The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-25
MEXICO ALL RIGHT F GIVEN CHANCE
 ASSERTS JOHNSON
Machinists Head, on Return From Convention, Gives Facts
 About Country.

kind during what now promises to be an era of peace. For the past 10 years the country has been Ill state of war, but the people are now pacified and appear to have great confidence that President ObregOn and his government will establish and maintain political and industrial tranquility"
 Thus spoke William E. Johnston, president of the International Associa- tion of Machinists, when asked by Labor" to give impressions gained dur ing his trip to Mexico City, where he went to attend the convention of the Pan-American Federation of Labor MT. Johnston returned by rail in order to visit lodges of machinists in Texas and other southern points, while Presi- dent Gompers, of the American Fed eration of Labor, and other members of the delegation are returning on a steamship from the Mexican port of Vera Cruz.
 Asked as to the sentiment of dele gates from Central and South Ameri- can nations, MT. Johnston said the people of those countries, particularly the workers, are becoming uneasy over the growing imperialistic attitude of the United States and the Sending of troops to collect questionable debts for pri- vate corporations. They want a more definite pledge that the United States will recognize the independence and ] complete autonomy of all countries. Repeated threats of invasion, printed in the newspapers, have aroused deep suspicion that the United States placed the dollar sign above the flag of free dom.
 "I was much impressed with the ia ! vorable attitude of the present Mexican government toward labor" said MT. Johnston. "The new constitution is one of the most liberal and progressive in the world. Among other things 1t specifically declares that labor asso- citations formed to protect the interests of the 1aboring classes do not consti- tute monopolies.' This removes labor unions from blighting decrees of the courts and Is quite a contrast with the treatment given labor unions in the United States.
 Many Ot the government officials are members of organized labor. Louis Moronis, president of the Mexican Fed eration of Labor, IS chief of the military l cOmmissary department and ranks as a cabinet minister. The governor of the federal district in which the City of i Mexico is located Is a union shoe maker"
 Now that peace has been restored, what, progress are the workers mak? ing?"
 "The government not only looks with favor upon organized labor, but is assis
 ing the workers to form unions much on the line with the plan followed | for instance, have adopted practically the same constitution and procedure as ours. During the last six months there were 1S7 strikes for better conditions in the federal district comprising Mexico City and the workers won them all. The federal law provides that any per son discharging an emp1oye unjustly or for belonging to a labor union must re-employ the worker or pay him three | motnhs' wages. In four states the law prohibits any one from taking the place of an employe on strike.''
 What of the stability of the present government and the attitude of the people toward President Obregon and his cabinet" ?"
 "I could not help being impressed with the general good will found in all parts | of Mexico visited and feel that the president is determined to inaugurate rule of the people in place of a few landowners as in the past. The people appear to have every confidence in President Obregon and his associates. Of course, there are some radicals and discontents, but they constitute a very small minority.
 Il had a tWO-hour conference with General Gales, prime minister, who was | formerly governor of Sonora. He told me of the wonderfully constructive program for Mexico now under way. He explained how the army is being de- mobilized and each slider given farm, | with money and equipment furnished by | the government. The idea is to make ] property so far as possible. The pre- mier said the newspapers had tried to make 1t appear that Mexicans were ex- elusive and do not favor the incoming of people from other countries. We | welcome Americans and Europeans alike, said the prime minister, and especially do we want teachers
 Il was given to understand that the only class not welcome was capitalistic ] exploiters, such as have been responsi- ble for much of the b1oodshed in Mex l ico. Henceforth all corners, rich and poor alike, must respect the law. . Especially do we want the good will ; and cooperation of the United States,' I said the prime minister.
 l While General Gales was governor
 
 | their employees and were ordered to pay 1 the men for time lost, amounting to i S0O,OOO. This order was complied with | when the governor let ti be known that he would take control and operate the mines. Then the owners sent General Gales a bill for the $3O0,0OO, and he i'll turn rendered a bill to the owners in the sum of $35OOO0 for damages done | the state. The owners were compelled to pay the extra $5OOOO added by the governor and this money was used i'll constructing school houses"
 MT. Johnston said the prime minister had explained the many revolutions i'll Mexico as being due to the peons or workers trying to free themselves from | the land owners. He took the state of Moroles os an illustration, where 10 | families owned every foot of the land. Peons received the equivalent of 10 cctns a day. They were always ill debt to their overlords. Marriage, birth and deaths always served to increase this | debt, which was handed down from one generation to another. The workers were thus kept in perpetual bondage. The new constitution abrogated all these debts and fixed $1 as the mini mum for days labor.
 Many humanitarian features are written into the new constitution which