Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-01-02
SisaI Growers Getting Large
Profits on Cooperative
Marketing Agency.
STATE IS ALSO MAKING MONEY
Roads, Docks and Other
Needed Public I'M
provements.

ers and labor unions, has been elected
governor of the state Of Yucatan by
majority of $4,000 votes. The north
western farmer has a peculiar and di.
rect interest in this election, for most
of the sisal hemp used in making
binder Irvine comes from Yucatan, and
Governor Morales is pledged to carry
out the program of Ex-Governor Alva.
RADIO and continue the Comision Regu-
ladora, cooperative scheme for the
producing and marketing Of hemp
which has greatly increased the price
Of this commodity and brought IN
precedented profits to the producers
Of Yucatan.
The campaign that ended with the
election of Governor Morales was a
distinct novelty in Mexican politics,
where the voters usually have been in
Inundated by officials in power. Al
varado, however, provided for a secret
ballot, refused to allow citizens to be
coerced, and allowed all parties the
fullest freedom of speech, sending
troops to guard political meetings so
that there could be no rioting by rival
factions.
Socialists Control Yucatan.
Governor Morales is AZ years old, a
railroad engineer, a prominent official
In the railway employees union and
leader of the Socialist party. He was
opposed to the Huerta regime and has
been a steadfast supporter Of Presi-
dent Carranza.
The anarchy which has involved
most of Mexico for the past five years
never has extended into Yucatan. Gov
ernor Alvarado not only was success
full in preserving order, but his Com
lsion Regulardo, which is a state
monopoly for the marketing of sisal,
brought huge profits to the producers
and left generous commission in
the treasury of the state, consisting
Of money which formerly went to
American middlemen.
The states share Of these profits
has been expended in establishing
system of free public schools and
libraries and in public improvements
such as roads, docks, sewers, bridges,
etc. The Comision Regulardo has
been such success that the people
Of Yucatan have decided TO embark
On an even more ambitious project.
State Railroad Is Planned.
There is no railway connection be-
tween Yucatan and Mexico City and
state cooperative company has been
organized with capital Of $4,000, 900
to build this line. The same company
will construct huge storage oil tanks
at Progreso, electrify the street car
docks. The funds for these enter
prises will come from the profits Of
the sisal which the Yucatan farmers
are selling through their own agency
In the United States.
Labor unions are strong in Yucca
tan and practically all the workers are
organized. The eight-hour day is es-
tablished by law and the city workers
and farmers are joining hands in many
cooperative ventures in addition to
those owned by the state.
Police power is still factor in Mex
leo, however. for instead of having
sheriffs this authority is lodged in the
hands of generals of armies In W.
catan the former governor, Alvarado,
who started the public ownership pro-
gram, will remain in charge of the
military forces and there will be no
suppression Of civil rights so long as
the farmers and workers maintain
their political combination to keep
him in power.