Page:Mexico under Carranza.djvu/111

Rh this end they have maintained two centres of propaganda in the United States. One, located in Washington, issues a monthly journal and press sheets at frequent intervals describing in roseate terms alleged conditions in Mexico and descanting upon the beneficent effects of Carranza's sway. This material is circulated among members of Congress, Government officials and others supposed to be more or less influential.

Every number of these publications contains numerous manifestations of one of the most prominent vices of the Latin element of Mexico, and that is mendacity. Probably a sufficient example of this characteristic may be found in a statement in one of these publications to the effect that a recent school census taken in Mexico City showed that a larger percentage of children of school age attended the public schools in that city than were attending the public schools of the city of New York. Of course, this statement to any person acquainted with conditions there was palpably false. Its falseness was quickly demonstrated by news from Mexico City, published in the daily papers of this country a short time after the item referred to appeared, to the effect that many of the schools there had been closed because the government found itself unable to pay the salaries of the teachers.

Another centre of Carranza propaganda was