The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-15
Giving The Lands Back To The
Peons-The Passing Of The
Jefe-Politico. New Labor Laws
MEXICAN Trade And Our New
Tariff. A Nation OF Patriots
Financial Matters-Chances
For Investments In Industries
And Mines-The New Field OF
Electricity.
Copyrighted, 1913. by Frank G.. Car
penter.)

penter.)
MEXICO CITY.
In This, my last letter from Mexico,
want TO give you some of the I'M
dcrcurrents Of public opinion which
are rapidly changing the possibilities
If this republic. n man who thinks
mat the troubles here are only the
struggle Of the ms n the outs is
mistaken. The people have become
aroused to the possibilities of liberty,
and there is a strong hope that the
whole social and economic system will
Toe ~reorganized. So far the republic
is still in the melting pot. 1t is diff
cult to discuss parties, for parties are
only in their formation.
one reason for this is the long au-
tocraticreign Of Diaz. For more than
Il generation he controlled the country
with an iron hand, in which was held
a two-edged sword. Every head
which rose above the average level
was cut off, and his enemies were
wiped out without regard to anything
hut the success of the administration.
Diaz often said that he believed in
much government and but little poll
ties. The result was that political
parties werep r~actically extinguished
10y his long reign.
When Madero became president it
VAS with a promise of reorganization.
lie preached reform and equal rights
to all, and he succeeded in planting
the germs of discomfort among the
common people. He preached but he
did not accomplish, and his MONACO
complishment was n of the elements
that brought his overthrow. The new
administration of Huerta is now
preaching and promising, and parties
are again forming. There may be
another revolution or SO before order
Is brought out of chaos, but there is
little doubt but hat the old Mexico
mas passed away forever, and that a
new one will eventually take it's place
Dividing the Big Estates.
Among the great questions which
are agitatipg the country are those
which relate to the landed estates and
their owners. The people are begin
ning to realize hat it is not right tina
1000 families should practically owr
ms mighty territory. Mexico is di
Nded into enormous ranches, some O.
which contain millions of acres ant
are worth many millions of dollars
These estates have been listed for tax
alton at many times less than thei1
value. A property worth a million
dollars in gold will be assessed a
100000, and one worth 100000 ma.
lac assessed at $4,000. For a Ions
Time there were no taxes on unem
pioyed lands. and the great estates ar
sun returned at such a low valuation
mat their owners a practicall
nothing to the government. On tn
other hand, the small holders are tax
ed 10 the full.
The man who has a 200-acre farm
which may be worth a thousand dol
lars. dares not list it for 500, as tn
discrepancy Is too evident. AS a re
suit he pay taxes on very nearly tn
rnll value. This has long been tn
grievance of the small land owner
ana they arc now among the discor
tents, who are in the saddle. The
want Il reorganization of the tax Sys
TEN, and they have made themselve
SO felt that this question is discuSSe
all over Mexico.
The Communal Lands.
Another movement, which agitate
the chamber Of deputies and whic
forms the text of many stun
speeches. is the restoration of tf
communal lands to whom they TO
merly belonged. About fifty or SKI
years ago every town in Mexico ha
certain lands surrounding it whic
were divided among the citizens, an
zach householder a his own mt
plot, upon which he could ran
enough corn for his family and whe'
ne could pasture his cows.
These blocks of land, with the TOW
III the center, were often In the hea
OF or adjoining a big estate, whit
mad come from grants given by u
kings Of Spain centuries ago. III
owners of the estates wanted the ian
TO add to their already large trac'
so during the administration
resident JuareZ they succeeded
abolishing tho communal system al
passing a law to divide up the Ian
among the people of h village
lhese people were mostly poems or !
olans, so simple that they sold out