El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-09

released But high wages and too len
lent treatment had had their effect up
on the poems.
After year on one of these get-rich-
quick plantations they weren't worth
their salt" complained an American VINO
is honestly trying TO solve the labor
problem in the tropics and protect the
interests of the stock holders in his COM
pany Prosperity had spoiled them
They wouldn't buckle down and work,
and they were not satisfied with a fair,
legitimate wage. Conditions will re-
adjust themselves in time, but mean
while we have to suffer"
Criticism of System.
Both in theory and practice the labor
situation in Mexico may oe criticised al
verseIy But when one takes into con-
sideration every fact bearing upon the
situation. the prime necessity OF utlllz-
ing to the utmost such labor as the
country contains, the temperamental de-
fects of the poems, their innate inclination
for and acquiescence in paternai controI
and their discouraging state OF content
ment with things as they are. it is diff
ficult 70 see how another system could
successfully be introduced. If laws were
enacted today. prohibiting labor con-
tracts and forbidding planters and con-
tractors from advancing money to Sc
cure the labor of men, their enforcement
would reduce the supply and efficiency
of labor in the republic by at least 90
per cent And the general condition or
the Iaboring classes would not be I'M
proved in the slightest degree
Labor Supply Sufficient
Generally speaking the supply Of Ia
Dor in Mexico has thus far been FOUND
sufficient TO keep pace with the prog
ress and development of the country
At present there seems TO nave Deeh
struck about an equal balance between
demand and supply. Future conditions
are problemstical. But it seems reason
able to assume that. with the awaken
ing of interest in agricultural enter
prises. the bringing of immense tracts or
land under cultivation through the pros
ecution of the irrigation projects fos-
tered by the government, the opening OF
new mines and the organization or all
sorts of industrial ventures, the time
is fast approaching when labor VIII De-
come scarcer and more difficult to oD-
tain. immigration of the right kind
offers a possible solution for meeting
the conditions that impend- Efforts at
bringing contract labor to Mexico have
as a rule. not proved successful. Chi
nese, japanese and Italians have been
tried. Usually the men imported nave
been of an undesirable sort the rag
tag and bob-tail element from the cities,
ambition or purpose Successful farm
'ers OF steady reliable workers are apt
to prosper and be contented in their
own countries.
No Incentive to Emigrate.
This being so. they have no incentive
to press their fortunes in an unknown
land White labor the sturdy, indus
trious German, Russian. Pole. Hun
garian or Hollander. such as passes
through Ellis Island by the thousands,
sees nothing in Mexico at present TO
attract him. Wages are higher In the
United States. and also in the Argentine,
TO which latter country European i'm
migration recently has trended in great
volume. The European laborer. no
matter how frugal he may be, cannot
compete with the ambitionless peon who
is satisfied with Is cents silver day,
or less. The kind of labor and immigra-
ton that Mexico needs will not come
here until wages are raised, or the gov
eminent adopts some sort of policy
of encouragement for European pioneers
to settle in the country. having before
them as good prospects of winning
farms and homes for themselves as are
presented in the United States, Canada
or the Argentine
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