Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1937, Page 25

MEXICAN POLITICAL TROUBLE BREWING Land Expropriation Leaves Peons Unsatisfied and Owners Angered. Leon Trotzky’s arrival in Merico, eoming at a time when botl reds and Fascists are showing incrcased activity, has given risc to ¢ new flood of rumors predicting another revolution in Mezico. The back- ground of the present conjused rolitical situation and the leaders of the conflicting forces are dis- cussed here in the second of @ series of four articles by an au- thority on Latin America. BY CARLOS J. VIDELA, Latin American Editor of the North American Newspaper Alliance. < NEW YORK, January 18 (N. In the cotton fields of the great La-| guna district of Mexico, trouble is; brewing. The government has taken ! the lands away from the owners tD give them to the peens, in pursuance | of its program of agrarian reform,| but this action has so far created only il will on one side without entirely satisfying the other. The situation is the Laguna zone is a potential powder barrel, with a fuse running to the City of Mon- terey, in the state of Nuevo Leon, the most important manufacturing center in Mexico. If the government should decide to “reform” this center, the resulting resistance may become | £0 stiff as to ignite the fuse and carry the fire to the Laguna, thus starting a general conflagration. In the Laguna district, a large zone comprising lands in the state of Du- | rango and Coahuila, the radical ele-, ment has been clamoring for the dis- tribution of lands. President Lazaro Cardenas, after a hasty survey, has given the order to expropriate and par- cel the holdings out among the peons and has created special bureaus to administer the project, called “Bancos de Credito Ejidal” (Land Credit Banks). Only Change in Bosses. Now, these measures mean little change for the peons, inasmuch as, in effect, they are only a change of bosses. Instead of the landowner, the Land Credit what to do. | “Cientificos,” from the “power behind the throne,” as had some of the present executive's predecessors. Stepping on the toes of both right and left extremists, he made it clear that he would brook no interference from such quarters. And, fnally, making the National Revolu- tionary party itself toe the line when the occasion arose, President Cardenas has made everybody understand that ! he will obey only one thing—his own prceram. Diaz Episode Recalled. And this brings to mind an episode of the closing years of the nineteenth century, when the late Porfirio Diaz was undisputed dictators of the coun- try, which may have, for purposes of interpretation, a close conncction with the present-cay Mexican powder bar- rel. There were then two political groups in Mexico—the “Liberals,” | headed by Joaquin Baranda, and the headed by Jose Ives| Limantour, who died last year in France. Each group wanted to suc- ceed Diaz, ble, then it wanted Diaz to continue, rather than give way to the other. The astute Diaz had Baranda to dinner one day, and told him that Limantour was his choice. Baranda took it as the most natural thing in the world and changed the subject.| he casually | garded inimical to its interests by ! After dinner, however, but, if this were no feasi- | THE EVENING Mr. President, at what European city you will establish your residence.” “European city?” asked Diaz, sur- prised “I haven't thought of going to Europe.” ‘Oh! Then your excellency will live in the United State.” “No!" Replied Diaz, a little an-| noyed. “I told you I am going to retire from the presidency, but not that I am going abroad.” “Well,” answered Baranda, “now that 1s a most difficult thing. Be- cause, in Mexico, former Presidents have a choice of only two places to go —abroad, or the cemetery. If your excellency will give a thought to our history, you will see that our former Presidents who did not go abroad took permanént residence in a grave.” Left Extremists Incensed. Scon thereafter, Candidates Baranda and Limantour made a graceful exit. A situation paralleling that may pos- sibly arise in Mexico if the present trend of events takes a definite turn toward a final showdown. Cardenas, by softening somewhat the anti- church policy of the National Revo- lutionary pary and “deviating” from some of the more radical features of its program, has incensed the left ex- tremists; by pursuing his land expro- priations and continuing actions re=- | said to Diaz, “You have not told me, ' business, he has made powerful ene- e e e e e ———————————— Banks will tell the peasants| The official program pro- | vides for periodic meetings of repre- | sentatives of the rural workers with representatives of the banks, where the former will be told how things have shaped up during the elapsed time and what measures are contemplated. 