MEN WHO MUST DECIDE FATE OF MEXICO
By Morgan Bedford
December 1998 Guadalajara-Lakeside Volume 14, Number 12

Dateline: August 30, 1913.

PRESIDENT WILSON READY TO PASS PROBLEM TO CONGRESS "Every effort is being made by President Wilson and his advisors to settle the Mexican question without resort to arms. Although President Huerta at first refused to accept any suggestions from The United States, he has recanted and has given the President's special representative, John Lind, a cordial reception.

President Wilson submitted to President Huerta a proposition that he resign; that an election be called to select a president for Mexico and that Huerta not be a candidate. These propositions Huerta curtly declined and in a note to this government he rather sneeringly stated that President Wilson represented but a minority of the American people and that the Democratic Party was not in favor of such drastic measures.

Senator Penrose introduced a resolution authorizing the president to send soldiers into Mexico to protect American citizens and American property. Penrose asked for some $25,000,000 for the purpose. The resolution went over and the senators, with one exception (Senator Fall), gave assurance that they would support President Wilson. Senator Fall wants the Mexican question debated and he wants this country's actions to be debated, with vigor and at once.

When the news reached the city of Mexico that President Wilson was preparing a special message to Congress on the situation, which he proposed to read in person, news came from Mexico City through Mr. Lind, that there was a probability of President Huerta submitting some new proposition.

Mexico can get no more credit. The European powers are backing the Wilson policy, and Huerta realizes that he is in dire straits financially. He is sparring for time and trying to find some way out of the dilemma without it appearing to his countrymen that he was ignominiously forced to back down.

While some are insistent that the United States intervene with force, there is a strong sentiment among influential classes opposed to any warlike action, The situation is being handled with tact by President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan, who are displaying much patience. Japan and the Latin-American republics have also endorsed President Wilson's policy with regard to Mexico.

In all quarters, the belief is general that the crucial moment has arrived and indications point to a movement of more troops to the Texas border."

(Editor's note: The article quoted above was recently found in a very old (1913) copy of a publication called "Womens National Weekly." What follows is about the ultimate fate of many of the major players in this international drama.)