Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-09
Comparison of Affairs Under
Dictatorship. and the
Existing Conditions.
REPORT BY DELEGATES
OPPOSING MILITARISM
Review of the Historical Period
Through Which War-Torn Re-
public Is Passing.

past ana present, III MeAico vas pie
sen,ed by the Mexican members of the
inter-American peace committee, an or
gauization formed by the delegates to
the conference arranged by the Ameri-
can Union Against Militarism, at yes
terday's session of that body. Those
presenting the report were DR.. Att,
Modesto C. ROLAND, and Louis Manuel
Rojas
The report after explaining the con-
ditions in Mexico which led up to the
present revolution, goes on to state the
purposes and accomplishments of car
rama.
Extract From Report.
1t says, in part:
I'm order to explain the historical
period through which Mexico is pass
ing, the series of simultaneous phe-
nomena which have created it ought to
be analysed. The causes that have
brought into danger the harmony be-
tween Mexico and the United States
continue in existence, and it is neces-
sary to discover them with energy and
with precision.
The Mexican nation has been a vast
field exploited by international capital
in combination with the governments
of DiaZ and Huerta and the clerical
party. taking advantage at the same
tional capital. by the use of illegal
methods. arrived at the control of 73
per cent of the national wealth. All
the popular efforts to create Just
social organization always came in
conflict with the great international
interests aided by armed force.
American Interests Noted.
'The great American interests that
int of
cent of the wealth of Mexico are the
most active propagandists of inter-
ventionalist action undertaken to pre-
vent the triumph of the principles of
the Mexican revolution.
II he conflict between the ambitions
of international capital and the rights
of the Mexican people constitutes the
most powerful cause of disagreement
bet Heen the two countries.
The period of warlike convulsion is
closing and reconstructive labor has
air sady commenced. Honest men, mis-
Informed by much that has appeared
in the press. doubt the ability of the
Mexican people to reorganize itself.
Here are some concrete cases that
demonstrate the potent virility of our
people. which is today proceeding res
olutely to the conquest of a wellbeing
to which it has a right.
When the first chief had time, in
Vera Cruz. to commence the reorgani-
cation of his government. even in the
midst of battles, the first law was de-
creed to return to the Indians the como
runal lands of which they had been
6iSDoSseSSed. Properties are being re-
valued. and equitable taxes are being
iriposed that will impede, in the future,
the formation of great holdings.
Effect of Dictatorial Government.
AS municipal administration in
Mexico had disappeared under the ac-
ton of dictatoriaI governments the
greater portion of the communities lost
their political and economic importance
which was absorbed by the central bu-
reaucracies. One of the first steps of
the revolution has been the integral
establishment of the free municipality.
In nearly all the states the regulating
laws have been decreed. and the gen.
. eral election of councils has been called
Tor the first Sunday of next September
4 Iaborers have obtained considerable
social and economic advantages; the
larger proportion of the states have
passed laws establishing a week of
! forty-four hours and day of eight
hours. laws regarding accidents, mini
mum wage. courts of Cancellation and of
arbitration, by means of which the
workers will automatically solve their
. difficulties.
shall not work in factories before the
age of sixteen, that women with child
may have six weeks leave, with full
salary, with reinstatement in their posi-
ton The right of free association is
recognized as inalie sable
The law of divorce has been put in
operation and has produced SO great a
revolution in the public consciousness
that in two years only it has trans
formed the social condition of thou
sands OF women who suffered from the
Moorish slavery established by the
Spnriards.
The revolutionary government has
suppressed in many states the sale Of
alcoholic drinks. In very short time
the good results that this measure is
p .'otucing have become evident.
Results Following Reconstruction.
Since the pacification of the county
is almost concluded, the army is being
reorganized in order to make its func-
tons compatible with democratic insti-
tutions. and to avoid the possibility
that il may serve as the instrument of
political groups, as the federal army
served all the relationships Eighty
per cent of all the public unheavals in
Mexico during the past century were
1ue to military coups.
In this great reconstructive move
ment- Carranza represents the largest
effort toward the realization of popu-
lar ideals and toward the practical
solution OF the problems of Mexico.
The action of Carranza against the
dictatorship of Gen. Huerta was in ac-
cordance with the provision of article
90 of the Mexican constitution of 1851
"Carranza has succeeded. during the
revolutionary period. in unifying the
popular confidence in his personality,
ard has slowly become the effective
center of national efforts.
The American people naturally de-
sire that the Mexican social recon-
struction shall complete itself rapidly