The morning call., 1891-10-09
LABOR IN GUATEMALA.

The various aspects which the labor
question is assuming in different parts Of the
world are always interesting. a new meas
ure for the restriction Of European immigra-
ton is being prepared in The East, and will
be laid before Congress shortly after it
assemblies: it is understood that it is free
from the objections which were made to the
Ford Committee Bill, and that it is less i'm
practicable than some of the plans which
have been devised to check gluts in the
Eastern labor market. Meanwhile, the
authorities Of the State Of Guatemala are
confronted with a problem OF a different
kind.
The quality of the coffee raised in Guate-
mala has been improving OF late years, and
in consequence the demand for il has been
growing, anu the area planted in coffee
bushes spreading. Last year Guatemala
produced all the coffee needed for home
consumption, and exported 100000
pounds besides. II the crop had been twice
as large, 1t would all have commanded
market at remUnerauye prices. Hence
planters are straining every nerve to in-
crease their coffee acreage. But they have
enc, untered an obstacle in the shape of
want Of labor. There are 5000 600 people
IL t-4G I've OELb4ul AtlElsGd4 states. lub Ia
one-half of whom ara residents Of Guat3-
mala. But the bulk of these are Indians
and half-breeds who have assimilated to the
Indian type, and they do not admit That the
destiny of man is to work. In that climate,
on that soil, very small amount u labor
suifices to produce food enough TO support
life, and few cents will buy the single
garment which The Indians wear; they pro-
pose TO d. that amount of work and no
more. Having no wants, they rise superior
TO the attractions of money, and disdaiu
wages if they are TO be earned by the sacri-
fee Of idleness.
The planter is thus blocked in his purpose
to extend his plantation. Over 90 per
cent of this years coffee crop, it is stated,
will not be picked for want Of hands. An
American thought be would surmount the
difficulty by Offering his iaborers twice the
normal wages. But the alcalde pointed out
to him that, instead Of attaining his object, the
Indians would only work three days instead
of six, as they would then earn the sum
which they had been accustomed 10 receive.
Six years ago, the authorities in the best
coffee country in the State-Alta Vera Paz
undertook to supply the planters with
labor. But the task appears to be beyond
their capacity. The Indians when called
upon to work emigrated TO Mexico or British
hOnd uTas. a wealthy foreigner who is
working a mine imported some machinery
and tried TO hire Indians TO carry it over
the broken country it had to traverse.
They refused, on the ground that it would
require more consecutive days OF labor than
they felt like giving. He appealed to the
jefe rOlilico, who ordered the Indians to 90
to work. They at first made all sorts Of eX-
cuses, each OF them claiming to be disabled
by some ailmeDt or other. and it was not
till they were threatened with coercion by
troops that they consented to carry the ma
chinery.
Some Of the planters have proposed to
import foreign labor from India or China.
But the Guatemalan Government foresees
that this would probably result in race
war, and it sbTinks from the risk. The
Guatemalsn Indian will not only not work
himself, but he will not let anybody work
in his place, and war is his natural yoca-
ton.
Before the war of the rebellion it used to
be said that the Southern negro was the
same kind OF being, and that he would not
work when the lash Of the slaye-driyer was
withdrawn. This has not proved TO be the
case. The cotton crop has increased stead
lily since reconstruction ended. Last year
it reached 100000 bales, figure which
would have been deemed incredible before
the war. The negro not only works will
ingly for wages or on shares with a white
planter, but lie is learning to grow cotton
on his own account The number Of small
plantations which are owned and cultiya-
ted by negroes is becoming very large,
especially in Mississippi and Alabama. In
fact, after a domiciliation of few genera
lions in this country the negro has become
a very superior being to the mixed race
which has succeeded the pure Indians in
Central America. he has wants, and
energy enough to earn money to supply
them. The mixed races of Spanish-America
have yet to rise to this level of civilization.