The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-12-20
MEXICO NOW SEES NEW
HOPE IN PRES. OREGON
Weakness of Nation Is the Alb:
w
! .ence of Any Middle
' Class of People
BY Ralph n. Turner
limited Press CORRESPONDENCE

come keenly philosophical in a coun- !,
try where revolutions have been fea-
tured turnout that country's history.
Everyday philosophy in Mexico
therefore, philosophy which ire
quently is expressed by no more imam
shrug of the shoulders oeen
developed to the highest point. Ana
yet even the Mexican, despite ms
/ feeling of. indifference, is preparing
today to begin life over again. ne is
going ahead in anticipation OF
"new DEAF, believing that he and his
children have greater cause for hope
than at any time in the last ten
years.
That spirit, with its varied mani
festations, is the index to the social
condition OF Mexico today. 1t repre-
sents the thought of Mr.. Average
Man. -
The whole population, with the ex-
ception of a few disgruntled polltl-
clans and military men, is sick OF
revolution; the country mis- been
looted from one end to the other.
And so the Mexican makes ready
for another start. People who flood
|
ces, because the capital offered
greater degree of shelter from ma
rauding rebels, are beginning now to
retrace their steps. They are going
back to the farm or the store. Ex-
| lies who were expelled by one or the
! other of the various regimes since the
fall of Porfirid Diaz in 1910 are
streaming home from New York and
London, Paris and, Madrid.
I But the present is Still the period
of transition. Not until the new gov
eminent finds it's stride and turns its
attention to a score of pressing do
nestle and international problems,
at the same time obtaining financial
and moral aid from abroad; will Mex
lean national life approach a state OF
well-being. In the meantime, the
Mexican offers further proof-if such
were needed-that human nature re-
mains the same, no matter how many
international boundary lines are
CROSSED. The Mexican goes to the
movies (American movies), grumbles
; about the high cost OF living. and
loves his children. =,
in Mexico City, a thoroughly mod
ern capital, he attends the theatre,
stages an exuberant party with about
the same regularity as an American
did in the pre-amendment days and
goes to the bull fight on SundaAaft-
, ernoon. He is devout Catholic, but
has never heard Of a IL blue law" He
probably spends his mon ey> more Law
, ishly than an Anglo-SaXon person
with a similar Income. The cost CT
living, for a Mexican with atcomfort-
[ able income, needn't vary much from
b. what it costs in the United State. One
, thing just about balances another.
He must pay more for great many
articles, because they are imported,
: but he can maintain a whole corps
, of servants for the same expenditure
Grande north.
Vegetables, fruit and some kinds OF
| the meats (the goat, especially the
kid, is popular), cost less than In
an American metropolis. Fuel is a
minor item in Mexico City, because
5 of the temperate climate. If the Mex
lean lives at hotel, he may pay any
where from 81 to Sc Omitted States
currency a day for his room, though
: he won't receive the modern accomo-
dations that most Americans demand,
5 House rents are high, as practically
no building has been done during
the revolutionary days. 1t is begin
:, ming now to revive.
One difficulty with life in Mexico
: City-the one that most Americans
!, encounter-is the social. condition
, that has overlooked any provision for
the middle class. The high class
: Mexican GENERALLY limits his bust
! ness activities to either owning prop
:. erty, and deriving the income there
, from, or playing some part in the
I management of the government.
= Both have been paying propositions
in tho past. The merchandising
= business and the operation of mines,
Z oil properties andk other resources Is
generally in the hanas Of foreigners.
: The poorer Glasses get along the best
\ they can. Frequently their condition
r seemA pitifdl to an American. 1t is
! common for three or four people to
] live, sleep and eat in one ROOM. The
! room Doesn't have to be large one,
, either Beans and corn are the chief
'. articles of diet. The cotton gar
: ments, a sombrero and pair Of san
t dals are the principal forms of raj
e ment worn by the people Of the poor
!, est class. How a Mexican clerk can
- live on one hundred pesos ($5O) a
: month. and present a good appear
! ance, may seem beyond comprehen-
r sion, but it is done. Almost the best
= in Mexican servants may be obtained
!, for tweny or twenty-five pesos
monthly.
As result of the social structure,
. an American may have difficulty to
;. avoid the alternatives of living either
as an oil magnate or q day laborer.
q For instance, there are no quick
!. lunch" restaurants in Mexico City.
v Dinner, in the middle of the day. is
, an event which requires the, fullest
! attention. Business houses close from
1 to 3. sometimes longer, The time
is devoted largely to eating. and then
to sleeping. After a full Mexican
metl the siesta is almost indispen-
: sable and comes easily, as sleep comes
to one who is drusged.
/, But there's another alibi for sleep