The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-30

The man whom we are quoting OBJ I
tanned options on two million acres |
of land at dollar an acre. He asked |
the officials of the present Mexican
administration whether, if these lands
were bought by Americans, the titles
would be considered good. The reply
was that the government would hold
the titles good The land in question
was wild land covered with forest,
but rich in soil and well-watered. The
timber on it alone was worth many
times the purchase price. There was
a scattering of mahogany OF which
single trees would be worth six TO
eight hundred dollars each laid down
in New York.
This mans clients did not buy on
the options which he obtained. And
the reason they did not buy was that
a few days after he returned from
Mexico there was a great radical
demonstration in Mexico City. More
than 5000 men marched in a parade
bearing the red flag of Bolshevism.
Should bolsheyist revolution over
throw the present government, it is
doubtful whether any titles to large
areas of land held by nonresident in
vestors would be good. These areas
would probably be divided among the
landless poor. The small land owner
living on his land would probably not
be moleSted.
Reds Are Strong
This growing strength of the Red
element in Mexico is the unknown
factor in the situation, according to
our informant. He says that the
strength of this element has never
been realized in this country. He
| points out that when Red demonstra-
| ton can get 5000 men in line, and
when the demonstration is carried out,
| red flags and all, without molestation,
! the Reds are political force to be
| reckoned with. On the other hand,
| the great estates are rapidly being
| broken up, and the land distributed in
| small tracts among the poems. No
| doubt each peon who gets a good farm
ceases to be a Bolshevist forthwith
! and becomes a Constitutionalist
When all who want land have been
given land, the extreme radicalism
will be confined to the industrial work
ers in the large cities, and in Mexico
they are small fraction of the popu.
lation
! The trouble is, according to our in
formant, that the breaking up of the
big estates is being carried out clum
silly and in a way that disrupts the
economic life of the country The
great land owners are being dispos
sessed of their lands without any com
pensation. They move away, taking
their livestock and tools. The peon.
who are given the land have neither
animals nor machinery with which t.
work it. The result is confusion anc
idle land
Il An instance Is related of a man WHIT
owned $4,000 acres of land. He en-
ployed all of the several hundred in
| habitants of village, mostly Indians
! His land was taken away from hin
and given TO the Indians. He gather
| ed up his possessions, including hi
| horses and cattle, and prepared L
| move. A delegation from the Indian
! waited upon him, hat in hand The
| begged him not to go away, pointin
out that they had no means of cult.
| waiting the land An agreement wa
| finally reached by which he furnishe
| seed, tools and livestock while the Ir
dians furnished the land. 1t is farm
! | ed on shares. Everything goes o.
! ! much as before. The former landlor
4 is now the renter, and the forme
! renters are now the landlords. Blu
the difference is nominal. Everyon
had plenty to eat before and everyon
! still has plenty to eat.
- In other instances the adjustment
= has not been made so easily. Land
n have been left idle Dispossesse
:. landlords have sold out and hav
:, left the country.
~ 1t would seem to be this readjus
9 ment of the land tenure which threa
- ems the stability of the country Ono
4 it is over, the country will probabl
settle down to an era of productio
C and prosperity, if it is not disturbe
s from without, For it will be a Ian
q Of contented agriculturists ownin
: their own land. Such men furnish u
. stuff for revolution. MeXico's 10 year
a of revolution have been caused /
II political opportunists leading bands
s land-hungry poems. With the Ian