Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-12-02
han TO SETTLE
MExICO'S UNREST
|Iogram is Offered BY Nine
Political Refugees.
|ALLoT LIMIT FIRST STEP

10 D;sfrancbise lIIiteratc and Build
Up Free Education the Cornerstone.
FAR Play and Friendship With the
uniteo States.
Washington. An analysis of
dexico's problems, with program
or their solution is presented In an
pen letter to the Mexican people be-
ng circulated In Mexico signed by
line members of group OF political
efugees In the United States.
They are Manuel Calero, minister
or foreign affairs and later ambas-
lAdor to the United States under Ma
hero; Francisco b. Carajal, former
hief justice of the supreme court, aDG
president ad interim following Victori-
me Huerta; Juan b. Castelazo, banker
Ind former senator; Toribio Esquibel
Dbregon, minister of finance in Huer-
2a's cabinet; Jesus Flores Magon, min
ster of the interior in Madero's cab
net Thomas MacManus, former sena-
or; Rafael Martinez Carrillo, former
senator; Miguel Ruelas, former gen.
eral in the federal army, and Jorge
Vera Estanol, minister Of education In
cabinets of Portirio Diaz and Victori-
Spo Huerta.
Fifteen major problems, including
the land and labor questions, internal
iOnal relations, education and the f.
nanciaf rehabilitation of the country
are outlined.
As means for making real democ-
racy effective In Mexico" the letter
advocates limiting the ballot, federal
land state, to Mexican citizens, not I'M
der twenty-one years old, who can
read and write the Spanish language
and have means of livelihood. This
would bar the great mass of illiterate
Indians, except in municipa. elections,
until they had been given an oppor-
tunity to learn to read and write Span
ish, provision for which is made under
| the heading of education.
Illiteracy IS declared to be the great
est menace to the country, the latter
asserting that 10000 grade schools
should be established by government
assistance. The CarranZa policy OF
! limiting private initiative in education
! is condemned.
The Carranza constitutional doctrine
relating to land is condemned as
"wholly unrealizable" because of the
need of foreign capital for develop
ment. The right of workmen 10 strike
and collective bargaining are indorsed,
but the right of employers is also re-
cognized to close their shops when not
In violation of labor contracts. The
eight hour law is approved in princi-
pie.
frank and open international pol
/ icy Is urged, particularly toward the
United States. Treaties with lie
United States TO settle all boundary
disputes, facilitate trade and unity
railway connections are said to be
Immediately necessary. The letter
suggests also the establishment of q
2mixed claims commission to take up
international claims, and contends
that Mexicans as well as foreigners
should be reimbursed for losses and
damages to property.
The Mexican public debt, as get
forth in this document, exclusive of
claims, restoration of rolling stock
and properties seized from foreigners
and natives, is estimated to lie 1900
100000 pesos. This must be paid, the
sigaers say, and the potential resources
Of the country are declared to be more
than equal to the task.
In the reconstruction of the country,
the letter says, foreign capital is abb
solutely indispensable, and every en-
couragement should We given for In
vestment, through private channe-z
and not through government connec-
tons.
In this section also the Carranza
policy toward foreigners and foreign
capital Is condemned as INSPIRED In
. hostility toward everything foreign.