Arizona weekly citizen., 1896-10-17
LABOR IN MEXICO.

classes in that country. The committe
was composed entirely Of workingmeD
(aud 10 their language) Injured to th'
hard knocks of the factory and th'
workshops, and none are better qualified
to investigate or to feel and sympathizs
with the workers Of another country
than men from their ranks" The re-
port was accepted slmoet unanimously,
only two in the entire sssembIage speak
ing against it. So much has been said
by our popocrstic friends of the wonder
fuI prosperity of Mexico that the report
of this committee at this time is of
peculiar interest and will certainly have
a strong influence among the working
men of the United States.
In making their report the delegates
stated that they had carried out their
mission in an unbiased and bipartisan
manner. and simply pictured the low
state OF the working classes as it is,
without any reference to political ques-
tions.
The pitisble condition Of Mexican
labor, as portrayed in the committee
report, drew forth many calculations of
establishment from the audience.
The wages paid native labor in Mex
leo are the very lowest, ranging from
twelve to fifty cents day, in Mexican
silver. Skilled labor is wholly foreign
and is fairly paid.
The hours of labor for the native have
no limit, save his power OF endurance.
From early morning until late st night
he must be constantly at work to earn
the pittsnce which is the Only bar to
the starvation OF himself and family.
He goes, after his labor for the day ia
completed, to q miserable little but
with four bare adobe walls, the entire
structure, in most instances, not more
than ten feet square, and nothing IL
eide save the bare ground upon Ehich
he sleeps, with q shawl or blanket for
his only covering. Ii he is fortunate
enough to own pig, or chicken, or
dog, these animals universally occupy
portion OF bis room. His food consists
OF tortilIas and beans, and bowl of
coffee upon some special occasion is
looked upon Rs great luxury.
The committee ascertained that the
average cost of the necessities OF life
for Mexican laborer's family is twenty
five csuts. Clothing for the same costs
twenty dollars per year. Neither men,
women, nor children wear stockings.
and only about one third Of the labor
ing population wears sandals, which
are nothing more than piece Of leather
cut in a shspe resembling our shoe
soles, and fastened upon the bottom Of
the feet with leather strings.
It bss been bossted by some Of our
popocratic orators that Mexico has no
poor houses. This committee reports,
however, that the indications OF poverty
and distress are oonspicuously in evid |
ence wherever you 60, and that 'tbe |
voice OF the mendicant supplicating |
aims rang in our ears all through the |
country"
In the cities of Zac8tecas and Guiana
iuato, with populations OF 10000 and |
and 10000 respectively butter and
potatoes were not on the tables, even in
the frst-clsss hotels. Butter, at the
stores was one dollar pound; and the
hotel people told the delegates that if
they wished to purchase butter at that |
price. for their private use, il could be
obtained and cared for.
The committee says that the condi-
tions of the country speak for them.
selvee, and that any one may travel in
Mexico and ascertain the truth of it's
conclusion that the American working.
man lie prince compared to the lsborer
OF Mexico.
1t is almost the time when this talk
of the prosperity OF Mexico will fall on
ears. The working people OF
this country are bound to ascertain the
truth; and this visit Of representative
men of their own number, and the re-
port they make will have a more potent
influence upon the minds of the toilipg
masses of the country than all the talk
Of well~dressed political orators who
gather the material for speeches from
the windows o: special Pullman cars.
The same monetary laws which
govern Mexico, enacted in this country,
will undou btedly produce the same re-
suits. Silver monometallism, which
Bryan and his followers teach go
cannot fail in reducing our
to the came condition as
that described by the Trades Assembly
The only salvation lies in
the election of Mckinley upon the re-
publican platform, which means BIZ
reciprocity, protection and
The most sensible move ever made by
the workingmen OF the United States
was the sending OF this committee into
Mexico. 1t has put the seal of uDtruth
upon the statements OF those political
who, for their personal
ya,p, would place the laborins classes of
Ibis country upon q level with the
suffering masses of free silver Mexico.
- 4
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND, in Minnesota,
r. doing heroic work for Mckinley. In