Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-11-02
MEXICO UNITED ON A
DIVISION.

CHRISTIAN Science Monitor: "Giye
US land hat we nay build homes and
cultivate the SOIL" has been the in
sistent cry of the Mexican peon from
the time of Diaz to that of Huerta.
Every Mexican president since Benito
Juarez struck the shackles Off his be-
country must have known that
nothlng less than a share in the de-
velopment OF the republic. without be.
ing deprived of reward for their daily
toll. would ever satisfy the masses
outside the principal cities. Francisco
Madero obtained his popular follow
ing because thousands Of Mexicans
saw in him the man who was to lead
them out OF virtual slavery. What
ever may have been Madero's DUR
pose. he failed to bring about the
needed reform. The rule of Huerta.
a makeshift from the start, promised
nothing to the country, despite the
Indian kinship thai bound the die
tator to the great majority of the
population. When General Carranza
entered Mexico City the nation once
more was confronted with the. prob
lem as to whether or not the long
awaited plan for the redistribution of
land was to begin in real earnest.
Whoever is to become the provi-
sional president Of the republic of
Mexico will undoubtedly discover that
this land question is the towering sub
Ject to be dealt with dispassionately
and fairly. 1t is to be remembered
that much of the land in Mexico has
been slipping from those comprising a
minority, yet who owned some part,
because everything was done by the
landed proprietor to make them sell
their holdings for almost nothing
during the exploitation period that
saw a group become very rich. AS a
matter Of fact. the peon Is now ask
Ing nothing more than to have restor-
ed to him what has been taken from
him by stealth, and Generals Villa and
Zapata. whatever may have been
their methods for championing the
cause of their countrymen. apparent
ly have had nothing else in view
than that the many should cultivate
the soil instead of letting 1t belong to
the few n remain unimproved. AS
there were no taxes on uncultivated
land in Mexico, and cattle raising
suited some of the landed proprietors
we'll enough. thousands upon thou
sands Of acres were left in the condi-
ton that had prevailed from time Inn
memorial.
The governor Of the state Of Quer-
etaro. having been called to Mexico
City for consultation, on returning to
his w territory says that the big
land owners now fully realize the in
justice that has been done the peon in
the past. They have already begun
dividing some of their properties. Ac-
cording to this executive, conditions
in his state are amply satisfactory. He
says hat he knows of other officials
in other states who have the same
reports to make regarding redistribu.
ton Of land.
General Carranza, himself a land
owner of some consequence, no doubt
will realize that the time is ripe for
making the land reform all-inclusive.
Large numbers Of federal and consti-
nationalist soldiers probably will soon
be returned to their home sections,
and it would seem that their engaging
in farm work on their own acres
would open the way for a new Mex
lean prosperity, m not fostered
through exploitation. but solidly ma
tional because the people themselves
are building the foundation.