No Justice For Americans.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 16, 1913:
Mexico, Says Mining Man, Treats Chinese and Negroes Better.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, July 15.—"Better be a Chinaman, a Jamaica negro, or anything but an American, if you are in Mexico, if you want protection or redress."
    This statement of conditions in Mexico and the alleged failure of the American Government to insist on the protection of Americans or their interests in that revolution-ridden country is made in a letter that has been submitted to Representative J. Charles Linthicum of Maryland by a constituent, one of the largest exporters of mining machinery in Baltimore. The letter is anonymous. Its author withheld his name through fear of injury to himself or his interests in Mexico.
    The letter was sent from New York to the Monarch Engineering and Manufacturing Company, furnace and fuel engineers, of Baltimore, which forwarded it to Representative Linthicum. The Representative, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, informed the company that he would submit the communication to that body at its next meeting. The concern on July 10 wrote to Mr. Linthicum complaining that American business was handicapped by conditions in Mexico.
    "We know to our personal knowledge." said H. D. Harvey, head of the Baltimore company, "that the various mines are holding back in the purchase of equipment of American manufacture."

Engineer Gave Warning.
    The corporation had received a letter from a mining engineer in Mexico saying that most American companies operating in Mexico were talking strongly of throwing their future business to European manufacturers, as American manufacturers had done nothing in the last three years in a systematic way to have or bring about American intervention so as to save their properties and permit the work to go ahead. That letter was published in The Times on July 9, and was read by an operator of Mexican mines now in New York, whereupon he wrote the second letter corroborating the statement in the first letter that American companies in Mexico contemplated placing their orders in the future with European manufacturers on account of the failure of American manufacturers to urge the American Government to protect American interests in Mexico.
    The new letter follows:

    "New York City, July 9, 1913. "H.D. Harvey, Monarch Engineering and Manufacturing Company.
    "Sirs: I notice in The New York Times of even date, clipping herein inclosed, an account of your communication to your representative, Linthicum.
    "With reason, they withheld the name of the writer of the letter. This very thing is the main reason why people heavily interested in Mexico do not write to their Representatives in Congress and the press in the U.S.A., giving data and information of the existing conditions in Mexico, because we know well if we write articles or letters explaining the true condition of affairs and stating our opinion, that if our names are found out, if the Mexican Government finds out the authors of such communications, they could very easily make very difficult situations for the writer, especially when the latter is a heavily interested party financially in business of any kind in Mexico, having, as is well known, no redress whatever on the part of the United States Government.

No Protection, Says Writer.
    "For an American has no protection, on account of being an American, in Mexico — none whatever. Better be a Chinaman, a Jamaica negro, anything but an American, if you are in Mexico, if you want protection or redress.
    "This statement is absolutely true and well known by any one that is a traveler. For instance, there were many American lives lost during the Madero regime revolution; also some 300 Chinamen were massacred in one day at Torreon, Mexico. The Chinamen, on account of representations and demands of the Chinese Government, were allowed several times as much money indemnity per head as was allowed Americans and acquiesced in by the United States Government.
    "These are all deplorable facts, but true, and for all these reasons, being fully understood by many from experiences abroad, many, many Americans disclaim being American in Mexico, and claim to be British or German subjects, because they thus command more respect and freely obtain redress in case of trouble, which is impossible in case they claim to be American citizens. "If you will take the trouble, obtain access to and read the wording and tone of an American passport, and of a British one. It is enough to make an American shudder with shame, and freely shows why Latin-American republics, made up of mostly an illiterate people, should look down on Americans in general, as in comparison with other foreigners, who command them, instead of praying to them.
    "To start with, I, too, would certainly want my name withheld. I am heavily interested in mining in Mexico, and, as you well know, that the greatest industry in that persecuted land is paralyzed at present — not by a revolution prompted by good motives of a downtrodden people striving for independence. No: far from it. It is simply a case where 86 or 87 per cent. of the total inhabitants are illiterates, depraved, and are armed to the teeth, fighting against the class who are educated, enlightened, and the class who should rule: fighting to murder and rob and pillage — no revolution, simply a condition of crime and disorder, of murder, pillage, and burn, with a battle cry by those in great majority, who have nothing except the blanket they carry on their backs, to rob and murder all who have worked and obtained anything to keep them in a future day.
    "President Francisco Madero was no doubt a good man. I think all who personally knew him will say so, but he was a theorist, impractical, a dreamer, very jealous of his nationality, an avowed spiritualist, always conferring with the spirits prior to concluding any important business, and perhaps a little flighty, especially in his latter months of life.

Madero Couldn't Stop Trouble.
    "Poor man! He started something that he could not stop, made promises that he could not fulfill. Armed to the teeth, a majority of his populace, an uneducated people, they sought to govern themselves, but, given a taste of blood, like the lion, are now running wild, getting used to a life of murder, robbery, and pillage, and they — this ravaging horde — refuse to give up their arms and be peaceful. Like the Irishman, they are 'ferninst the Government.'
    "The present revolutionist has utterly no idea of what he is fighting for, and can't tell you, except that he is against the Government, wants all lands divided among the poor, and this includes the Indians; take all from those who have and give to those who have not. The country is in a most deplorable state, now mostly a barren waste, with a famine staring them in the face surely this coming year. Finances have gone, to pieces now, and the biggest of the banks and commercial houses are on a ragged edge.
    "Foreign countries are clamoring at the United States to go in to protect and, if there is a Monroe doctrine, to show it by actions. American interests are devastated everywhere in Mexico, and our United States Government is doing nothing, for that is what they have done — nothing. Then, is it strange that we, representing and owning financial interests of great proportions, sending into Mexico monthly thousands of dollars worth of machinery and maintenance supplies, should turn to the markets of manufacturers in foreign lands, who are trying to do all in their power to cause their respective Governments to protect their clients' interests in Mexico, while the manufacturers of the United States have done nothing to that end, and in fact have throttled all attempts at getting protection from Uncle Sam for our interests?
    "Thus we have no alternative but to trade with a people who reciprocate by trying to protect their clients. Our American manufacturers may expect this. It is a protective, not a retaliative, spirit that has caused this widespread movement in Mexico against American supplies by Americans.

Buyers Expect Protection.
    "It is most natural that the manufacturer with whom you expect to place your orders is the one who tries to enhance and protect your interests, and the flag that protects you in turn is the flag which you will grow to respect. presume you will think this is pretty plain talk. It is, and the time has come, I think, for plain talk and clear, unmasked understanding. I give you ray plain opinion as an experienced operator of mines, more than ten years in Mexico at the head of a concern, one of the largest shippers in Mexico.
    "From this letter I withhold my name or anything to indicate my personality for the reasons first explained. I trust this may help to urge you to force Congress to look into the matter more fully and practically and to determine a manner to pursue so that business can continue in that land of trouble. Sincerely,
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