1t so happens that irrigation, the most important factor in the exploita- tion of those lands, last year was at- tended to by nature, through floods caused by the unusual high level of the region's rivers What will hap- pen if this phenomenon does not take place this year can easily be sur- mised. Deprived of water and of the technical skill the former man- agement provided. fall prey to acute suffering. From this to uprising there is but one short step. And that is only one cause for po- tential revolt. The political situation in Mexico is becoming confused on other issues, too. President Cardenas has so far had a few successful show- downs with oppositionists, but his suc- | cesses have alienated support from groups that need little prompting to take action. First, he had a sho down with the former *“iron man, maker of Presidents and “supreme chief of the revolution"—Gen. Plu- tarco Elias Calles, now an exile in California; then he had another show- down with the Gold Shirts, a national- istic, semi-Fascist organization, which was ordered disbanded, many of whose members have been arrested and whose chief, Gen. Nicolas Rodriguez, is now an exile in Texas: and finally he had a showdown with the Stalinist wing of the Communist party over the asylum granted Leon Trotzky. | One Party of Consequence. | In Mexico there is but one political | party of consequence—the National | Revolutionary party—which, like the Fascist party in Italy, the National |’ Socialist party in Germany or the STAR, WASHINGTON, mies; and by asserting his independ ence of the inner councils of the offi- cial party, he may be deprived, when the moment arrives, of the help of important sectors of the party. ‘To the many rumors about an im- pending revolt south of the Rio Grande, this answer is reasonable—if President Cardenas succeeds in firmly stamping out the discordant elements and swaying at the same time a suffi- ciently powerful part of the country in his favor, the chances of an insur- rection succeeding may be discounted; but if his actions continue irritating various groups that can be welded to- gether in violent action by strong counter-leadership, then the revolt may be a fact sooner than one realizes. At the present moment, it seems that developments hinge upon what action Cardenas decides to take in the manu- facturing region of Monterrey. (Copyright. 1937. by the North American New. r Alliance. Inc.) business on a prosperity basis. SOAP and OINTMENT Wardrobe Trunks $45.00 Wardrobe Trunks Standard size fiber covered wardrobe mann, trunk the district may | by Harte 539.95 $65.00 Wardrobe Trunks Covered in swanky standard canvas . . . striped size, 149" $110.00 Wardrobe Trunks Heavy de luxe fiber covered, standard size . . . Panama top. $35.00 Hand Wardrobes Covered in swanky Sturdy, canvas, weight. © Mail Orders Filled 584.95 524.95 striped light Open a Charge Account IS 1314 F Street N.W. Communist party in Russia, runs the |’ country. The National Revolutionary party has the wunlimited support of | the administration. If opposition de- velops, it is quickly branded ‘“re- actionary.” and if it persists and, de- &pite the Central government's dictum, attains a victory at the polls, the election is “nullified,” as happened not long ago in the State of Nuevo | Leon, and new elections held. The Mexican revolution (by is known the movement started in 1910 by Francisco Madero) has a| slogan—*Free suffrage, no re-election” | (of the same President). That free | such |/ elections and the existence of a single |- government-backed party cannot very |’ Wwell be reconciled is evident. | Putting aside, therefore, the demo- |7 cratic principle inherent in the re- publican system of government, Mexican question resolves itself into & matter of personal leadership of | the official party. President Cardenas has shown himself to be a stronger leader than the country suspected. “Cracking down” on Calles, he showed / he was not mcpaled to take orders ’ OMMON colds often settle in le C throat and chest. Don't take -eh::l:fis A)o:l t lg them go untreated | At the first sniffle rul ¥ é&terole. b on Children’s hildren’s Musterole is just good ' Musterole, only in rml{ier f‘arm‘% lt Penetrates the skin with a warm- fag tingle and gets such marvelous results because it’s NOT justa salve, ut a “coun“r-lnlllnl"—help- | in drawing out local congestion and pain. Used by millions for 25 years. Rec- ommended by many doycton and nurses. All druggists. In three | strengths: Regular Strength, Chil- dren’s (mlld), and Extra Strong. Tested and approved by Good House- keeping Bureau, No. 4867, S NN S N PN the‘ 7 Irish Free Sta(~ starts 1937 with | D. C, FORMER D. C. WOMAN - DIES IN CONNECTICUT Mrs. Caroline Jenkins Andrews, 70, Was Widow of Episcopal Rector at Guilford.. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1937. in Christ Episcopal Church, Guilford. Mrs. Andrews was the widow of Rev. Dr. William Given Andrews, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Guilford. She was the daughter of the late Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins, U. 8. N. Surviving Mrs. Andrews are a sister, Mrs. Antonia Thornton Converse of this city and Warrenton, Va., and a brother, Capt. Presley Thornton Jen- Funeral services for Mrs. Caroline | ging Jenkins Andrews, 70, former Wash- e ey s ington resident, who died last Tuesday in Guilford, Conn., were held Friday Dublin is warring on fire looters. via the "EVERGLADES' The fastest non-stop troin via any railroad. Leaves Washington 9.00 A.M. daily Arrives Jacksonville same day, and Miami, Tampa and St. Petersburg early the next morning. Thru Sleeping Cars, Dining Cars and Coaches. GEORGE P. JAMES, General Passenger Agent 735 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Tel. National 7835 'ATLANTIC COAST LINE THE STANDARD RAILROAD OF THE SOUTH DUMB MOTORIST HELD Reason for Silence Is Found Not Drunkenness. AURORA, IIl. 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