The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-24

ambassador to Mexico, when he was in Washington a short time ago. Gen. eral Clayton is now seventy years of age, but he does not look sixty, bears no signs of the wear and tear of pub lie life. Still. he has been in the thick of things for more than half century. He comes from a family Of statesmen. The Claytons began to do things in the United States more than 150 years ago. and they have kept pretty we'll to the front ever since. Joshua Clayton came to America with William Penn, and John M. Clayton, the Secretary of State, who made the Clayton -Bulwer treaty was his grand son. Powell Clayton comes from the same branch of the family. He was born in Pennsylvania, went to school at Wilmington, Del, and, like George Washington, started life as civil en- gineer. Washington got s a day for surveying the wilds of Virginia for Lord Fairfax. Powell Clayton got $5 mile for surveying public lands in Kansas in the days just preceding the war. It was his job as a surveyor that took him to the West He was there when the war broke out. He entered the Union army and remained in the service until its close. He started in as a captain and came out brigadier general
  tion in Arkansas, settled there and was elected Governor of the State. He held this position during the exciting period of reconstruction, when he fought a battle royal against the Ku Klux clan. He was elected to the Unit ed States Senate from Arkansas and after that devoted himself to build. ing the Eureka Springs railroad.
 For the past seven years General Clay aI,os fha Init States to Mexico. He was appointed by President Mckinley, and says that he will close his term at the end of the present administration.
 During our conversation I asked him how. he liked the position of ambassa- dor He replied:
 ''The office is a pleasant one, although it carries many responsibilities and also the possibility of doing some good. feel. however that I have had 1t quite long enough. and I am ready to retire. It was my intention to have closed my public life at seventy, but I shall remain until the end of this administration and retire at seventy-two,"
 What will you do then, General?" I asked.
 q don't know. but suppose I will do what most old men do, that is, lead quiet life enjoying my friends My chil-
 
 tkem. have been saving material all my life, and 1t is possible may do that"
 Mexico in 1904.
 What is the condition of Mexico to- day. General7"
 "It is in excellent condition. The peo- ple are prosperous and the country is on a good substantial basis. Times are good, although not so good. perhaps. as here"
 Does the country grow much from year to year?'
 Mexico has a steady natural growth" replied Gen. Clayton. Its population is now about 14.0OO.OOo. and it Is increasing nt the rate of a million every five years. A great majority of the people are na- tive Mexicans, including those descended from the Spanish and Indians. There is no such immigration from Europe as to the United States. The labor conditions there are different and the people who come in have other things to sell than pure muscle. Many come to invest capl- tai in mining or to engage in trade" Peons Who Work for 25 Cents a Day. How about the labor conditions, Gen. eral Clayton? Do the capitalists have much trouble with organized labor?"
 Not at all,'' was the reply. 'The only organized labor in Mexico Is that em-
 
 railways Such men belong to unions. but their organizations are usually branches of the trades unions of the United States. The chief labor of Mexico Is made up of peons. the descendants of the native Indians. They are not like our Indians, being far more industrious and more quiet and easily handled. They do not know what the walking delegate is and as yet strikes and lockouts are com paratively unknown" ,"
 Give me some idea of wages, General" said l.
 Wages are low" replied our Ambas- sador to Mexico. Twenty-Five cents a day Is paid for ordinary farm labor in most parts of the country, and in the fac tories the wages are approximately small, The hours are long and on the farms the men work from sunrise to sun set. with a sesta at noon."
 Chinese Cheap Labor.
 'I see by a recent dispatch that the Chinese are coming into Mexico by the thousands"
 Such statements are probably exag- gerated," was the reply. There are not many Chinese in Mexico. and they are der that the character of those coming in may be carefully investigated"
 What are the Mormons doing in Mex ic?''
 They have three colonies,' replied the ambassador two in the Bravos district of the State of Chihuahua, and one in the district of Arispe in Sonora. There is alos an American colony. not Mormon, in the State of Tamaulipas, which has ben established within the past six months. An of these colonies are in 1ourshing condition and the mormons especially are industrious and thrift"
 About how many foreigners are there in Mexico?"
 Comparatively few. Less than one hundred thousand. I should say"
 Americans in Mexico.
 Are there many Americans?"
 'Yes more than those of any foreign nationality excepting the Spanish There are fifteen or sixteen thousand of our people there. All, so far as I know, re- tain their American citizenship and most come intending to stay only long enough to make their fortunes and then return to the United States"
 What are the Americans dong?"
 'They are interested in all sorts of en- terprIses. Some are opening up gold. silver and copper mines. Others have franchises for street railroads and water works in the,cities. Some are engaged in farming and many are employed in con nection with the railroads. which belong largely to the United States"
 Have many made fortunes?"
 Some have done well, but none have made the enormous sums which are now anliAA fartunes in the United States