Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1920-12-29
LABOR PROBLEM THE HARD
EST NUT IN MEXICO THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS TO CRACK
Long Oppressed, Strong Tendency
Now shown TO Accept Radical
Propaganda.
By RALPH H. TURNER

By RALPH II. TURNER
UNITED States Press CorrespondenD
WASHINGTON. DEC. When
General Alvaro Obregon finished with
his inauguration as'president OF Mex
leo the other day and took over his
desk in the national palace, his first
remarks to the newly appointed cab
met was probably something like
this;
"Now then, gentlemen. let's get
to work on this labor situation"
Obregon may not have used just
those words, but he realizes with Ill
certainty that Mexlco's industrial
situation represents the most critical
internal problem that the country
faces today. 0bregon's friends de-
clare that had he been able 20 oc-
cupy the presidential chair directly
following the overthrow OF Carranza,
Mexico would have escaped the deli.
cate state of affairs that has been
created by the Mexican working man,
with the aid of the foreign agitator
ObreGon bears the reputation of be-
ing a strong man. quick of decision
and aggressive when he begins to
act.
1t was necessary. however, to choose
president add interim. That job
fell to Adolfo de la Huerta, thor
oughly likeable, pleasant sort of per-
sin, but sometimes passive, always
conciliatory and-according to the
employers side of it's too much
of sliberalo bimsdaf to deal sue
cessfully with labor problems. It
was difficult, too, for a provisional
government to adopt measures of a
lasting nature
AS result, the Mexican laborers
state of mind has developed in less
than six months from placid salts
faction or mild discomfort to con-
dition of nationwide demand for
higher wages and shorter hours, with
a determination to achiece this aim,
whatever the cost may be. And on
several occasions, in different parts
of the country, his efforts have as
sumed radical character wherein
labor demonstrations have been pune
tuated by cries of Viva la Soviet"
viva Russia!" or other slogans per-
tanning to Bolshevism or "the tri-
umph of the proletarlat." 1t Is that
phase of the Mexican labor situation
that Is creating uneasness today and
will demand the full attention of the
new president, Obregon.
It is not the purpose, here, to dwell
on the justice of injustice of the Mex
lean laborer's cause. For years, un-
doubtediy, he was one of the poorest
paid workers in the world. Also, his
standard of living was one of the
lowest in the world and It took little
to satisfy his wants. But today, the
Mexican day laborer. who q year ago
probably was receiving two pesos
Zone dollar) daily, is demanding four
and five pesos. The increases asked
are greater, of course, as the skill
of the particular job is enhanced.
In the past three months Strikes
have been almost perpetual. They
have occurred in every part OF the
country, from the Texas border to
the state of Yucaton. They have in
cluded the coal miners in the state
of Coahuila, the textile workers In
the state of Puebla and the vicinity
pico, the stevedorescmfwo rshrdluc
of Mexico City, the railway shopmen,
employees OF the oil companies at
Tampico,. the stevedores at Vera
Cruz and scores OF other occupa-
tions. Strikes frequently have been
ayerted, as in the case of the tram
way employees OF Mexico City, by the
employers acceding to the demands
rather than suspend operation.
Through all Of these movements
group of radical agitators has work {
ed increasingly to promote the un-
rest and profit by II In the interest
Of Bolshvism-though very few Mex {
lean laborers know any more about /
Bolshevism than they do about the
theiry. Many OF these rad s
cal leaders are forelgners-Ameri-
,ans. Russians or Spariards, who at |
tempt to direct the movement. pub @
ish red" literature end call meet n
ngs which discuss the grievances OF
he Mexican workers and the princi- C
,les of Communism in the same C
breath. Communistic magazines are 4
published and there has been formed p
he "communistic Federation CT the n
Mexican Proletariat" which repre- II
Ients the extreme left Of Mexican +