Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23
MEXICO IN 1904
It's a Land of Low Wages
and No Strikes.
GENERAL PROSPERITY
A COUNTRY THAT'S RICH IN
MINES AND RANCHES.
Talk With the American Ambassador
The Day of Revolutions
Has Past.
GENERAL PROSPERITY

Copyright 1904, by Frank G. Carpenter)
Written for The Evening Star.
/ met Gen. Powell Clayton, our ambassa-
dor to Mexico, when he in Washington
a short time ago. General Clayton is now
seventy years of age, but he does not look
sixty and bears no signs of the wear and
tear of public life. Still. he has been in
the thick of things for more than half a
century. He comes from a family OF
statesmen. The Claytons began to do
things in the United States more than 1oO
years ago and they have kept pretty well
to the front ever since. Joshua Clayton
came to America with William Penn, and
John NJ. Clayton. the Secretary of State,
who made the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, was
his grandson.
Powell Clayton comes from the same
branch of the family. He was born in
Pennsylvania. went to school at viii
mington, De-. and, like George Wash
ington, started life as a civil engine.
Washington got s. day for SURVEYING.
the wilds of Virginia for Lord Fairfax.
Powell Clayton got s. a mile for surveying
public lands in Kansas in the d iys just
preceding the war. 1t was his job as sur
veyor that took him to the west. He was
there when the war broke out. He entered
the Union army and remained in the serv-
ice until its close. He started in as clp-
tain and came out a brigadier general.
After Jne war he bought a plantdtlOn IN
Arkansas. settled there and was elected
governor of the state. He held this posi-
ton during the exciting period of recon-
struction, when he fought a battle royal
against the ku KluX clan. He was elected
to the United States Senate from Arkansas
and after that devoted himself to building
the Eureka Springs railroad.
For the past seven years General Clayton
has been ambassador from the United
States to Mexico. He appointed by
President Mckinley. and says that he will
close his term at the end of the present
administration.
During our conversation 1 asked him how
he liked the position of ambassador. He
replied:
1.-The office is a pleasant one although 1t
carries many responsibilities and also the
possibility of doing some good. l feel, now
ever, that | have had it quite long enough,
and l am ready to retire. 1t was my in
tention to have closed my public life at
seventy. but | shall remain until the end
of this administration and retire at seven
ty-two. c.o,,,, r
asked.
II don't know but / suppose l will do
what most old men do, that is, lead a quiet
life enjoying my friends. My children want
me to write my memoirs for them. / have
been saving material all my life, and 1t is
possible l may do that.
Mexico in 1904.
what is the condition of Mexico today.
. general|'
1T IL in an excellent condition. The peo-
pie are prosperous and the country is on
a good substantial basis. Times are good,
although not good, perhaps, as here"
Does the country grow much from year
to year,"
Mexico has steady natural growth
replied Gen. Clayton. Its population is
now about IA. 100000, and it is increasing at
the rate of a million every five years. A
great majority of the people are native
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 diff
ferent. and the people who come in have
other things to sell than pure muscle
Many come to invest capital in mining or to
engage in trade
Poems Who Work for rs Cents Day.
How about the labor conditions Gen.
Clayton? Do the capitalists have much
trouble with organized labor?'
Not at ALL" was the reply. 1.-THE only
organized labor in Mexico is that employed