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56
MEXICO'S DILEMMA

Another demand of the revolutionists has been for "land." Even the present government sympathises with this demand, and the first endeavours of President Carranza to fulfil promises made during his campaign are being made in the little belligerent state of Morelos. It is, in point of size, the smallest state in the Union. When the Spaniards settled in this country they gave to each town and city what was called the "ejidos." This was the granting of one league of land around the original town or city limits to the inhabitants to be worked by the community. During the development of Mexico this league of land has been given to outsiders or to farmers having property nearby. Many towns have lost their "ejidos." This is particularly true in Morelos, and the "good" citizens of this fighting state want back this land. So the present government is attempting a new means of pacification. It is returning this property to the community. Simultaneously the government is announcing that all political rivals, who swear allegiance to the government, will be pardoned. While this movement is having all the success the government anticipated, its progress can only be very gradual because Zapata, like the Germans, is a propagandist. He is telling his followers that if they surrender to Carranza they will be executed. He is warning the farmers that if they desert him they will be downtrodden by the Americans. And the people of Morelos are suspicious of "outsiders."