The Idaho Springs siftings-news., April 25, 1914, Image 6

About The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??

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WILSON’S
MESSAGE
RECITES NATURE OF INSULTS
AND GIVES INFORMATION
ON PLAN OF CAM
PAIGN.
FRIENDLY TO MEXICO
Will Use Army and Navy to Such an
Extent as to Force Huerta's Full
Recogn.tion of the Dignity
of This Nation.
W>»tern N>»*pap«r Union N*w» B*r\lc*
Washington, April 21. President
Wilson laid the Mexican situation be
fore Congress Monday in these
words:
“Gentlemen of the Congress: “It;
is rny duty to call your attention to a
situation which has arisen in our
dealings With Gen. Victoriano Huerta
at Mexico City, which calls for action,
and to ask your advice and co-opera
tion in acting on it.
“On the Oth of April a paymaster
of the U. S. S. Dolphin landed at the
Iturbide bridge landing at Tampico,
with a whaleboat and boat's crew to j
take off certain supplies needed by i
his ship, and while engaged in load
ing the boat, was arrested by an of
fleer and squad of men of the army
of General Huerta. Neither the pay
master nor any one of the boat’s crew
was armed. Two of the men were
in the boat when the arrest took
piace, and were obliged to leave it '
and submit to being taken into cus
tody, notwithstanding the fact that
the boat carried, both at her bow and
WOODROW WII SON
at her rtern. the flag of the United
States. The officer who made the ar
rest, was proceeding upon one of the
streets of the town w ith his prisoners
when met by an officer of higher au
thority. who ordered him to return to
the landing and agait orders, and with
in an hour and a half from the time
of the arrest, orders were received
from Huerti ta forces at Tampico for
the release of the paymaster and his
men.
“The release was followed by apol
ogies from the commander and later
by an expression of regret by General
Huerta himself. General Huerta
urged that martial law obtained at
the time at Tampico, that orders had.
been issued that no one should bo
allowed to land at the Iturbide
bridge, and that our sailors had no
right to land there. Our naval com
manders at the port had not been no
tified of any such prohibition, and.
even if th* y had been, the only jus
tifiable course open to the local au
thorlties would have boon to request
the paymaster and his crew to with
draw and to lodge a protest with the
commanding officer of the fleet. Ad
miral Mayo regarded the arrest as so
serious an affront that he was not
satisfied with the apologies offered,
but demanded that the flag of the
United States be saluted with special
ceremony by the military commander
of the port.
“The incident cannot be regarded
as a trivial one, especially as two of
the men arrested were taken from
the boat itself that Is to say, from
the territory of the United States; but
had it stood by itself, it might have
been attributed to the ignorance or
arrogance of a single officer.
“Unfortunately it was not an isolat
ed case. A series of incidents has re
cently occurred which cannot cut cre
ate the impression that the represen-
California Wires for Border Guards.
Dos Angeles, Calif., April 20.—Re
ceiver W. H. Holabird of the Califor
nia Development Companv telegraphed
4 demand for the immediate placing
of troops at Calexico to Major General
Arthur Murfray, Adjutant General E.
A. Forbes of the California National
guard and to Governor Hiram W.
Johnson last night. He said troops
were necessary for protection of the
company’s water system, supplying
30.000 people in the Imperial valley.
tatives of General Huerta were will
ing to go out of their way to show
disregard for the dignity and rights
of this government, and felt perfectly
safe In doing what they pleased, mak
ing free to shew* in many ways their
irritation and contempt.
'A few days after the incident at
Tampico an orderly from the United
Siat* s Steamship Minnesota was ar
rested at Vera Cruz, while ashore in
uniform to obtain the '-hip's mail, and
was for a time thrown in jail.
An official dispatch from this gov
ernment to its embassy at Mexico
City was withheld by the authorities
of the telegraphic service until per
emptorily demanded by our charge
d'affaires in person.
