The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 79, July 1975 - April, 1976 Page: 5
528 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Destruction of the Mexican Cattle Industry 5
some of the border towns, United States resident could also cross into
Mexico to purchase low-priced beef with money which augmented revolu-
tionary coffers.14 Such action proved a typical ploy to avoid prohibitions on
Mexican stock entering the United States.
Seizure of livestock continued through the fall of I9I3 as Carranza's
growing forces found their needs for arms and food supplies steadily in-
creasing. In October, one United States-owned cattle company in Baja
California armed its men, hoping to protect cattle from unwarranted seizure
by revolutionaries or bandit bands. General Alvaro Obreg6n, commander
of the Army of the Northwest, declared that these men consciously aided
Huerta and would, therefore, be treated as traitors. The United States
consul at Ensenada, Claude C. Guizant, however, declared that "it is
natural that this company should arm their several hundred employees for
their own protection." In addition, he stated, such a move was not made
"with any intention to aid the de facto Government of Mexico.""'
Fighting against Huerta progressed to a successful conclusion by July,
1914. Huerta embarked for Europe, and the tempestuous alliance between
Carranza and Villa approached a rupture. Mid-September found Villa and
Carranza at nearly irreconcilable odds. Relations continued to disintegrate,
and by October I, open hostility seemed inevitable. Such a condition made
the sale of confiscated cattle difficult, especially for Carranza. Villastas
controlled the major railhead at Ciudad Juirez and refused to allow carran-
cista shipments into El Paso.'6
Livestock owners quickly realized that if they wanted to see a modicum
of profit from their stock they would need to ship cattle into the United
States. Such massive shipments would leave revolutionary forces without
a source of money and food supplies. In late May, I914, General Pablo
Gonzalez, commander of the Army of the Northeast, prohibited private
exportation of cattle from Mexico to the United States through areas under
his control. Violations were punishable by confiscation of entire herds and
by one to five years imprisonment.?
The struggle for supremacy in the Revolution ultimately went to Carranza
in October, 195. Once entrenched in power, he organized a government
in an attempt to restore a semblance of order to Mexico's torn social and
political fabric. He did not succeed, however, in routing corruption even
14Ellsworth to Bryan, August 9, 1913, File 6i 1.15/8, RG 59.
15Louis Hostetter to Bryan, October 2, I913, File 8r .00/9353, ibid.; Claude C.
Guizant to Bryan, November 8, I913, File 812.00/9729, ibid.
16Z. L. Cobb to Bryan, October I, 1914, File 611.125, ibid.
17William P. Blocker to Bryan, October 14, 1914, File 812.00/13541, ibid.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 79, July 1975 - April, 1976, periodical, 1975/1976; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101203/m1/23/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.