Today -100: May 23, 1914: I think women are angels

The British government acquires a large stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, to secure a large supply of oil for the Royal Navy. Oil and imperialism, two great tastes that taste great together.

The ABC negotiators are evidently proposing a commission to run Mexico, consisting of three people named by Huerta, Carranza, and the ABC countries (or maybe 5: 2, 2 and 1). This is obviously a non-starter, as the Constitutionalists are clearly winning militarily. Also, the rebels point out that they call themselves the Constitutionalists and do you really think we’d agree to something that so blatantly violates the Mexican Constitution?

Gen. Pasqual Orozco, who led a minor short-lived rebellion against Madero and then Huerta a couple of years ago, is now besieged by a larger force of Constitutionalists.

The NYT helpfully explains, “Human life counts for nothing in Mexico.”

In an interview with the Saturday Evening Post, Woodrow Wilson says, “I hold this to be a wonderful opportunity to prove to the world that the United States of America is not only human but humane; that we are actuated by no other motives than the betterment of the conditions of our unfortunate neighbor, and by the sincere desire to advance the cause of human liberty. ... They say the Mexicans are not fitted for self-government; and to this I reply that, when properly directed, there is no people not fitted for self-government.”

British suffragettes try to set fire to Stoughton Hall in Leicester and blow up the Rosehall United Free Church in Edinburgh, both unsuccessfully. Just as well, since the former was occupied.

Headline of the Day -100: “Suffragists Insult the King and Queen.” During a play a woman calls the king “a Russian Tsar.” (It’s going to be a little awkward that the byword for awful governance will, in a few months, be the UK’s ally in the Great War). Cops tried to grab her, only to find that she had chained herself to the seat. Other women made similar demonstrations every few minutes. One reached the stage and tried to speak, only to be struck by stage fright. As the play (“The Silver King”) continued, the line “I think women are angels” was received with laughter.

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