The Washington times., 1921-08-28

Mexico, I have returned to
the capital surprised at the power
the country possesses for assimilat-
ing the returning Mexicans and
other immigrants.
A few weeks ago the press, on
both sides of the international
boundary line, was crying out that
the thousands of Mexicans return.
Ing home from the United States,
were rushing out of the frying pan
into the fire. The wretched condi-
ton of the districts to which they
were returning formed a daily part
OF the press reports. Yet 1 found
Mexico considerably better than I
left II six years ago.
1 visited places to which several
hundreds of Mexicans had returned
within the past month or six weeks;
and found they had all been alb
sorbed into the active life Of the
community, or were being taken care
Of, SO that neither they nor the COM
munity upon which they had thrust
themselves appeared to be in the
slightest inconvenienced thereby.
A STRANGE NATION.
But Mexico is a strange country,
In many ways. And the inexperi-
enced press correspondent who
PUSHES into II and sees one phase of
its life is too apt to Judge it by this
one phase, without suspecting that
there are behind 1t perhaps a score
Of other most common phases which
are there to make head against II
and to inevitably overcome it.
One of the things that one should
never forget in sizing up any situa-
ton In Mexico is that the popula-
ton is largely Indian and mestizo;
and that it has largely the Indian
point of view and the Indian man.
ner Of life. Before the Spanish con-
quest of the country. from 1921 on.
the masses of people lived largely
a community life; and they were.
consequently, constantly helping
one another. This same community
spirit is strong in Mexico today
among the laboring classes.
If one il out of work he can de-
pend upon his relatives and friends
to help him until he can help him
self. But he generally has not long
to wait for work; for the word is
passed quietly among the masses,
with wonderful rapidity, that poems.
masons, carpenters are wanted at
a certain place, or by a certain con-
tractor or labor agent.
Indians having little piece of
land will invite a less lucky rela-
tive or friend. out, of employment,
TO come and work with them on
shares until times are better. Thus
communities which, to all appear
ances, are scarcely able to support
themselves. will often receive an in
crease of population of from so to
100 per cent and absorb it and con-
tinue quietly the even tenor OF their
POWER 90 ABSORPTION.
Behind this wonderful power OF
absorption of population Of an In
dian community lie several factors
which the ordinary observer does
not noice. The Indian never works
up to full capacity; nor produces TO
the full extent OF production. He
has, therefore. always a great deal
of reserve power. His needs are
small; and his capacity for produc-
ton several times greater than his
needs. These fountains Of reserve
are automatically let loose when a
sudden influx Of population strikes
an Indian or mestizo village or COM
munity in Mexico. There is'a per-
ceptible quickening Of activity, and
increased production, just enough to
meet the needs of the newcomers.
with this exception, the life OF the
community flows on much as before.
This wonderful power Of ABSORB
ton Is not only taking care Of the
thousands of returning Mexicans;
but 1t Is capable of taking care Of
mapy more.
The reconstruction work taking
.sIacs on the railways Is employing
many of the Mexicans from the
United States, because a good per.
oentage of them worked as railway
hands across the border. Some OF
the smaller mines are timidly trying
to do business once more; and here
other returning Mexicans are find
ing work.
The distribution OF lands among
the rural population in many sec
tions has created a scarcity of labor
where but few years ago there
was plenty. The subdivision Of the
large landed estates has had two
effects favorable to the returning
Mexican. II has created field
for his labor where, otherwise,
there probably would not have been
any and It has placed his friends
and relatives in a position to help
him. should he need help.