Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-06-22
Land Distribution
Begun At yuCatan

NEW YORK, June Distribution
of communal lands to the poems has
been begun in the state of Yucatan,
Mexico.
This information has just been re-
ceived here in cablegram to Modesto
c. ROLAND from S. Alvarato. Governor
of Yucatan,
ROLAND is in this country as the rep
resentative of Gov. Alvarado and has
been one of the prime movers in work
ing out the new land program in that
state. =
First distribution Of land was a.
~Uman, near Merida, according to the
cablegram from Governor Alavardo.
The peon population at that phase is
Indian entirely. Under the new law i,
this land can never be taken away
from any person who tills it and who
pays the very moderate tax. ~
The program Of land distribution will
be carried out throughout the whole
State of Yucatan and It is probable
that the results in this State will serve
to guide operations in other Mexican
states.
Mr.. Roland drafted the law for
Yucatan under which the land is be-
wonderful labor law of Yucatan Much
of the inspiration for his work in Yu-
catan- was gained by Mr. ROLAND 'in
study in the United States two years
ago and in association with the rad
ical movement here.
There soon will be no landless class
in Yucatan, just as there now is no
slave class, due to laws that have
iy,fo ho3,o
A Spanish Journalist who has. just
returned from that state brings cor
roboration of. information already re-
ceived to the effect that chattel slavery
has been entirely abolished Under
the form of slavery which existed in
Revolutionary days employers were
able to compel poems to remain in their
employ, no matter what the wish of
the peon might be.
1t is impossible to detain workers
against their will now and conditions
are imnfeasurably better than ever in
the history of the state. Wages have
risen to point where the workers
are able to manifest a degree of in
dependence hitherto unknown to them
They are said to be five and six times
as high as formerly.
were
known to Yucatan In the days Of
Diaz no peon dared strike in Yucca,
can. With the liberty Of the poems and
with their rising standards, however,
strikes have come and several have
been fought to successful conclusion.
However. a new law provides for arbi-
tration Of all disputes.
There is now q definitely established
n m i'm THyoc Hf,,
law A 44-hour Aweek is decreed
The whole tendency of government
in the state is toward the elimination
Of exploitation. and to this end Gov
ernor Alvardo. and Of the most far
sighted radicals in Mexico, is bending
all Of his efforts
The sisal industry is, of. course. the
chief one and the government manon-
oily Of the marketing of the cron has
brought to the people of the state a
return that is declared to be almost
beyond belief. 1t Is against this gov
eminent market monopoly that the In
ternattonal Harvester Company has
waged such bitter warfare.
The newest great undertaking to be
planned Is the four-state railroad.
project by which a government owned
and quilt railroad will pierce the In
terior and connect the seaboard or
Xucatan by land. with Mexico City and
other interior points This viii bring
TO Yucatan a development otherwise
impossible, and, since the road lis to
be operated for service and not for
profit, the benefits Of that develop
nent will go to the citizens Of Yucca
tan.