The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-29
Reds
(By Associated Press. J

4NSS0~AtNSA
Veracruz, Mexico - Premier Lenine
of Soviet Russia and Heron Proal, a
Guatemalan, are the two protagonists
of bolshevism most revered in this city,
an acknowledged hotbed of radicalism
and red activity in the republic of
Mexico. Proal is an agitator who is
now in Jail here awaiting trial, charg-
ed with melting riot and rebellion
against federal forces some six months
ago. He is hailed as martyr, and
from his prison cell continues to direct
his extremist campaign, which includes
open revolt, against government as a,
minor proposition.
Radicalism in it's raw state may be
seen here every night when paraders
varying in number from 800 to 5000,
march. through the streets, singing
revolutionary songs, jeering at specta-
tors on the sidewalk, yelling for Len
inc, Trotzky and Proal, and in general
defying either city or state govern
ment to halt them. All traffic is
stopped and for at least an hour each
night downtown Veracruz is turned
The nightly parade is snowy and
spectacular thing. Far down the street
the marehers are heard coming, band
blaring, voices raised in song. They
round the corner and one sees an ex-
panse of flaming banners-all of them
solid red and bearing legends of ad-
herence to bolshevism and extolling
Lenine and Proal. Men, women and
children join in carrying the banners,
and at regular intervals the music
ceases to permit the captain to lead
their cohorts in loud "vivas" for things
radical.
By day, the evidences of bolshevism
are only slightly less marked. A ride
through Veracruz discloses hundreds
of houses bedecked with red flags.
The pictures of Lenine and Proal in
red frames and Nencircles by flaming
banners are often found above the
doors. Many enthusiasts have painted
the entire house, in red. For the most
part these~decorations indicate that the
inmates belong to the Tenants
Union" which several months ago de-
cided that no rents would be paid in
view of the fact that the landlords re-
fused to reduce them to a figure ac-
ceptable tothe union. 1t is said that
there are at least 5000 members of
the union here who have paid no rent
for months. The question has been
checked up to President Obregon who
has indicated that he is not sympa-
4bn4;o with tho fanon4c
Every branch of the working class
represented in this city is unionized
A former stevedore is now mayor of
Veracruz. The stevedores are the
strongest, and recently succeeded in
tying up port activities by strike, caus-
ing immense losses to the city. Strikes
and boycott are constant threats here.
Demands are made of merchants and
industries and If they are not met, no
matter how unreasonable, labor refuses
to work or buy Numerous employers
have closed down shop and, according
to a statement made to the correspon-
dent by reliable source Veracruz
business has decreased 40 per cent
within the past year,
To meet the SITUATION the merchants
of the city are attempting counter or
ganization. An effort is being made
to secure the signatures of 420 business
men to protective agreement. Under
the plan, if exorbitant demands are
made on any member and strike or
boycott is threatened all of the affiliat-
ed members would close their places
of business. 1t is recognized that the
only way this agreement could be
made effective is to secure 100 per cent
adhesion.
1t is an open secret that the city
government of Veracruz and the state
government at Jalapa are not decidedly
antagosistic to, radical activity in this
port city. The one big check against
wholesale aggressions is the federal
government which is always ready to
stop untoward events. 1t was a clash
between the radicals and federal Sol
diers that landed Heron Proal in. Jail,