Men don't scare very easy when they're fighting to keep other men
from shooting up and burning their homes.
-Don MacGregor
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Wednesday August 25, 1915
From The Wichita Beacon: David Bruce Reports from Chihuahua, Mexico-Part 1
Starving Women & Children, Mexico, Wichita Beacon, Jun 4, 1915.
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In its August 12th edition,
The Wichita Beacon published a report by David Bruce from Chihuahua, Mexico, which describes the measures enacted by General Pancho Villa against certain merchants who charge exorbitant prices for food while thousands of men, women, and children starve all around them.
Hellraisers will republish the article in three parts, beginning today with part one.
From The Wichita Beacon of August 12, 1915:
HOW VILLA DEALS WITH THOSE WHO TAKE
BREAD OUT OF MOUTHS OF POOR
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FIRST COMPLETE STORY OUT OF CHIHUAHUA FROM A MAN WHO HEARD AND
SAW VILLA BREAK FOOD FAMINE---ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED ALL,
YET THOUSANDS STARVE IN CHIHUAHUA!
(Excerpts from a letter written by David Bruce to The Beacon from Chihuahua, Mexico, July 19.)
I may be a bad judge. I may exaggerate the temper of the people. But I believe just now that unless the food that is being held up outside this city for better prices is released, and released quickly, there are going to be riots and the looting of stores in Chihuahua.
I know-it is not a matter of conjecture with me-I know there is enough food in the state of Chihuahua today to feed all northern Mexico. Yet this city is being forced to do without meat, eggs, milk, flour or corn, the while retail dealers shove prices into the sky. And during the 12 days this has continued 27 carloads of cattle were shipped through the city to the states strictly against the executive order of General Villa forbidding the exportation of foodstuffs.
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By David Bruce.
Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico, July 31.-With dramatic suddenness, General Francisco Villa placed every large merchant in Chihuahua under arrest.
The charge against them is extorting money from the people by charging exorbitant prices for the necessaries of life.
The native merchants are now in the penitentiary; the foreign merchants have been ordered to prepared to leave Chihuahua forever on a train for the United States, which General Villa will provide tomorrow.
Every store in the city is closed. The market is open; prices there have dropped from 100 to 300 per cent since morning.
The arrests were made by General Villa in person.
Three weeks ago General Villa sent a message to the merchants here warning them that if they did not stop raising the prices of necessaries of life they would have to answer to him.
No attention was paid to the warning; led by the foreigners, the merchants continued to boost prices; the hunger and the suffering of the poor increased.
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
The Wichita Beacon
(Wichita, Kansas)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
IMAGES
Starving Women & Children, Mexico,
Wichita Beacon, Jun 4, 1915.
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Crucified, Denver Express, after Ludlow Massacre
http://john-adcock.blogspot.com/...
See also:
Don MacGregor + JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/...
"Memoir of a Proud Boy" by Carl Sandburg
http://moapb.weebly.com/
Note: Bruce David is the pen used by Don MacGregor following his service as a General in the Miners' Army during the Colorado Mine War of 1914 which began after the Ludlow Massacre. MacGregor was also the reporter for the Denver Express who described the arrival of the miners and their families at the Ludlow Tent Colony on the first day of the strike.
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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,
This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.
The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.
When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.
When I actually leave for Minnesota, I'll let everyone know.
Solidarity,
JayRaye
Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I'll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I'll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.
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We're Coming Colorado-John McCutcheon
We are fighting for our rights, boys,
We are fighting for our homes,
Shouting the battle cry of union;
Men have died to win the struggle;
They've died to set us free,
Shouting the battle cry of union.
The Union forever, hurrah boys, hurrah!
Down with the gunthugs, and up with the law;
For we're coming, Colorado, we're coming all the way,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Union.
-Frank Hayes
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