The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-08-27

cised and it's real purpose misrepresent
Real Object of Intervcntionists.
In previous interviews Mr.. Dawson
explained the policy of the Mexican
government Of making its purchases
only from American and Canadian
concerns that deal fairly with organ
ized labor. 1t has secured list of
manufacturers from the Internation-
al Association of Machinists and has
already placed substantial contracts
for various supplies. Negotiations are
pending for additional purchases.
This policy. Mr.. Dawson declares,
has antagonized American "open
shoppers" and oppressors of labor, who
have appealed to the government to
interfere in Mexico's internal affairs.
Demands for Intervention, he claims,
come solely from interests actuated
by ulterior, selfish motives.
The land policy of the Mexican
government" Mr.. Dawson explained,
lis an enlightened as it's Industrial
plan. President Obregon and his ad-
visors are determined to put the
people back on the land. Any citizen
can have as much land as he can ex-
plot with his own labor, without cost
to him. Then the government sup
plies him with machinery, and in ad-
dition pays him peso $50 cents Amer
ican) day until his crops are gather
ed. This assured the settlers a living
during the first and crucial year.
The loan is to be repaid and the
machinery is to be paid for in easy
installnaents extending over period Of
five years, without interest. Special
marketing facilities are to be provided
and the interest of the farmers other
wise safeguard.
Farmers Buy at Cost.
The government buys farm ma
chinery, road tools and other equip
ment in large quantities, securing the
lowest price. Distribution is to be
made from six central stations. One
per cent is added to the original cost, to
cover administration expense, thus as
surns the farmer of the most ad-
vantageous terms in outfitting his
farm.
1T is going to be difficult matter
for mlddlemen to exploit the pro-
ducer under these conditions. The
government, by reason of it's ability
to secure low prices. can undersell
the private distributor, who must of
course, have profit if he hopes to
continue in business. In addition,
the government does not pay the 35
per cent tariff tax that must be paid
by all private Dealers
The government is planning to dis
tribute to the people in September,
when is celebrated the anniversary
of Mexican independence, 800 villages,
each accommodating 800. families
These villages will be fitted out with
homes schools. ETC., and with each
home will get parcel of land. It is
the most important undertaking,
I believe, ever conceived by any gov
ernment
Workers Donate Their Wages.
ITO provide funds with which to
finance the project RAILROAD and other
workers have been donating as much
as 20 per cent of their wages to the
government. Many millions Of pesos
are thus coming to the government
to finance the national birthday party,
but one Of may projects of govern
ment that has been criticised as be-
ing just the reverse Of practical and
utilitaran.''
Asked about reported trouble over
industrial laws in Vera Cruz, Mr.. Davi-
son said:
The state of Vera Cruz some time
ago enacted law providing for the
distribution of the profits of indust-
RES among workers and employers.
The law stipulates that the shares of
Workmen in the profits of a concern
Where they are employed shall not
be less than 10 per cent. Authority
for the enforcement of the law is
vested in a special commission ap-
pointed in each municipal seat of the
government, consisting Of three. work
ingmen, three representatives or en-
ployers and a seventh member, who
is to be elected by the other six. EN-
= ployers must appear before the CON-
mission when ordered and must open
their books for examination by the
Workmen's accountants.
"Provision is made for revision OF
the law sitter four years, but it can
not be repealed until 1947. when a
nen state constitution will be drafted
AS might be expected, this law has
stirred up the industrial and COM
merclal interests, who are breathing
DIRE threats against their govern
ment. do not believe that their pro.
tests will avail them anything. AL
ready there are evidences that man.
u1acturers are taking a second thought
on this effort to establish industrial
democracy and the government is con-
f1dent that they will eventually recog-
n1ze 1t as real effort to build up a
stable government on a happy and
contented industrial population.
The government, of course, recog-
nizes the rights of manufacturers, but
it recognizes first the rights Of work
b. ers and farmers 1t feels that they
Z are the backbone of the nation, and
that their welfare must always be
paramount In any program that seeks
CONTINUED on page q