MESSING AROUND IN MEXICO 



and the practical forever obtrude themselves 

 and spoil the reformer's work just when he 

 rolls up his sleeves, spits on his hands, and is 

 about to show what he can do. In this in- 

 stance, the property owners sat back in their 

 traces and refused to pull the load. 



"Take our land," said they. "We can't 

 exist under such a burden." 



But land was the last thing the government 

 wanted. It began to compromise and, under 

 threat of walking out, the property owners 

 paid what they thought was right or could 

 afford. This, of course, opened the way to 

 unlimited graft, and was seized upon. 



Having failed in these radical experiments, 

 Mexico is now talking about restoring the 

 seized lands to the original owners and rein- 

 stating them upon a productive basis, so that 

 business and the flow of revenue will be re- 

 sumed. When she does that, the circle will 

 have been completed. 



Doc and I hunted hard for those desert 

 sheep, and I've no doubt we would have 

 landed some had it not been for the fact that 

 Carrots had tucked into our grub sack several 

 cans of assorted fish. That tinned sea food 

 spoiled the party. We were on short water 



263 



