El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-04

happens more frequently <than in the
past that a Mexican is appointed to fill
1t instead of a foreigner. The foreign
employees Of the lines, though not fear
ing or having any cause TO fear, for
their own positions. as they ought to
know that they will not be interfered
with in the least, as long as they do
their duty, are anxious, owing to esprit
de corps or other cause, 10 keep the door
as wide open as possible for the mem-
bers of their orders, and this is why
they have sought to obtain a solution of
the question, in accordance with their
views. before the facilities for the en-
plOyment OF MexicanS become greater
Board RegretfuI But Firm.
What are the feelings of the board
in the present situation?" asked the
reporter.
'~The board of the National railways"
said minister Limantour, 'and the SUI
perior officers of the company regret
these difficulties, but seeing that the
difficulties in question can only be OBJ
waited by accepting what we regard as
the dictation of the engineers and con-
ductors' committees, we have fully made
up our minds to face any situation,
however grave, including a partial in
terruption Of traffic on the lines, rather
than surrender the company's freedom
to choose its own personnel and to frame,
as it sees best. the ruleS that are to be
followed in the admission and promotion
of employees.
Mere Question of Punctillio
i would draw particular attention to
the fact that the representatives of the
engineers and conductors declare that
they consider the policy of the com
pany, in the matter of appointments
and promotions, to be just and fair, and
that they are willing to accept it. The
difference. then, narrows down TO this:
The engineers and conductors want to
bind the board, by means Of formal
agreement5Ito a given method of car
rying out a policy which they ac-
knowledge TO be good, whereas the
board is determined to carry out that
policy in its own way and in the man
ner which il sees best, without tolerat-
ing outside Interference.
1t would thus really seem that as.
in the last analysis. the question re-
duces itself to one of punctillio. there
ought to be no difficulty in bringing
about an adjustment
Want Foreigners to Stay.
The minister was asked by the re-
porter as TO whether he would reiter-
ate personally the views of the company
as TO the employment of foreigners, and
he said:
After the repeated declarations that
have been made, there ought to be no
on this subject and
one who accuses the board of the Ma
tlonal railways of an anti-foreign spir-
IL must be acting either in ignorance
or IN deliberate malice 1 can say with all
sincerity, we should be sorry to lose them
Whe Americans), for we regard all these
old timers as de casa as institutions
r furthermore, regardless of years of
service. there is no thought of discrim-
mating against any foreign employee
VINO renders loyal and efficient service.
" hen a vacancy has to be filled or a
pew appointment made. then. and only
men, other things being the same are
hexlcans TO be preferred to foreigners,
ana the reasonableness of this prefer
ence IS so manifest that 1T seems to me
Superfluous to give arguments in its
ference. Let any fair minded person put /
ne natter honestly to himself"