' So far as I can learn, such wrongs
[and annoyances have been suffered to
occur only against representatives of
the United States. I have heard of no
complaints from other governments of
similar treatment. Subsequent ex
planations and formal apologies did
not and could not alter the popular
.mpression which It is possible it bad
been the object of the Huerista au
thorlties to create, that the govern
inent of the United States was being
! singled out, and might b*- singled out
with impunity, for slights and af
' fronts in retaliation for its refusal to
j recognize the pretensions of General
Huerta to be regarded as the consti
tutional provisional president of the
republic of Mexico.
"Th** manifest danger of such a sit
uation was that such offenses might
grow from bad to worse until some
thing happened of so gross and intol
erable a sort as to lead directly and
inevitably to armed conflict. It was
necessary that the apologies of Gen
eral Huerta and his representatives
should go much farther, that they
should be such as to attract the atten
tion of the whole population to their
significance, and to Impress upon Gen
eral Huerta himself the necessity of
seeing to it that no further occasion j
for explanations and professed regrets
should arise. I, therefore, felt it my
duty to sustain Admiral Mayo in the
whole of his demand and to insist that
the flag of the United States should
be saluted In such away as to indi
cate a new spirit and attitude on the
part of the Hueristas.
“Such a salute General Huerta has
refused, and 1 have come to ask your
approval and support in the course I
now propose to pursue.
“This government can, I earnestly
hope, in no circumstances I** forced
into war with the people of Mexico.
Mexico Js torn by civil strife. If we
are to accept the tests of its own con
stitution, it has no government. Gen
eral Huerta has set his power up in
the City of Mexico, such as it is, with
out right, and by methods for which
there can be no justification. Only
part of the country is under his con
trol. If armed conflict should unhap
pily come as a result of his attitude
of personal resentment towards this
government, we should be fighting
General Huerta and those who adhere
to him and give their support, and
our object would be only to restore to
the people of the distracted republic j
the opportunity to set up again their
own laws and their own government.
“But I earnestly hope that war Is
not now in question. I believe that I
speak for the? American people when I
; say that we do not desire to control
in any degree the affairs of our sister
republic. Our feeling for the people
of Mexico is one of deep and genuine
friendship and everything that we
have so far done or refrained from do
ing has proceeded from our desire to
help them, not to hinder or embarrass
them. We would not wish even to
' exercise the good offices of friendship
without their welcome and consent.
The people of Mexico are entitled to
settle their own domestic affairs In
their own way and we sincerely desire
to respect their rights. The present sit
uation need have none of the grave
implications of interference if we deal
with it promptly, firmly and wisely.
“No doubt 1 could do what is neoes
• sary in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government without re
course to the Congress and yet not ex
ceed my constitutional powers as
president; but I do not wish to net in
a matter of so grave consequence ex
cept in close conference and co-opera
ion with both the Senate and House.
I, therefore, come to as!c your ap
proval that I should use the armed
forces of the United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may
be necessary to obtain from General
Huerta and his adherents the fullest
recognition of the rights and dignity
of the United States, even amidst the
distressing conditions now’ unhappily
obtaining in Mexico.
“There can in what we do be no
thought of aggression or of selfish ag
grandizement. I seek to maintain the
'dignity and authority of the United
States only because we wish always
to keep our great Influence unim
paired for the uses of liberty, both in
the United States and wherever els_e
it may be employed for the benefit of
mankind. ”
The President finished reading his
i address at 3:12 p. m„ and left the
« hamber amid a roar of applause and
' cheers.
UNIFORMTIY IN LAWS.
Will Be Discussed by Governors at
Wisconsin Meeting.
Madison, Wis.—Uniformity in legis
lation on matters affecting corpora
tions, extradition and several other
matters are to be discussed at the
seventh annual conference of state
executives to be held in Madison,
June 9. 10, 11 and 12, and in Milwau
kee, June 13 and 14, according to an
nouncement. Thifty governors already
have signified that they will attend.
THE IDAHO SPRINGS SIFTIXGS-NEWS.
