Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-13
AGRAR|AN PLAN
IS ANT|QUATED
ESTRADA CLAIMS
Man Named to Take Over
Post of Secretary of Az
riCuIture in Mexico Craps"
Policy of VilIareal.

Mexico City, Dec. 12.--Indis-
criminate division of land among
masses OF the people, such as pro-
vided in the program of the ma
tional agrarian commission head
ed by General Villareal, former
minister of agriculture, is de-
scribed as "antiquated and unap-
plicable under modern conditions
by General Estrada, named to take
over the portfolio of agriculture.
General Estrada announced he
will not accept the post unless
President Obregon reposes COM
plete confidence in him to work
out the land problem along lines
radically opposite to those of per
sons who believe q solution rests
fundamentally on the restoration
and transfer of town lands.
If he takes over the post he de-
clares he will be guided by the
principle that every person Is wor-
thy of his hire and deserves the
reward arising from his material
and mental effort. He says he will
endeavor to solve the land ques-
ton Justly and Gonseryatively.
Reversal Is Predicted.
General Estrada's declarations
are characterized by the newspa-
pers as the forerunner to complete
reversal of the federal agrarian
policy to which much objection,
especially foreign, has been made.
Describing the idea of commun-
al lands as dating back to the days
Of the Spanish conquerors and
untenable now because the mod
ern idea of individual effort must
be rewarded, he denies that re-
turning the lands to the towns and
taking them away from the present
owners is carrying out revolu-
tionary idea.
He continues:
private ownership of lands
should be subject to rules imposed
by the necessity and requirements
of the masses, the original owners.
But ] do not admit the ACCESSIBILITY
of common ownership, and am full
ly convinced that the system of
private ownership, conditional ami
in accordance with the system es-
tablished by our constitution, is the
only rational and just method
capable of causing the earth to
render the largest possible produc-
ton.
III President Obregon reposes
sufficient confidence in me to APP
point me secretary | think a sys-
TEN of transferring land to such
towns and the request for allot-
1Ann1 nt n oh
be continued, but only on purely
constitutional basis, without re-
peating the error of deceiVing our
selves by thinking that this alone
constitutes solution OF the agra
rian problems.
solution of the agrarian prob
lem is not and should not be the
object of political propaganda. but
we must emphasize the fact that
such solution is not based on the
transfer of lands to the towns, but
on the parcelling of large tracts
in accordance with the constitu
ton"
Causes Comment.
General Estradas declaration
has caused much comment, espe-
cially among foreign land owners,
Many observers, who had predict
ed o sharp modification of the gov
ernments agrarian policy, assert
that General Estrada's statement is
in a sense inspired and that he
doubtless will be designated to
carry out the new program.
The national agrarian commits
sion as constituted under General
Villareal is virtually disbanded and
II is expected new commission
will be named. Under this COM
appropriation of lands
was carried out extensively, and
the Mexican foreign office has re-
ceived many protests, including
interests.
Senior Villarears extreme views
haye been the subject of much
comment. Ell Univer-
sal was so outspoken about Villa
real that several days ago a street
between him and Edi-
tor Valavacini was narrowly
averted.
Ell Demokrata asserts it has
semi official information that Cen
eral Amado Aguirre, secretary of
and public works,
will be named minister of agri-
culture.
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