The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-14
THE MISTAKES OF MEXICO.

It is announced that Henry Ford in
tends to establish several plants for
the manufacture of his tractor in
Mexico. The plans for the first one
call for the investment of S1,000,oo0,
and Mr.. Ford states that the profits
from the Mexican business will not be
taken out of Mexico. but invested for
the development Of business in that
country.
This will be good news there il the
people understand the benefits which
come from.the development of stable
industries. Mr.. Ford does not person
ally need any income from the Mex
lean plants. They will be worth much
to Mexico but nothing to him, in any
material or economic sense. He will
be gratified If they prosper and dis
appointed IL they do not, but Mexico's
stake in the enterprise is more tan
gible and vital.
OF course Mr.. -Fords policy in in
vesting surplus profits for the devel-
opment of other or larger business is
the common policy of business men.
But for the profits OF the automobile
business there would be no Ford trace
tor plant in either Mexico or the Unit
ed States.
1t is pertinent in this connection
says the bulletin issue Of the National
upon what the progress of Mexico
would have been in the last seven
years. and especially irf the last four
years, if there had been no revoli-
tion.sand order and protection to in
| dustry and investments had been
maintained. The country is store
house of the raw materials needed in
| industry the world over, besides hav-
| ing large capacity for food produc-
| ton. 1t had in 1910 a population of
| 100000 people, lacking the, capital
and industrial experience to utilize
these resources even for their own
use. Development was then under
way, millions OF foreign capital had
been invested and its investment had
created employment for thousands of
| the Mexican people. Wherever this
had occurred the condition of the peo-
pie was rapidly improving. Wages
were advancing. schools were multi
plying, and the standards of living
were rising.
| The war would have given an enor-
nous impetus to Mexico's deve1p-
ment. There has been a world short
age of silver, copper, lead. oil, sugar
and other products of the country
the output of which might have beer
1 tyra 1xy IN ~, re 40
| The resources were there, the labor
supply was there. and conditions were
such that capital would have poured
! into the country from the United
| States as never before. There would
haye been work for every man and
woman who could be, induced to work
and at wages never before approach
1 ed in Mexico. The country would
have had an industrial experience
revoIutionizing in its influence.
Not only would the newly-importe6
capital have established permanent
industries. but the profits OF these in.
dustries would Nave been likewise in.
vested every dollar of capital Great.
ing new demands for labor. The buy.
ing power of the MEXICAN people
would have been doubled. thus open.
ing new opportunities in all the homs
industries and stimulating the ener.
gies and faculties of the people.
Unfortunately, Mexico during tn,
last seven years has been in the throe,
Of revolution. Destructive instead O.
constructive influences have had sway
No doubt real grievances existed UNI
der the old regime and many partici
pated in the revolution from homes
and patriotic motives, but the lessor
of these seven years Of disorder 4
none the less impressive.