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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Thursday August 26, 1915
From The Wichita Beacon: David Bruce Reports from Chihuahua, Mexico-Part 2
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 is republishing the article in three parts; we began yesterday with part one and continue today with part two.
From The Wichita Beacon of August 12, 1915:
"HOW VILLA DEALS WITH THOSE TAKE BREAD
OUT OF MOUTHS OF POOR"
-Part 2 by David Bruce
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General Villa
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One week ago, General Villa called a meeting of the merchants of Torreon, and ordered three of them executed for selling goods for American gold.
Still the merchants of Chihuahua continued to raise prices, and the people hungered in the midst of plenty.
Last night, General Villa reached Chihuahua. In this morning's [July 31] local newspaper appeared a notice "inviting" all merchants to attend a meeting in the governor's palace (statehouse) at noon today.
The merchants flocked to the meeting. They crowded into the palace, laughing and joking. They fought each other to get into the governor's reception room, where the meeting was to be held.
Minister of Finance Escudero called the meeting to order. All the time he talked, a hum of conversation went up from the audience.
Suddenly, a stocky, common looking man stepped from a rear room and took the platform. It was Villa. A hush fell over the crowded hall.
And at the same moment, armed guards appeared at every door in the palace.
The faces of the merchants went white. Villa stood surveying them for a long minute before he spoke.
"I called you here to tell you you are in Mexico," he said. "In Mexico we use Mexican money. Some of you have forgotten that.
"You have charged for the necessaries of life in American gold, and as a consequence the people starve.
"You are robbers!
"There was a time when I was forced into banditry. But never, in my greatest extremity, did I take the bread from the mouths of the poor, nor the clothes from their backs.
"That is what you have been doing. I am going to stop it."
A man. white-faced, trembling, rose and made a move for the door.
"Sit down!" said Villa. "You are all under arrest."
There was another long silence. The faces of the native merchants were gray. They were remembering-too late-the fate of the merchants of Torreon. The foreigners looked at each other, and there was fear in their eyes.
[Photograph added.]
~~~~~~~~~~
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/...
General Pancho Villa
https://en.wikipedia.org/...
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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Ludlow Massacre - John McCutcheon
The state soldiers jumped us in a wire fence corners,
They did not know we had these guns,
And the Red-neck Miners mowed down these troopers,
You should have seen those poor boys run.
-Woody Guthrie
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