New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-12
CARRANZA'S PROBLEM
Achievements Which Warrant an Attitude
of SYMPATHETIC Patience.
- N. Editor Of The Tribune.

/ 10 the EDITOR VI nc iiiNNhS'
Sir: You published the interesting fact
that General Carranza had issued decree
prohibiting bullfghting. The revolutionary
marty in Mexico have consistently frowned
on that barbarous sport, in Mexico, and the
action Of General Carranza is the outcome OF
better feeling growing in that country.
Yucatan abolished bullfghting and cock
FIGHTING some time ago, and 1t would not be
surprising if federal decree were issued
ordering prohibition Of liquor in all the
states of Mexico. Already in many OF the
states alcoholic liquor is prohibited, with
benefcent results. Better sports, SUCH as
baseball and pelota, are taking their place
Baseball will do for Mexico what football has
done for Argentina and Uruguay. The revo-
luton restored the free municipality in nearly
all the states, and after the general elections
in September Carranza withdrew the military
commands and is seeking to concentrate the
military forces in the hands OF the federai
government.
Carranza has large task on his hands. He
represents, in Latin-American fashion, the
reconstructive forces in Mexico. To them be-
longs the credit of restoring to the Indians
the communal lands, from which they had
been dispossessed. He has sent number OF
teachers 20 the United States to study modern
pedagogy and school management
/ Mexico to-day has twenty times as many
schools as it had in the last term-General
Diaz held office. Opening schools-such as
they are-has become fad among the revo-
Iutionary chiefs "Open schools and save the
country" is their cry. President Sarmiento OF
the Argentine Republic said fifty years ago:
"Open schools and stop tho revolution
Argentina has proportionately as many women
school teachers as the United States, and no
revolutions
The land laws Of Mexico have been as
archaic as those Of England. It's land ques-
ton is very analogous to the English. British
estates in England were before the war being
revalued, as they are being revalued In Mex
leo. with precisely the same object In view:
the levying Of equitable taxes and the pre-
vention Of large estates.
The new sgrarian laws are framed to en-
courage small land owners. This movement
ha, spread in the states of Yucatan, Guiana
iuato. Sonora, Vera Cruz, Jalisco, Michoacan,
Colima, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Queretaro, Puebla,
Hidalgo. and the territory of Topic.
In Yucatan 10000 families have been placed
on the land in two years. most Of them Ind.
ians. The probational two years have passed
and they are showing themselves fit for own
ership.
Some nascent legislation has been passed
dealing with hours of labor, and court OF
arbitration for labor disputes established In
many OF the states.
The history of women in Latin-American
countries is pathetic. Mexican women OF the
lower classes are evolving, in the western
states at least, from beasts of burden into
humans. Moorish ideas OF women were
brought to Mexico by the Spaniards, and some
of them are getting a glimpse OF better
type Of womanhood.
An extraordinary event for Latin-Ameri-
can country was the feminist conference re-
Gently held in Mexico. Largely as result OF
the revolution, a greater freedom has come 10
women. They are going out into the world to
work. entering public Offices and business
houses, earning their living-a great advance
for women stepped in Moorish traditions
about women and their place in the world
Mexico is a complex problem, resembling
the Indian question in the United States. Like
Argentina, she will reach her goal of internal
peace and financial security by way OF the
schoolhouse.
Industrial and agricultural education is her
greatest need. What Robert College has
done in Turkey and the Balkan States can be
repeated in Mexico. The American attitude
toward Mexico should be one Of sympathetic
patience, for she is working her way slowly
toward better conditions and in time will
prove herself a creditable neighbor
GEORGE MCPHERSON HUNTER.
New York, Oct. 10, 1916.