The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-07
Mexico Under
President Obregon
A Resume Of One Year of
Obregon's Presidency

Mexico City. Nov. The first
year of General Alvaro Obrcson's S
administration as president of Mex
leo which ends November Goth, has
been one essentially Of reconstruc-
ton and reorganization. He became
the head of a republic torn and
worn by revolution, split by faction
al strife. its finances a wreck and its
rehabilitation an almost supcrhu-
man task.
4 new cabinet post, secretary OF
education, has been added during
the year and its head, Jose Vas
conceloS, has been promised ade-
quate financial means to carry out
IN ambitious program of education
which, President Obregon says is
the nations greatest problem.
The federal-owrei al lr a s
have been completely reorGanized
in the managerial departments and
some progress is being made toward
their rehabilitation. Rolling stock
has been acquired and an alarming
l)OlI NiiiSil Alii Stl(SlICo
bankruptcy to many interior mer-
chants who We're unable to obtain
shipments Of goods, has been ap-
preciably relieved.
The agrarian question still vcXes.
although the administration claims
that its program in regard to lands
is on the road to completion. In
der the direction of the National
Agrarian Commission, several hun
dred thousand acres Of land have
been appropriated from the large
haciendas and delivered TO the
peasants. Protests have flowed
into government Offices here and
charges Of bald confiscation have
been openly made.
The Obregon government has
been charged with trend toward
radicalisn. Various state govern
n1ents, notably those of Vera Cruz
and Puebla, have enacted laws that
are regarded here as radical and
pleas for federal Intervention to
prevent their enforcement have
been met with the official state
ment that the chief executive will
not encroach upon the sovereignty
Of the states. There are frequent
sanguinary clashes in the states OF
Yucatan and Michoacan between
radicals and conservatives with
the former still retaining their
power.
The war department announces
that progress is being made in the
reduction of the federal army to
$4,000 men, entailing the dismissal
Of many score generals and other
high officers. The dismissed SOL
diers are being given an oppor-
tunity to coloniZe.
President Obregon has been un-
able to secure recognition Of his
government by the United States
Great Britain and France. To
many observers, this failure is the
greatest deterrent to stability and
prosperity now confronting the
chief executive. The United States
has said that the Mexican president
must sign a treaty Of amity and
commerce as a PRIOR act to recog-
milton and this President Obreson
has steadfastly declined to do. as
serting such action would be Meth
er legal nor within the dignity or
pride Of the nation. a deadlock on
recognition now exists
Last May President Obreson
placed an export tax on oil ship
ments from Mexico and a loud pro-
test went up FROM American pro-
ducers. Production and develop
ment shut down and shipments
ceased. They were resumed early
in September after an agreement as
70 taxes between the oil men and
Secretary de la Ifuerta.
The financial rehabilitation of
Mexico is still a subject for study
and the only definite information on
that subject is the official assur-
ance hat the government wishes to
arrange its debts.
Claims against the government
for damages suffered by foreign
ers during revolutionary periods
are to be treated by mixed claims
commission, according to President
Obregon's suggestion, but thus far
there is no intimation that such q
commission has been established.
a Year, then, OF Obregon finds a
nation more united and outwardly
peaceful than in years; still strug-
Cling to arrange its finances but
handicapped by lack Of recognition
by three great powers; a nation
making some progress along the
lines of reconstruction and reor-
ganization.
President Obrcgon. enjoying bet
ter health today than he did year
ago. is optimistic and says that the
sun is slowly but surely breaking
through the clouds.