Vera Cruz 1h the chief port of Mexico and the duties collected mere have been relied upon by Huerta to pay
much of his expenses of war and government. American and other foreign warships have been stationed there for
many months
ENVOY GETS
PASSPORTS
GEN. HUERTA ORDERS AMERICAN
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES NELSON
O’SHAUGHNESSY OUT
OF MEXICO.
FACTIONS TO FIGHT U.S.
GEN. CARRANZA PROTESTS TO
PRESIDENT WILSON AGAINST
AMERICANS OCCUPYING
VERA CRUZ.
We*tern Newspaper Union N>w» .Service.
Washington. April 23. - Nelson O-
Shaughnessy. the American charge
at Mexico City, has been handed his
passports by General Huerta and is
preparing to leave Mexico City.
Huerta's handing of passports to |
Charge O’Sbaughnessy was regarded i
as a most sensational development in j
the situation and it was believed to
forecast a declaration of war on the |
part of Huerta The giving of pass-1
ports to a minister or charge d'affaires
in lAost cases, though not invariably.
NELSON O’SHAUGHNESSY
Nelson O'Shaughnessy, American
charge d'affaires in Mexico City, tried
his best to show Huerta the serious re
sults that would follow his refusal tc
order a salute to the American flag at
Tampico, but failed.
has preceded a declaration of war.
Charge O’Shaughnessy telegraphed
the State Department under date of
Wednesday night as follows:
"Having been given my pass
ports, I am leaving tomorrow
night or Friday morning."
BULLETINS.
Washington.—lt was reported here
that the army and navy board had
recommended the restoration on the
embargo on arms at the Mexican bor
der and that the matter had been
taken up with Secretary Bryan, who
now has it under consideration.
Tampico. —Grave fears are felt here
for the safety of hundreds of Ameri*
r, c many women and
children, in the oil camps at Topila
and other river points and interior
camps.
VIEW OF THE HARBOR OF VERA CRUZ
Although the message from the
charge was not given out until 3.20
a m , it was generally believed it had
been in possession of officials for at
least three hours and that this was
SENOR DON ANGEL ALGARA
one of the subjects discussed when j
the President and Secretary Bryan
were awakened and talked over the ■
telephone about the Carranza note. j
Charge Algara already had received
an intimation from his government j
that he was to use his own judgment
about quitting Washington, and it is
probable that when he learns of J}\e
prospective departure ol O’Shaugh
nessy he also will leave. 1
The message from O’Shaughnessy
closely followed the receipt of a letter
from General Carranza, Mexican rebel
chief, addressed to President Wilson.
It contained a direct demand for rec
ognition and a threat to unite the en
tire Mexican people in war against the
United States unless Vera Cruz were
evacuated at once.
President Wilson Called From Sleep.
At 1:30 o'clock this morning Presi
dent Wilson was awakened by Secre
tary Tumulty and the contents of the
Carranza note conveyed to him. Forty
minutes later the President and Sec
retary Bryan were in conference bj
telephone.
Secretary of War Garrison. Secre
tary Tumulty, General Wotherspoon,
who became chief of staff of the army
yesterday, and Assistant Secretary of
War Breckenridge were in conference
at the 6ame time in Garrison's office
About 2:30 o'clock, when the confer
ence between Secretary Garrison and
the others concluded. Secretary Garri
son and Secretary Tumulty entered a
waiting automobile and drove away.
As General Wotherspoon and Brecken
ridge left, the general stopped in the
telegraph room.
To Strengthen Forces on Eorder.
General Wotherspoon declined to
discuss the subject, of the embargo
on arms. He said no orders for the
movement of troops had been issued,
but that the border forces might be
strengthened at certain points, partic
ularly along the Imperial valley. In
this valley is located a great govern
ment irrigation project.
It. was reported about the state, war
and navy building that word had come
of several large shipments of arms
nearing the border for the Constitu
tionalists, and that the army officers
desired the embargo restored before
morning. It probably will be done.
