Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-25
zAPATA DIES, HIS EMPIRE
OF BLOOD IN MEXICO
CRUSHED BY KINDNESS

means-bread enough. freedom. hap
piness."
Before 1 went out among the peo-
pie, Gonzales told me the history of
Morelos and the Suriano Indians-one
of tyranny of the haciendados; of de-
struction by Zapata; of his own prac-
teal plans of reconstruction.
He told me of the richness of More
los soil. with two heavy crops a year,
sometimes four: of land paying the
agricnlturist four hundred for onei
Where other generals of various re-
giines had failed to subdue the Surf
anas with campaigns of terror Con-
zales a come with a plan of o n
ciliation.
Amnesty was proclaimed. The Sur
ianos were told to surrender their
arms, receive a bonus Of ten dollars
for each gun, seed, farming nipple
tain ands and steady jobs with good
pay and short hours. 1t won!
Here is what Gonzales did,:
Seized 265 acres from an hacienda
bordering Cuautla and told the over
crowded people to build homes.
Gave them protection from haci-
endado and marauder.
Reduced the fourteen hour work
ing day TO eight hour and raised the
wage from fifty centavos to from one
dollar TO a dollar and a half.
Opened schools. hired more teach
ers, doubled their salaries and put
every child to studying.
Told the fifteen owners or admins
traitors of the entire state Of Morelos
they would have to gst out of the
country.
Permitted individuals to lease the
great haciendas from the owners pay
ing a nominal rent and guaranteeing
all taxes. Permitting poems who
wished to work for themselves to oc-
cupy untitled portions of the planta-
lions.
To the administrators of the great
estates he submitted a plan to frac-
ton the land. He told them their
monopoly was gone, blu promised fair
remuneration. They accepted!
The estates, some of which were
originally given to courtiers by the
four centuries owners have not seen
are being divided into farms of from
ten to 1000 acres. No man is to own
less tina ten or more thar 1000.
The land is to sell at from ten to
one hundred dollars an acre accord
A peon may buy by paying one-tenth
down the balance by installments In
ten years.
No peon is to mortgage or sell his
landowners will participate in uncall-
landowners will participate in uncell-
ed for rebellion.
He has planned to harness the tur-
bulent Balsas river to furnish
water. light and power to the entire
state. He has planned an electric line
to traverse the state and connect with
the interurbans just outside Mexico
City.
He is teaching intensive farming to
the former Zapatistas, and, by means
Of lectures and movies, is showing the
Indian the progress of the civilized
world. He has organized bands to
furnish music to the Indians-not
doleful. weepy stuff but gladstone en-
ergy-supplying jazz.
He is furnishing free Transports
ton into the state for colonists and
their freight. has appointed civil adj
ministrative officials and has made the
Surianos their own policemen. Hos
pitfalls, clinics and free markets have
been erected.
He has impressed the Indian that
there will be no monopolies.
I heard him refuse to permit a hotel
keeper to open a second hotel when
his original hostelry became over
crowded. Nothing hat savors of
monopoly" he told the man