Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-08-05
CONSTRUTIvE
POLICY FOR
I. OLD MEXICO
BENJAMIN F. Y0AKUM
OFFERS SUGGESTIONS
tBY BENJAMIN Il. YOAkUM in Tn,
New York Times)


The public has heard So much about
the necessity of controlling Mexico
through military conquest that il has
almost become n craze. The people are
beginning to 20 their own thinking and
will welcome 1 policy by this govern
mcnt to encourage the upbuilding and
development of Mexico.
BY comparison Of our population with
that of Mexico from standpoint of
ability TO read and write. there is -
per cent intelligence i'm the United
States against - per cent gnoramce,
ploycd ignorance. now fighting in pref
erence 10 starving. that calls for the
big. broad. intelligent consideration Of
the thinking people of this country and
Mexico.
The United States can never conquer
Mexico Ii can only destroy il for n time
but within another fifty years IA short
period in the life of "A nationl the Mex.
leans would continue 10 grow in intel
ligence and strength. with intensified
hatred or us. The people of Mexico will
never stand permanently for any gov.
not r,r'ognize and give to the masses
bhc rights that properly belong 70 them.
More than twenty years ago while in
the employ Of railroad on the border.
| Travelled over every section Of that
country and became acquainted with
mar,ha,y.x huSinn~S auI n,tlit.rv man
of Mexico | learned the characteristic
les of the Mcxirans through business as
sociation and railroad construction.
The development along the Gulf
Coast of Mexico and the Lower Rio
Grandc furnishes lesson applicable 70
the present situation. Ninciy-fvc per
cent Of all that vast construction Of rail
roads and irrigation systems and the
clearing and putting in cultivation Of
millions Of acres Of land. costing $iO,-
100000, was done with the labor Of the.
brown men from across the Rio Grandc
all within the last ten years.
| will give two illustrations regarding
Mexican laborcrs, one dealing with the
eagcrners of the Mcxicans 10 work and
the other their cagcrncss To farm and
industrial knowledge.
First-Thcre were 1000 acres Of land
adjoining the Rio Grandc, within a
stones throw Of Mexico, being cleared
for cultivation. The Mcxicans, living
across the river and engaged on this
work wer. furnished with leather checks
corresponding to the numbers of their
axes, spades, picks, etc, when each days
work was finished ! have seen these
McxGans recrossing the river to be on
hand at q o'clock in the morning 10 claim
their tools and make sure of holding
their jobs.
Sccond-Mrs. Henrietta VI. King Of
Texas gave 60 acres of land and built
an agricultural school, exclusively for
Mcxirans in country bordering OIL the
Rio Grande. This school was equipped
with up to date appliances, dairies and
advanced farming methods. When II he
came know that the school was 10 bc
started To teach the young Mexieans how
70 farm. applications came from every
quarter. If its capacity had been dou-
bled il would have been crowded with
Mcxicans. Young and old. seeking infor-
nation on farming. anxious 20 III them
selves to become Independents and useful
citizens
VA 1t would have been just a. reasonable
to say twenty years ago that what has
been accomplished in the last ten years
ON the Lower Rio Grandc-from whrrh
territory thousands Of carloads of food
stuffs are now being shipped annually
could not be accomplished. n to say now
that the Mexicans will not make me
same prosperous country across the Rio
Grande il given the opportunity.
The dividing line between these spleI-
did farms and Mexico II only narrow
river There il no difference in climate or
soil and constructive work intclligently
directed and energetically carried out
would make that section the same on
bdrh sides Of the Rio Grande
The policy for Mexie" should be con
structiye. not destructive The American
Continued on page 6.)