This new emergency shattered what
had settled down to a comparatively
Secretary Daniels said that no or- j
ders had been given to sieze Tampico
and that Rear Admiral Badger’s in
structions were not sufficiently broad
to take the customs house there un
less an emergency arose. Further
steps in reprisal have not been decid
ed upon.
Topeka, Kan. —A crowd of high
school boys and girls In a patriotic
demonstration caught five Mexican
railway laborers on the street and
made each one salute the American
flag
i aim situation in administration cir
cles With a receipt of a message
from Admiral Fletcher, stating that
Vt ra Cruz had been taken completely
after a brief engagement Tuesday
morning, the President and his advis
ers settled down to a determination to
•‘sit tight” tor a while.
Eight more Americans were killed
and many wounded at Vera Cruz,
bringing the total American casualties
to twelve dead and fifty wounded. It
was estimated the Mexican losses
would be nearly 300 dead.
Rebels Menace to States on Line.
General Carranza’s note to Presi
dent Wilson declared the seizure of
Vera Cruz by American forces a vi
olation of the national sovereignty of
Mexico; ordered the United States to
suspend hostile operations and with
draw its forces, and declared the Con
stitutionalist government should re
ceive demands for reparation of of
tenses committed by Huerta.
This opposition to the American
government’s action, coming from an
unexpected quarter, alter the Wash
ington administration had hoped
an attitude of neutrality and passive
observation from the constitutional
ists. brought the government face to
face with hostility from the great body
of Mexican forces lying in proximity
to the southern tier of the United
States.
Secretary Bryan received the Car
ranza note at his home just before
midnight. Secretary Garrison and
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge, who
were waiting at the War Department,
were given copies of the message.
Secretary Tumulty, who was asleep,
hurried to the War Department, and
Major General Wotheispoon, chief ot
GENERAL HUERTA
staff of the army, was summoned to
join ihe conference. Later the Presi
dent was awakened.
Precautions to Prevent Uprisings.
Precautions to prevent uprisings on
the border as a result of Carranza’s
opposition to the American govern
ment’s course w'ere also believed to be
under consideration.
The joint army and navy board
which met early in the day, it is un
! derstood, will recommend the restora
! tion of the embargo on arms into
' Mexico.
Plans thus far made by the Army
I and Navy Board to secure reprisals
from Huerta had contemplated no
i move along the American border, as
St. Louis, Mo.—A few minutes after
the dispatches told that four Ameri
cans had been killed during the taking
of Vera Cruz Tuesday, fifty Spanish-
American war veterans met here and
organized the nucleus of what is to be
known as the volunteer regiment of
St. Louis.
San Francisco, Cal—Richter Camp
No. 2, Spanish war veterans, wired an
offer to President Wilson of a full
company of trained men for service in
Mexico in the event of war.
Mexico Situation Summarized.
Nelson d'ShauKhncspy. the Amer
ican charge d'affaires at Mexico
Citv. has been handed his passports
by Provisional President Huerta.
This is an act of war
O'Shaughnessy is prepar.ng to
leave th* Mexican capital.
General Carranza, supreme chief
of the rebels in Mexico, address.-* a
letter to President Wilson protest
ing against the occupation of Vera
Cruz, demanding recognition of h .-
governrm nt. and threatening to
unite th. -entire Mexican peopi-- :u
war against the United States
Second battle at V*ra Cruz r>e
tween reinforced American inarm s
and .Mexican sharpshuottrs results
in killing of eight more American-;
and seriously w ounding thirty M -\
:■ .ilosses are placed at n<-ar!;.
three hundred dead and many
wounded.
Vera Cruz now in complete pus
s' -s on of the United States forces,
with military government in oper
ation and conditions rapidly resum
ing their normal aspect.
Plans are being made to strengtn
• n the troops along the Mexican
border to prevent uprisings against
A meric*ns.
