South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-06
X X X x X X X X X X X X /,
= WHY MEXICO IS AFLAME
X IL Il Because the Workers In ::
X stinctively Refuse To be Push );
X cd on the Earth. X
X \ j: X x y * x = = r < ,


Without land, water and air. man
couldn't live. Whoever can corner
one Of these gifts OF nature will nave
all humanity at his mercy.
The air is free. though in cities Of
ten polluted. Private corners on wa
ter, once common, are fast ceasing
as communities learn TO own theid
own water supply. Bnt land remains
largely in private ownership. often
W ithstartling results.
In France. before the Revolution,
but historians are agreed that the big
cause of the French upset was the
concentration Of land ownership.
When that awful tempest had run its
course instead of 130, 900, there were
1000. 600 owners of land in France.
In Mexico II. 900 landlords own ~
per cent OF all the land. Forty-two
per cent Of all the property in Mexico
is owned in the United States and
much in England and Germany. The
working masses in Mexico own less
than a fifth of the land and much less
than a fifth Of the other property.
In other words. they are disinherit-
ed. IN the country of their birth,
where they and their children must
live, they must pay rent for the
means of living and are without voice
in determining what the rent shall be.
Many of the land titles in Mexico
come down from the time of the
Spanish invasion. Though resting on
loot, these have had such a long sane
ton in custom that they would prob
ably not be seriously questioned now
were il not for wholesale confisca-
tions and re-allotments made during
the regime Of Porfirio DiaZ.
In the period from 1885 to 1894, Di-
az caused the lands 10 be surveyed
and the titles recorded.
1t was a wise policy in theory, but
its execution was attended by almost
incredible thefts. Few persons can
read or write. Those who had at
tanned land holdings had no papers to
snow; they had only squatter rights.
Along came the favorites Of Diaz
with "a demand for written titles; and
the next thing the small landlords
knew they were told that the land
which had been in the possession of
their families for generations had
been declared forfeited TO the state
and bid in for nominal sums to graft
ers with a pull. They had the option
of starving or Of becoming tenants on
the new owners terms.
While Diaz was in his prime aud
was able TO keep his army strong with
the money he got from peddling val
liable concessions to foreigners, he
could master enough power at any
point to keep the resulting discomfort
from organizing. There were spora-
die upheavals, but he suppressed them
mercilessly.
But when he grew old, and jealous
les divided his inner circle ard there
weren't so many valuable concessions
left to peddle, the smouldering fire
famed up, with results known to all.
1t is that flame which is still making
the southern outlook lurid.
One incident illumines this whole
subject. In the state OF Morelos. be-
fore Zapata raised the standard of re-
volt, there were % landlords and
200, 200 tenants. To-day there are
approximately 200, 600 landlords and
no tenants. The pens have simply
swept the land monopolists out OF the
way and by the right of superior
numbers and strength. have taken
over the land themselves.
So ii is clear that what is happen
ing in Mexico is fundamentally an in
stinctive refusal of the workers TO be
pushed off the earth.
1t may take a long time to re-dis-
tribute land holdings and TO get mat
ters down TO basis of peace and or
der. 1t took a long time in France.
Also much bloodshed and many hor-
rors
But the one best bet in history is
that it will have TO be done.