies
to use tho utmost caro not to givo news stories
regarding this expedition tho color of war to
withhold stories of troop movements and mili
tary preparations which might bo given that in
terpretation and to refrain from publishing un
verified rumors of unrest in Mexico.
"I feel that it is most desirable to impress up
on both our own people and the people of Mex
ico the fact that tho expedition is Bimply a
necessary punitive measure, aimed solely at the
elimination of tho marauders who raided Colum
bus;and also infest an unprotected district near
tho 'border which they use. as a basein making
attacks upon tho lives and property of our citi
zens within our own territory.
"It Is tho purpose of our commanders to co
operate in every possible way with the forces of
General Carranza in removing this cause of irri
tation to both governments and to retire from
Mexican territory so soon as that object is ac
complished. "It is my duty to warn tho people of tho United
StateB that there aro persons all along tho bor
der who are actively engaged in originating and
giving as wido currency as they can to rumors
of the most sensational and disturbing sort which
aro wholly unjustified by tho facts.
"Tho object of this traffic in falsehood is ob
vious. It is to creato intolerable friction be
tween tho government of tho United States and
tho do facto government of Mexico, for the pur
pose of bringing al)out intervention in the inter
est of certain American owners of Mexican
properties.
"This object can not bo attained so long as
sano and honorable men are in control of this
government, but very serious conditions may bo
created, unnecessary bloodshed may result and
tho relations between tho two republics may be
very much embarrassed.
"Tho people of the United States should know
tho sinister and unscrupulous influences that are
afoot and should be on their guard against cred
iting any story coming from the border; and
those who disseminate the news should make it
a matter of patriotism and of conscience to test
tho source and authenticity of every report they
receive from that quarter.
"WOODROW WILSON."
PRESIDENT WILSON ACCEPTS PROPOSAL
"Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
Washington, March 13. The United States
government entered into a formal agreement
with tho do facto government of Mexico today
under which American troops will cross' the
border to hunt down Villa and his bandits with
tho expectation of hearty co-operation from tho
Carranza forces.
Secretary Lansing made public tho text of a
note accepting General Carranza's proposal for
a reciprocal arrangement between the two gov
ernments and that the United States held this
arrangement to be now in force and binding
upon both parties. General Funston will carry
out his task under this agreement.
Official announcement was awaited tonight that
the American force had crossed the border.
Plans for the troop movements havo gone ahead
without regard to the diplomatic exchanges.
INTERVENTION NOT INTENDED
Mr. Lansing also made public a statement is
sued in the namo of President Wilson reiterat
ing that every step being taken by the admin
istration was based on the deliberate intention
to preculdo the possibility of armed intervention
in Mexico.
The statement follows:
"In order to remove any misapprehension that
may exist either in the United States or in Mex
ico, the President has authorized mo to give in
his name the public assurance that the military
operations now in contemplation by this. govern
ment will be scrupulously confined to tho ob
ject already announced and that in no circum
stances will they bo suffered to infringe in any
degree upon tho sovereignty of Mexico or de
velop into intervention of any kind in the in
ternal affairs of our sister republic. On the con
trary, what is now being done is deliberately
Intended to preclude the possibility of interven-
PRESIDENT'S NOTE EXPLICIT
The note to Carranza defines the terms of the
agreement beyond tho possibility of miscon
struction In brief, it provides that where con
ditions arise on tho American side of tho border
similar to those at Columbus, which led to the
orders to General Funston to enter Mexico t e
same privilege will be accorded to tho Mexico
do facto government without the necessity it a
further exchange of views. ,"
It is clearly stated, however, that the Shafts
to bo pursued on American soil by Mexican
troops must havo. come from tho AericaSe'
committed depredations -on-the Mexicln Sv
anded back again to fcojiftk States ierfWo
There is no instance on record in recent years
of such an occurrence.
The note follows:
TEXT OF REPLY
This is the text of the reply to General Car
ranza's proposal, sent to American Consul Silli
man: "The government of the United States has re
ceived the courteous note of Senor Acuna and
has read with satisfaction his suggestion for
reciprocal priviliges to the American and Mex
ican authorities in the pursuit and apprehension
of outlaws who infest their respective territories
lying along the international boundary and who
aro a constant menace to the lives and property
of residents of that region.
"The government of the United States in view
of tho unusual state of affairs which has ex
isted for some time along the international
boundary and earnestly desiring to co-operate
with the de facto government of Mexico to sup
press this state of lawlessness, of which the re
cent attack on Columbus, N. M is a deplorable
example, and to insure peace. and order in the
region contiguous to the boundary between the
two republics, readily grants permission for mil
itary forces of the de facto government of Mex
ico to cross the international boundary in pur
suit of lawless bands of armed men which havo
entered Mexico from the United States, commit
ted outrages on Mexican soil and fled into the
United States, on the understanding that the de
facto government of Mexico grants the recipro
cal privilege that the military forces of the
United States may pursue ' across the Interna
tional boundary into Mexican territory lawless
bands of armed men who have entered the
United States from Mexico, committed outrages
on American soil and fled into Mexico.
IS NOW COMPLETE
"The government of the United States under
stands that in view of its agreement to this
reciprocal arrangement, proposed by the de
facto government, the arrangement Is now com
plete and in forco and tho. reciprocal privileges
thereunder may accordingly be exercised by
either government without further interchange
of views,
"It is a matter qf. sincere gratification, to the
government of the United Spates. ' that the de
facto government of Mexico has evinced so cor
dial and friendly a spirit of co-operation in the
efforts of the authorities of the United States to
apprehend and punish the bands of outlaws
who seek refuge beyond the international
boundary in the erroneous belief that the con
stituted authorities will resent ,any pursuit
across the boundary by the forces of the
government whose citizens have' suffered by the
crimes of the fugitives.
"With the same spirit of cordial friendship
the government of the United States will exer
cise the privilege granted by the de facto gov
ernment in Mexico in the hope and confident
expectation that by their mutual efforts law
lessness will be eradicated and peace and order
ma,inined in the territories of the United States
and Mexico contiguous to the , international
boundary."
BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION
(Continued from Pago 13)
man, rugged and earnest, and like most strong
men he annexed all the jurisdiction he could lay
his hands upon. While his course upon the
bench was in many respects of inestimable good.
ELf JenSii?n? as Marljury v. Madison, the
Dartmouth College case, and. others, he went be
yond the necessities of tho occasion and cer
iI7i beyod far beyond, the authority con-
rJ n the courts by the constitution. Small
er men have extended his doctrines to their log
S?rm5 810n inmore recent cases which have
mn"ie. PubHc conscience, and a restora-
U ?a JUrisd ?tion of the court to its true
bSn dSinfCe8Slty- AS that Juriction has
ewn fd0ned in mof o recent cases, all legislation
nf Tii nGn( S f0r its validity. not upon the win
sfJp i2S?n? aS expresse(1 through congress and
of fio W.tU1'es; but UP01V the economic views
and Pman?fSV t0 wnom "due process of law"
Swlf Protection of the laws" means sim-
SeoJi Tnhb;01 6Ve,is 'op the real good of tho
S52? wl? "ieir.liands the power of the com"
ef,ai;" neither more nor less than
nub lc Xnww ?t0 Upon any expression of the
puWlc -will tht doea not meet 4hoiv flT,WOYali
written"8 fir t0 the constitution" itfjt.ls.
StSS; J$VFess an,(1 the -legislatures
leBlF Wject to 'the' .only restriction .'con'r