Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-09-19
MEXICO'S
PROSPERITY"
A BIG EMPLOYER OF LABOR THERE
EXPLAINS THE FACTS.

Prosperity All ON the Side OF the EN-
ployers-Dus Mainly TO Cheap Labor.
wages Go Down as silver Depreciates.
Mexican workman Saves Nothing and
Has No Hopes of Wealth.
An insight into the prosperity" in
Mexico which the silverites are telling
MS so much about just now is furnished
In a letter in the New York Even.
ing Post from a man who is a big
is acquainted with the people there
and their past and present conditions.
Speaking of labor ard wages in free sill
yer Mexico, he says:
The real reasons of Hexico's present
prosperity are the great natural re-
sources Of the country, a stable gov
eminent free from constant political
changes, President Diaz having been just
elected for his fifth term, and the cheap
ness of labor, and Of all these factors
cheap labor is the greatest.
Before the fall in silver the Mexican
dollar was worth in exchange for gold
rather more than 100 cents United
States currency. 1t is now only worth
3d. to 81 cents United States currency.
Yet all over. Mexico the workingman
gets today the same wages in silver as
he got when the silver dollar was at
par. In one concern in Mexico where
employ 500 men we are now paying just
the same amount in silver dollars as we
did years ago, though for our product
we are getting just the same price in
gold as we did then.
Now, though the workman only gets
dollar worth 531s cents in place Of
the dollar that used to- be worth 100, all
articles of commerce have risen from so
to 100 per cent Who gains by this?
The capitalist, of course
A manufacturer, coffee grower or
a mine owner Except silver mine
owner) can produce an article for which
he gets paid on a gold Parity, but he
pays his workmen in deprecated silver,
or only about one-half he did before.
No wonder on such basis Mexican in
dustries are making rapid strides but
at whose expense? That Of the working
classes. The average daily wages in
Mexico today for unskilled labor is %
to so cents, and for skilled labor so
cents to 81 Mexican currency, or the
equivalent of about 10 to 20 and 26 to
81 cents United States currency.
"Now, these Mexican workmen are
by no means an unhappy or disconnected
class. On the contrary, they live with
as much freedom from care as the birds
of the air. They have no fears, no hopes,
no ambitions Their wants are few--a
cotton suit, a serape, straw hat and
sandals for their wardrobe, maize cakes
and beans for their food, and AN occa-
sional spree ON mescal or pulque, with
plenty of tobacco, which he gets dirt
cheap; that is all.
"The Mexican workman as long az
he is punctually paid does not grumble
or kick. Ee asks himself no questions
as to what his employer makes. Strikes
and labor combinations are unknown.
He never saves anything, SO the accre-
ton of wealth docs not trouble him, and
he knows nothing about spring beds,
porterhouse steaks or pianos. AS have
said, he lives as contentedly and uncon-
cerned for the morrow as bird, never
looking forward and never looking back
ward, till the day comes when he is,
coffinless, wrapped in his cotton suit
and serape and laid to rest.
"When the American workman is
willing to do likewise, / will grant him
all the arguments he likes to put for
ward about Mexican prosperity.