Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-27
RACE TROUBLES On
MEXICO LINES
GROW SERIOUS
Relations Between Railroad
Operators and Men Have Be-
come Tense and Peaceful
Settlement is Unlikely.

Settlement is Unlikely,
Especial Correspondence TO Morning J0urnail
lei Paso, Texas. IAN. 24.-There is
no longer any doubt that within a few
weeks the National lines of Mexico
and their American and foreign en-
| ployes will measure their respective
| strength in a general strike or lock-
| out. For some time past relations
| between employer and employed have
been very strained. and had it not
| been that both sides had been anxious
to fence for time things would have
been brought to an issue before this.
| The management of the road, entire
~ under the influence of the Mexican
| government which owns about SO per
| cent of its stock, has been trying to
settle the difficulties with the Ameri-
| can and foreign engineers, foremen,
| conductors and dispatchers, by grad
ually eliminating them and the latter
have kept up a desultory warfare in
| one way or another.
The present situation may be said
| to have had it's inception about five
| years ago in the strike of the locomo-
tive foremen of what was then the
Mexican Central and in the strike OF
| the machinists in the Laredo shops
occurring n little later. The first o
on the part II the Central was the
| transfer If the machine shops from
Laredo in Texas % Nuevo Laredo on
the Mexican side of the Rio Grande
and other points in the interior, such
as Monterey and San Luis Potosi. For
4 while it was thought that the bitter
antagonism between employer and
employe would make room for better
feelings, but grievances on all sides
kept adding to the flame, and last
summer the government, after having
gained control over the railroads that
had been merged into the National
Ines decided TO displace as many for
eign and American employees as pos
sible. The office force, composed en-
tirely of Americans, was the first to
go, brakemen and yard employees went
next. Their places were filled with
Mexicans. 1t was not possible, how
ever, to follow q like method in the
case of engineers, conductors and dis
patchers. However, these, too, had
been slated for removal and TO get
Mexicans with the necessary training
the National lines established a num-
Der Of railroad schools. The graduates
from these institutions have already
taken the places of many Americans
and contrary to popular belief, are
proving excellent railroad men.
Some time ago about 100 engineers
and others resigned their positions APP
parently for the purpose of putting
the system in a bad fix. The plan
does not seem to have worked as an
ticipated and no disturbance in the
regular traffic Of the RAIDS resulted.
For al THAT there are still enough
American and foreign employees con-
nected with the system to tie 1t up
completely should they decide to go
on n strike. That this will be resort
Ell to by the engineers, dispatchers
and conductors in an effort to fix their
status can 10 longer be doubted. Their
claim is that the National lines have
not acted with fairness in a good many
instance A short time ago q rule
was adopted making it obligatry that
all promotion examinations of firemen
would have to be passed, not in Eng
lish as heretofore, but in Spanish,
something very few would be able to
do. OF 175 who presented themselves
for the examination, only from five to
ten passed. This arrangement, of
course. will mean that the American
fireman will either have to learn
Spanish or remain n fireman while a
Mexican becomes his engineer. The
management of the National lines
argues that a man not able to speak
the language of the country after
many years residence in it, docs not
deserve what amounts to practically
public employment by having shown
the absolute lack of interest his ig-
norancc Of the language implies.
A protest from the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers has been am
swercd by the management to the eff
that a Mexican wishing to pass an
examination for a position on any
in the United States would
nave to know English.
However, the American railroad en-
ployes are not seeing the matter in
light and a conference now going
ln between their leaders and the Ma
tional lines management at Mexico
City may result in either a modifica-
ton of this rule or a general strike
over the entire system. In view of
he fact that on the whole the conduct
If the American and foreign railroad
men In Mexico has in the past not
been marked with too conciliatory q
Ipirit, the chances for a peaceful set
cement of the situation are not very :
II is reported that the Ma F,
ional is prepared for this and that its ,
rattle will be diverted to the ports
IN the Gulf of Mexico in case of +,
Exports and imports would !
.hus be taken care OF and focal trou- i,
Die would be handled by the Mexican :
employees. 81
Capt8in Edward Bates Emo. stock