The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-07-29
By SAMUEL GOMPERS.


WASHINGTON, July 27.-There is
being enacted just across our border
line in a neighbor republic tremen-
dous struggle for human freedom,
a struggle inspired by ideals of those
who long dreamed of human free
dom and have come to value it light
ly because they have been denied the
reality Americas workers have an
interest in the affairs of Mexico
an interest that is concerned with
something bigger than political
changes, for political changes do not
always indicate progress towards JUS
tice.
Because this struggle in Mexico
represents a. cause that is as big
and as wide and comprehensive as
the cause of human freedom, 1t has
a very strong appeal for the workers
of the United States whose every ad-
vance and betterment has been part
of a. world-old struggle for freedom
and humanity.
Changes Going On.
The changes now in progress OF
maki..g in Mexico are deeper and
more significant than mere polltl-
cal revolution; they are an economic
revolution. The fundamental prob
lem of injustice in Mexico is econ
omic in origin. Those who know and
understand the force. Of the indus
trial ties that unite Mexico and the
United States know that there is no
boundary line beween the industrial
problems of the workers of the two
countri-s. This is true not only be-
cause of the overlapping of the IN
terests of the employers of the two
countries but because OF the inter-
mingling and blending Of the workers
of the two countries.
It is conservatively estimated that
there are within the United. States
two million Mexican workers. There
are Mexican laborers in Texas, Mex
lean coal miners in Colorado and
New Mexico, and Mexican gold min
ers in New Mexico and Colorado.
There are Mexican trade unionists in
the building trades. of the Pacific
coast.
Ali the world knows the bravery,
the loyalty and determination of the
Mexican miners who helped to win
the recent strike in Clifton, Arizona.
It is not so we'll known that previous
to the termination Of the former
agreement between the anthracite
miners and coal operators of Pennsyl-
vania there was an effort made to
bring Mexicans into our country to
defeat the demands of coal miners
hoping thereby to reduce standards
and defeat the plans of the anthra-
cite miners. The Deering Harvester
company recently brought in Mexi-
cans to be used as strike-breakers
against their men who were then
making demands for higher wages
and better conditions of work.
Corporation of Workers.
There must be an understanding
and cooperation between the work.
ers of Mexico and the United States
in order that neither may permit
themselves to be used for the un-
doing Of all. Many of the Mexican
workers who are now within our
border lines have already united in
the cause of organized labor. Since
the present effort to overthrow des-
potism in Mexico has been in pro-
gress there has been determined
effort in that country to organize the
workers for their mutual protection
and to secure for them rights and
opportunities that Will result in fire.
dom.
The workers and the revolutionary
forces in Mexico, as did .1adero.
knew the efforts which the American
Federation of Labor put forth in the
overthrow of the tyrant Diaz so that
when the Madero government was
esta blished in power, there went into
Mexico a committee representing the
United Mine Workers of America.
This committee secured from Madero
endorsement of the organized laboz
movement and promise of protection
and cooperation in efforts to orguu-
ize the miners OF Mexico. The Ma
dero era marked a new period in the
labor movement of Mexico. What
was declared under Madero has been
carried out on broader scale under
the present constitutional govern
Lent.
Freedom and Humanity.
The workers are not over-con-
cerned with political f. ctions or we'd
ded to any political leader, but they
are concerned with securing cooper