The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-24
Foreign Agitators Creating I'm
rest Among the Ranks
: of the Working
+: People.
STRIKES ARE COMMON
President 0bregon Hopes to
Remedy Trouble by Pass
ing Labor Law and
Other Methods.
By RALPH II. TURNER

day and took over his desk in the nation
al palace, his first remark to the neWll
appointed cabinet was probably some
thing like this:
Now then, gentlemen, let's get II
work ON this labor siiuaiion!"
obregon may not have used just thos,
words, but he realizes with all certainty
that Mexico's industrial situation repre-
sents the most critical internal problem
that the counry faces today. 0bregon
friends declare that had he been able ID
occupy the presidential chair directly fol
lowing the overthrow Of Carranza, Mex
leo would have escaped the delicate state
OF affairs that has been created by the
Mexican working man, with the aid Of
the foreign agitator. Obregon bears the
reputation Of being a strong man. quick
oi decision and aggressive when he be-
gins 10 act.
Ii was necessary. however. to choose
president sd interim. That job fell to
Adoifo de Ia Hueria, a thoroughly like
able. pleasant sort Of person, but some
times passive, always concilialory and
according to the employers side of it
too much of 3 liberal" himself to deal
successfully with labor problems. IL was
difficult, too, for a provisional govern
mcnt 10 adopt measures Of lasting ma
fure
As a result, the Mexican Iaborer's
state Of mind has developed in less than
six months from placid satisfaction or
mild discomfort TO a condition Of nation
wide demand for higher wages and short
er hours, with 4 determination to achieve
this aim, whatever the cost may be. And
ON several occasions. in different parts
Of the country, his efforts have assumed
a radical character wherein labor demon
siraiions have been punciuated by cries
OF Viva Ia Soviet Viva Russia!" or
other slogans pertaining TO bolshevism or
the triumph Of the prolelarita~ Ii is
fhat phase Of the Mexican labor situation
that is creating uneasiness today and will
demand the full attention Of the new
president. 0bregon.
POORLY PAID WORKERS
IL is not the purpose. here, to dwell on
the justice or injustice Of the Mexican
labJrer's cause. For years. undoubtedly.
he was one Of the poorest paid workers
in the world. Also, his standard Of liv
ing was one Of the lowest in the world
and it took little to satisfy his wants.
Bat today, the Mexican day laborer. who
a year ago probably was receiving two
pesos (slD daily, is demanding four or
five pesos. The increases asked are
greater. Of course. as the skill Of the par.
iicuiar job is enhanced.
In the past three months strikes have
been almost perpetual They have oc-
CURED in every part Of the country. from
the Texas border to the stale of Yuca.
tan. They have included the coal min.
ers in the state Of Coahuila. the textile
workers in the state Of Puebla and in
the vicinity Of Mexico City. the railway
shopmen, employees Of the oil companies
at Tampico. the sievedores at Vera Cruz
and scores Of other occupations. Strikes
frequently have been averted. as in the
case Of the tramway employees of Mexico
City, by the employers aceeding to the
demands rather than suspend operation.
Through all Of these movements a
group Of radical agitators has worked un-
oeasingly to promote the unrest and pro-
fiji by il in the interest Of bolsheyism
than they do about the Einstein theory.
Many Of these radical leaders are forign-
ers-Americans, Russians or Spaniards-
who attempt TO direct the movement. pub
lisl red literature and call meetings
Which discuss the grievances Of the Mex.
ican worker and the principles of com.
munism in The same breath. Commun.
istic magazines are published and there
has been formed the ~Communistic Fed.
eralion Of the Mexican Proleiariai.'
which represents the extreme left of
Mexican labor. Thus. a situation has
been created similar To that which our
own Samuel Compers experienced
namely. a struggle for the upper hand
between the conservative and radical Ia
; Dor elements Thus far. the Mexican
Federation Of labor. which Is designed TO
maintain parallel lines with the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor and Of which
the Communistic Federation is an off,
shoot. has retained the majority.
The communist element. at meeting
which the writer attended, attempted re.
oenly to call a general strike in Mxico
City. Therewere ample -yivas' for Tro,.
ky and Lenin but the strength Of the
reds was not sufficient to swing the
strike
PREDICTs INDUSTRIAL BOOM
0bregen has two principle remedies
for the present critical situation. He be.
lieves. first. that one Of the difficulties
is the lack OF an adequate labor law and
one Of his frs, acts as president will be
to introduce bill before Congress set.
ting forth the privileges and the duties"
Of both capital and labor. Secondly. he
considers that the industrial DEVELOPMENT