The Washington herald., 1917-02-11

crumbs. on the, bare board table was
a battered tin coffee pot used as
vase to hold bunch of flowers. When
the dishes had been cleared away the
governor used the table for desk and
examined a lot of state papers on it.
OF course, he did not have to do
anything of the kind. He could have
the most gorgeous and elaborate sur
roundings IL he cared for them. But
he doesn't He prefers simplicity. He
is a democrat in every sense.
1t is a very good thing for the United
States that Alvarado is to remain gov
ernor of Yucatan, for he is warm
friend of Americans and a great admirer
of this country. He believes that Mex
leo should take example from US and
strive to emulate her big sister at the
north. have heard him say so In max
ing speech to his officers. 1t was at a
dinner he gave them. when there were
some 800 present. Not only did he tell
them to wake up and copy the United
States and be broad minded. but he also
said that in his opinion President Wilson
was one OF the greatest men that ever
lived.
Surprising as it may seem, those OFF,
GERS applauded and cheered that senti-
ment and they had just been getting
ready to fight us, too. With a few gov
ernors like Alvarado in Mexico that anti
Gringo sentiment would be brought down
to minimum.
Being a socialist by belief and an ideal
list by nature as soon as Alvarado got
control of Yucatan he set to work to
install some of his Utopian theories.
Fortunately there was no one to say
him nay and he was able to bring about
great reforms in remarkably short
time. The result is that Yucatan Is the
one state in Mexico today where condi-
tions are absolutely satisfactory. Alva-
| RADIO hopes that this Is only the begin
ming and that the same condition will in
time pervan all over the republic. When
| it does the Mexican question will have
been solved forever and the curtain
rung down on Mexico's terrible tragedy
of murder and pillage and rape and
wrong that has been played there for
centuries
Among the reforms promulgated and
actually enforced by Gen. Alvarado with
| in eighteen months are the laws provid-
ing for division of the public lands
! among the poor. Commissioner of Immi-
grafton Howe. of New York, the other day
| started similar agitation in this coun-
try, whereby the vast tracts of land kept
| unused by the government or private
| corporations for speculative purposes
| should be cut up into ready-made farms
| for emigrants. Alvarado has already done
it in Yucatan. Anybody there can have
land for the asking to cultivate. but not
| to sell.
He instituted an eight-hour working
day and five and half days as a work
ing week. Also the minimum wage for
all laborers and the abolition of child la
Dor and the regulation Of female labor.
Compensation for accidents in factory
and field is now enforced by law.
There is compulsory education all over
the state and three thousand schools
have been founded. The manufacture and
| sale Of intoxicating liquors has been alb
solutely stopped. Gambling has also been
suppressed and the vice districts wiped
| out. There are also up-to-date hygeinic
regulations for the protection of the pub
| lie health.
Moreover, the courts have been puri-
fed and poor man can now get JUS
tice. That was unknown in the old days
of corruption and graft. The laws were
then for the poor man only. The rich
man was immune and unmolested no
matter what he did.
Under this broad-minded rule of Alva-
RADIOS Yucatan has become rich and pros
porous. The Yucatan money now Is as
good as any. Last summer the governor
put it on gold basis and has the gold in
the state vaults to back it I'D with, II
any one doubts that he can go there and
see II. I've seen 1t. They Will show it
freely. A Yucatan peso is now worth
| fifty cents American money and that is
all it pretends 20 be worth. 1t is not
only worth that, but you can get the
American money for 1t at that rate
So with all these things to be thankful
for. the Yucatacans won't let Alvarado
take a rest. Conquerer of their land that
he is. he is also their idol. He has re-
Gently endeared himself still more to
them by marrying Yucatan young lady
She is beautiful and charming. 1t is now
safe to prophesy that Salvador Alvarado
will remain a fixture in Yucatan.
(Copyrirh Io47A