President Wilson. Secretary Br> -
an. army chief and other officials
in conference at an early hour
Thursday morning considering
troop plans, restoration of arm
. nibargo and other matters, c-n
le - ted with new crisis.
States planning to protect their
lines from Mexicans
Arizona militia on duty and Gov
ernor Johnson of California orders
nine companies of state troops to
tin- Imperial Valley where vas'. irri
gation projects are menaced.
A private dispatch received at
New York early Thursday morning
from Mexico i ity said that mobs
were forming in the capital for an
ant i- A meric an demonstration.
it was not desired to make any dem
onstration that might be regarded by
the Constitutionalists as directed to
ward thorn.
The Carranza letter, however, con
firmed the fears of many officials
that the rebels might side with Hu
erta. This was the one possibility
which had been discussed in adminis
tration circles as the most serious
phase of the situation.
Action by Congress approving the
President’s course in using the array
and navy in view of the situation he*
had presented in his message, and the
receipt of details of fighting at Vera
Cruz were the chief developments of
the day. Officials expressed them
selves as greatly pleased with the
promptness of Rear Admiral Fletch
er's forces in taking possession of
Vera Cruz and restoring order there.
Future steps are uncertain. The
President has determined that his
course shall be gradual. No orders
have been issued to seize the customs
house at Tampico. It is the purpose
of the administration to keep order
in Vera Cruz and await the full ef
fect on Huerta of the first act of re
prisal by the American government.
There is every reason to believe
that the railroad running inland from
Vera Cruz for twenty miles, together
with a valuable trestle, will be policed
by American marines and blue jackets.
This section of the railroad Is of su
preme importance should future de
velopments require a movement on
Mexico City.
Volunteers for service in Mexico will
not be called for unless there is a
formal declaration of war by Congress.
This was announced in the House by
Chairman Hay of the House military
affairs committee.
Movements of the navy were con
tinued. The Navy Department feels
that a sufficient force of marines is
on the way not only to take care of
the situation at Vera Cruz, but of
Tampico, too. if the order is given for
the seizure of the customs house
there.
At 3:15 a. m. the Navy Department
issued the following
“ Official list of casualties of Amer
icans at Vera Cruz yesterday, which is
in addition to the four dead and twem
ty injured recorded Tuesday:
Dead.
R. Percy, private marine corps.
L. O. Fried, ordinary seaman.
W. I. Watson, ordinary seaman.
F. P. Delow-ry, seaman.
A. S. Steam, ordinary seaman.
C. A. Smith, ordinary seaman.
C. G. Defabir, gunner’s mate, third
class.
Frank Devorick. ordinary seaman.
Another statement issued by* the
Navy Department said:
“A dispatch from Rear Admiral
Badger received at 3:40 a. m., reports
that the flag of truce was repeatedly
violated by the Mexican Federals. It
adds that there has been little firing
since 11 a. m., Wednesday, and that
the city is under control.”
PRESIDENT ASKS $500,000.
Wilson Sends Message to Congress
Requesting Help for Refugees.
Washington.—ln a special message
to both houses of Congress the Presi
dent asked an appropriation of sso<>.-
"00 for bringing of Americans out of
Mexico.
The message was as follows:
"In view of the exigency created by
the existing situation in the Republic
of Mexico 1 recommend, the immediate
passage by Congress of an act appro
priating $500,000, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, to be placed at
the disposal President for the
purpose of providing means to bring
to their homes in the United States
\meriean citizens now' in Mexico."
Without a dissenting vote the House
r-assed a bill by Representative Fitz
gerald. providing for the approprio
ion of J50p,000 for the relief of Amer
ican citizens in Mexico, including
their transportation to their homes.
Greenville, Pa.—Auksentic Darogau
tls, a Russian, is dead because he re
fused to salute the American Hag
along with other boarders at the home
of Steve Cristof. Leo Dilot was ar
rested In connection with the shooting,
ing.
Tokio.—Japanese government offi
cials declared that the attitude of the
Japanese government in the Mexican
situation was naturally one of strict
neutrality.