The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-01

Copyright, 1921, by The Age-Herald)
 Mexico City, Mex, December 31. Mexico has failed to find in radical ism cure for nations economic ills. The authorized division of property and the imposition of "hun- ger" and "strangle laws on produc- CTS have not led to increased pro- duction. Instead there has been a serious decrease in production. Taxes have fallen off and the governments income does not meet it's expenses. Foreign loans are impossible, be- cause the Obregon government has not been recognized. Therefore it seems that Mexico is about to un- dergo an evolutionary change.
 Life Is as safe in Mexico as north of the Rio Grande, but property en- joys no such degree of security. President Obregon is responsible for l the protection given to lives of Mex 1 jeans and foreigners and he is dis | playing tendency to modify the laws and regulations which now jeoperdize property rights. | Practically all Americans now in Mexico are here to get something concessions, rights and privileges, | especially-and few people come for 1 pleasure. Those who get what they want speak favorably of the Obre- 1 gon government; those who are dis l appointed condemn the administra- ton and the whole country. | These conclusions are based upon tour of a large section of Mexico and interviews with President Obre- gon, Secretary of the Treasury De La Huerta, and leading men in many l lines.
 Crime Record
 There are official records of crime. I have made 1t a point to examine them, with the result that 1 have reached the conclusion that there Is less crime in Mexico than in the United States.
 In official circles there has beon an effort to impress me with this | fact: The dominating minds in the administration, and l refer to those of the President and Secretary of the Treasury, are working for a gradual modification of the laws involving property rights. Officially, I was told. but with warning that I should not use the names of my informants, that property laws would be modi- fled. This suggests that the Obregon administration is not in full sym pathy with the terms of the famous Article 27 and the agrarian clause of the constitution, which call for re- division of property and prevents foreigners from land ownership. Il am satisfied that the administration believes the government should have control of the mineral deposits and natural resources of the land, and that there should be a splitting up of large holdings of agricultural property, but the leaders seem to feel that their object can be attained by more moderate terms than those for which basic law can be found in the constitution.
 That the administration Is sincere in this position Is indicated by a shake-up in the department of agri- culture. and open criticism of the agrarian commission, which is au- thorized to appropriate parts of large estates for division among the peoas.
 Radical Leaders
 When Obregon went into power he carried with him some very radical leaders. The militant members of this group were bought off, and in this class Villa is included. To oth- CTS he was compelled to assign places in his administration. These he  Mexicans look upon the United States as a splendid example In discuss ing conditions they invariably com pare them with those existing in the United States. Soldiers ride on plat forms of passenger cars in Mexico; marines guard the mails in the United States. Mexico has it's frontiers with its cantinas, dance and gambling halls, crime and vice; few years ago the United States had such from tiers with the west undergoing de- velopment and before the days vf prohibition.
 There is no love lost between Mex jeans and Americans below the Rio Grande. They are different peoples. In Mexico race with the pride of the Latin comes into contact with a proud Anglo Saxon people. They do not seem to have a common ground. The Mexico City monument to the cadets who lost their lives during an American invasion Is always GOV cred with wreaths and flowers. The Mexicans do not forget. They dre suspicious.
 This is called poor mans govern ment, because the peons busted the aristocratic element from control. But it is also a young mans govern ment President Obregon is A. De La Huerta Is younger. and most cf the men surrounding them are within the same range. The President Is a military figure and does not hesi- tate to chop head either literally or figuratively, where there Is re- volt against the government and his policies. De La Huerta is kindly, affable man. The two make a strong combination.
 productf0n Declines
 As result of the agrarian hun ger," "strangle," and other laws of this character. production, both in- dustrial and agricultural, has been declining. Production of metals is small in comparison with other years The one big item in the taxable list Is oil. Mexico has been providing about 25 per cent of the worlds oil supply The government has found this large source of revenue.
 The best example of the hunger" law is to be found in Puebla. Un- der this law, employers are compelled to share profits with employees. public commission determines ,he profit sharing system. Labor, of course, controls the commission.
 The textile industry has reached large proportions in Puebla. The i'm mediate effect of the application of the hunger" law was to close all plants. In applying this law to the textile industry the government re- duced taxes from another source.
 The "strangle" law. with consH- tutional foundation, prevents an em- ployer from disoharging an employe without 90 days notice or good or sufficient reason.
 A public commission passes upon the reason. Labor controls the com mission This law has made no im-