The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25

By AMEEN RIHANl.

ton IL no longer a theory, a
vision. but a reality. It was
peacefully launched. peacefully con-
Quoted. and In some of Its phases sue
ee1acuiiy accomplished. One man. COM
in9 from the war torn, bandit ridden
north. has turned the social conscious
nees Of a people inside out His scheme
Of re~juvenation has a world workers
union on one side and a feminist nov
mont on tho other. And II begins at
Two important starting points-the ha-
cienda and the school.
Merida, the capital OF Yucatan, is
he centre OF this revolution. And
YucAtan. which Is one OF the richest
States Of tho republic AZ we'll rs the
most interesting country on the gulf.
in that II witnessed the rise and fall
Of the Magyar civilization Of yore and
can still boast OF some OF It's mys-
Nr1ous ruins. presents 10 the visitor
these days the remarkable spectacle Of
Q most ancient people and a govern
ment Of the most modern type.
The Magyar Indians. or their de-
scendants. the mestizos. who still speak
Nv WI vino " hihNA
ancient traditions in dress and man
nes-the poems Of the hacienda, the
slaves Of the Spaniards-are begin
ming ( o liep Of liberty. free masonry
and anti-cer1calism; they are learning
the gesture Of revolt under the Elid-
ance and protection Of the Governor OF
the State. Gen. Salvador Alvarado.
who in his spare moments is found
porting over the textbooks of German
Socialists. And here we have the root
Of q rare. semi-tropio social phenome-
hon..
Whether at work " At play these
days, this Magyar Indian. whose an
cestors worshipped at the Temple OF
tho Snail. is astoundingly. ofttimes
amusinRly. modern. I have seen him
marching on Labor Day IN Merida 70
the weird music OF a Mexican band.
brandishing the most anti-capitalistic
and ~ant1-clericai banners and placards
that any !. W. W. parade could ever
boast Of, or any labor leader could
conceive; I have seen him in his white
linen and ornamental sandals. harang-
uing 4 mass meeting held az the ca
thedral. and I have seen him also at
the baseball game. making n horne
run at a stretch. and clinching Il with
American slang. while the Governor
and a crowd of Indian fans shouted
their applause. American fashion.
Thus In the most modern. most
sportive and most revolutionary man
ner, was Labor Day celebrated in
Merida. And Merida. picturesque.
quaint. somnolcnt. dreamy, cplorful
and cheerful and remarkably clean,
without slums. without saloons and
without n religion to-day, is the most
ancient city in America, according II
the best authorities IN the subject.
Here In a startling. n dramatic o n
trast.
When Gen. A,varado entered II IN
triumph a little more than a year ago
the hacienda, the cantipa n the
church were supreme. the reor
soaked himself in hshaneros I, pure
alcohol made from the sugar cane)
0uhrn!ss!ve!y rc-rnd his sewer nrd
reverently kissed the hand of his
Iriest. Now the cantina is closed, the
church Is closed and the hacienda anC
its master are virtually under the con
troll Of the Government. And the
peons-it IL no longer Just. however
to call them by this name-ths
mesti1os. the laboring classes rather
are none the worse for II. AT least
a. far "a the liquor problem IL con
cerned. For here is a State that ha:
rome dry and has not gone mad. Thu
mestizo. who was the heaviest drinker
does not seem 10 miss his drink. AM
the wner Of the cantina does not seen
to miss hi. coin. Prohibition, impose,
a. a blessing, was accepted as such.
The ~cervescrias, where a thin stall
beer In sold. are still open, but III,
megtizo. for economic and constitu
'tional reasons. cannot get up n .ias
on beer. He takes II only S,r refresh
ment. As he would a glass Of lemonade
In prohibition. therefore, Gen. Alva
RADIO has accomplished one of hi
greatest reforms.
OF course there have been eXcesse
connected with the Enforcement OF D.,
law. All liquor on the day 1t was pu
IN force became the properly Of tn
state. and not only the cantinas hu
even DT1NdIp nnllspN NtIe NehItl''
The rich YucatecanA. who reluctant
surrendered their private stock. pro
tested. mur,nurcd rather their indiG
nation and discomfort. As many as
hundred cases Of wine were one da,
~confscated in one house; and An oil
professor had to give up his bottle q
cognac. which he kept. he told me. 70
medicinal purposes.
But these Inconvenience afcctin
mostly the rich and leisure class ar
offset by the benefits. in a general wa.
10 the community. do YOU know.
esid Gen. Alvarado. who speaks Eng
lish well. that after prohibition ma
been established We were able to dis
perse with one-quarter OF u polio
force" which fact is sufficient com
men'. I think, upon the efficiency q
this reform.