The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-07-29
TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN s.s.z.:s.z
i ...> FREEDOM GOING ON IN MEXICO

dl1Oh 1udL VIII CAoOAV A1AO41A ~ du~
vance the cause of freedom and hu-
manity.. Is -
When Carranza became first chief
of the constitutionalists government
Of Mexico, he entered into agree
ments with the organized labor move
ment Of the country and promised
that trade unions would be protected
under the laws of Mexico and that
workers would be assured opportun-
tiles and rights. In return for these
pledges, which were officially an
nounced by the government in the
form of manifestos and circulated
generally throughout the country, the
organized labor movement of Mexico
gave it's support to the Constitutional
list government and united with that
government in an effort to solve the
problems of the citizens of Mexico
and to work out government and
laws that would establish industrial,
social and political justice.
Because the workers of Mexico
through their organized labor move
ment appealed to the organized labor
movement of the United States we
tried to secure to them the oppor-
tunity to work out their own prob
lens in accord win their own ideals
and their own underst landing.
With the political issues and po-
litical factions of Mexico: the Ameri-
can labor movement has no vital con-
Germ, but it has a deep abiding in
terest in the growth and progress of
the cause of labor in Mexico, and it
desires to do all that can be done
in spirit of fraternity and co-opera-
ton. The American labor movement
recognizes that in the organization Of
the Mexican workers there lies an
element of great hope, for there is a
force that has power to shape a
great future for people capable Of
conceiving great ideas and an UNDER
standing of the possibilities which
human life can attain when given
opportunities and freedom.
Human Rights Paramount.
. The labor movement Of Mexico has
dared to assert that there is some
thing infinitely higher than they wish
to establish a.. government in which
human rights shall be paramount and
land and property rights and the
mere forms of established law and
order. They have proclaimed to the
world that shall be made to sever
mankind.
But the labor movement Of our
country knows that freedom can not
be given as gift; it must be achieved
by all as they work out their life
problems-democracy and free insti-
buttons may be suddenly established
but their maintenance rests upon con-
slant and persistent determination,
for in Mexico, as in all the world,
the price of liberty is eternal vigi-
lance. They must be the result of
the experiences of the people who
have learned how to be free and
how to use institutions of freedom.
In learning these things those who
have been long held in despotic gov
eminent make many mistakes, but
those of us who have had larger op-
portunities for freedom must have
/ patience with the, mistakes of those
who are just learning. We know
that the lesson can not be learned
by interposing dictation from an out
side judgment, either from a dicta-
tor among their own people or from
super-imposing the judgment of an
outside country.
Because of the desire Of America's
workers to be helpful to fellow
workers of Mexico, suggestion was
made to the organized labor move
ment of Mexico to send representa-
tives to meet with representatives
of the A. F. of L. in. conference in
Ell Paso, Texas, in the near future.
This suggestion has met with most
cordial and enthusiastic acceptance
from the labor organizations of Mex
leo, and that the conference will be
held there is no doubt. It is hoped
that the outcome of this conference
will bring tremendous impetus and
inspiration to the cause of humanity
both within Mexico and the United
States. If such q conference can re-
suit the betterment Of humanity
and imposing check upon the forces
that desire to exploit human beings
for their own aggrandizement, there
will be given to the world a note
of inspiration that will be in a great
measure somewhat in the nature of
! compensation for the miserable fail
ure of our hopes and plans seen in