Bisbee daily review., 1913-07-27
MEXICAN R. R.
 SHOWS LOSES
lL.os Angeles Tlmesl

T ne resignation or E. N. '. V q Q as president of the National Railways of Mexico has passed almost un- noticed in the midst of the mass cf startling developments in the Mexi- can situation, yet it marks the last chapter in a movement of the utmost importance to thousands Of Amer cans Mr Brown states that his ac- ton Is caused by the interference of the government officials with the railroad management, They are in- sisting upon and pushing to the Inn it the policy of thoroughly MeXloaniZ ing the system, eliminating all Amer ican employees and substituting ma tives. This >policy was started to- ward the end of the Diaz admins tration, was pushed almost to tte limit by Madero, and is being con tinued by Huerts It IS one thing upon which an three administrations are in harmony. Mir. BrOwne's sue cessor is a Mexican, and with the de partue of MT. Brown all subordinate officials of American citizenship VII soon be replaced by Mexicans, just as have the engineers, hremen, con ductors and brakemen.
 When the Mexican railways were built by American capital beginnlns in 1881. when the old Mexican Cen tral was built from Fl PasO to Mexico City, there were no Mexlcans compe tent to hold any position above that of common laborer, American traln- ey4 on our great railways were brought 10 the country to operate the new inc Gradually MeXicans worked Ato the ftelegrapI, station Stnd ottlce posl- irons and into the lower grades Of engine and train service. but "lth le" eyceptions none of these m engine oI train service. rose above hremen or brakemen. With American train dls- patchers. conductors, and engineers all train orders were sent ln Ems Nsh and the young Mexican asplrlus Tn rise from brakeman or hrehAaa must first learn English.
 For years there was a great deal sIf complaint from travelling NeNleaAs al inc failure of American conductor $ m master Spanish sufficiently to ans yrer questions intelligently and lt was frequently charged, perhaps WllA iusrlce in some cases, that may were arrogant and insolent to"aiu Mexican passengers, More than 'e" yiaars ago the government issued Vi' ders that all passenger tcohductoia must speak Spanish, but the Iule Was generally disregarded. Among Ile Mexican emuLoyss, and among iAE working classes generality there mas baen for many years a growing dis- satisfaction over the lack of promo tion for MexiCans in railway sei'lVS The orgaIfzation of labor unions D! the Mexican railrOaders came aBoGN
 eight years ago and their eholt ts have been directed almost eht'Te1s no forcing the use of Spanish III train orders and employment of na- lives as engineers and cohaOc'oi > Demands as to wages and hours nave all been subordinated to the oeIlAu- z that Americans be eliminated ifoA the service. The Diaz administration saw tnat if nust act if it would check the rising tide of dissatisfaction, and the s porehase Of the control of the maloI EpaTt of the mileage Of AeAfco was doubtless prompted largely by the de- sire to MeXacaRize the whole sy@ aem. After the government Puf- chase one of the first orders issued by Finance Minister LimantoHT was that Nfsxfcans must always be given the preference when competent Tor employment. Before that the policy was generally the reverse in all grades of train service above break men and firemen. Mexican students were placed in the dispatcher's office 10 learn the work, and the American dispatchers promptly refused 10 teach them and left their keys. Others, tractable. were found and as fast as possible natives were put on the Worh During the Madero revolution sew eraI cases were found in which Amer jeans refused to man trooB trains on account of the danger involved, auu the same happened again in Oroze0 revolt. Thereupon the Madero ad- ministration completed the work be gun by Diaz and discharged practical Iy all the Americans except the high' est officials. Now Huerts has rit himself Of these, too.
 That the operation of the rallroao can be carried on by Mexican employ. es is undoubted, but it is beyond question that the service will De inferior and far less sale ms VII be especially true of the few first years, Jn time, no doubt, the Nezi cans will improve, but competent judges do not think they will eye' attain the American standard. The Nfexicans. however, prefer lnteffoi service in their own hands to com peteut service in the hands of Tor eigners. There is much argument from their standpoint to support ths position. though, of course, Americans will dissent With President Browne departure the Mexicsnizarion ot the railroads owned by the government is probably complete. But thOst lines that are still owned by prlVat' capital, mostly American brt some British. continue to employ Amer can labor.