Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-12-05
INTERN ATIONAL
GATHERINGS ARE
OVER At Ell PAS0
d, CHESTER N. WRIGHT

RI HaSo, Tex, Nef. lN.-EAeTN
argument used in bringing the Ame,i-
can Federation Of Labor convention
to Fl Paso mas been justified. ronigh,
Mexican aud American workers. for
the second time in two days. have
grasped hands across he International
border in frateinal solidarity and
understanding.
1t was day upon which the
spirits Of the pioneers must have
looked down in benedietion and graft
fieation. Hopes were being realized.
Struggles and sacrifices were being
rewarded. Great souls were witness
ing one of the inspiring sights Of all
times.
Yesterday the delegates to the cou.
vention Of the Mexican Federation Of
Labor marched across the river 20
join with the American convention.
Yesterday the Mexican men and
women Of labor were greeted on the
international bridge by American
representatives Of labor. Yesterday
the Mexican Eagle was met on the
bridge by the Stars and Stripes.
Today the Stars and Stripes me,
the Mexican Eagle. Today it vas the
Mexicans who stood with joyous faces
at the center of the bridge, waiting
for the marching Americans to cross.
Today it was a Mexican band that
blared out a welcome and a fraternal
salute. Today it was a Mexican re-
ception committee that led the way to
the convention hall in Juarez-the
ample Casino, where 1900 men and
women gathered to join their hopes
and aspirations through the resonant
voices of their leaders.
President Juan Rico, of the MeXi-
can convention, opened the meeting.
! Ii was a gathering to be remembered.
Americans and Mexicans, men and
women of all trades and occupations,
sat and stood in every available inch
of the great meeting place. All were
! happy. All wore upon their faces a
look of great rejoicing. They were
seeing a demonstration Of good will,
of common understanding, Of common
effort. They were seeing and hearing
the manifestations of a common des-
tiny and a common faith.
They were joining their battalions
in one great crusade for human free
dom, for justice, democracy, better
lives and freer lives-for all of the
innumerable things that make the
great picture of the dreams of man
| kind.
Juan Rico was surrounded on the
platform by men who have toiled and
battled through many years in MeXi-
co and America. They were members
Of "a I1yna4gsi,rn aF hn
American Federation of Labor-men
who have shown their devotion to the
common cause through years upon
years of effort. There were men
whosec names will go down on the
glorious roll of e Mexican heroism-
such men as Cervantes Torres, Ricar-
do Trevino, Eduardo Moneda, Samuel
o. Yudico-men who have fought on
the fields of battle and on the field
of economic and political struggle.
1t was stirring and thrilling
scene to those whose memories and
imaginations could fill the background
with the events written on the great
scroll of history by the very might
of mems giving and striving.
Some were not there. Few can
know the qualification that would have
welled in their hearts, could they but
have stood forth on that stage of
achievement. President Gompers
singled out two names Of absent men
and called upon all to hold their
names dear and to preserve them
upon the scroll of honor. These were
John Murray and James Lord.
Mexico knows these names, as ii
knows the names of its own leaders
1t knows John Murray and it holds
his name in almost sainted reverence.
1t knows him as a humble man walk
ing in the path Of duty, at what cost
to himself il never mattered-at what
cost but few ever knew or will know.
1t knows James Lord as the great,
strong man of battle. always ready,
always in the forefront, always bat
Ting away while strength and oppor
tunity were given him, for the future
and the freedom of men who could
not speak or fight for themselves.
1t was a beautiful and a touching
thing, this tribute to these two men.
1t brought out sharply the tragedy
that marks every great struggle for
human progress and freedom. But
more than that, it reminded every
one that always there are men whose
lives are happiest when they are
most completely immersed in the
struggle, when they are giving most
freely Of their energies and strength. /
1t was a beautiful, a magnificent
tribute that Juan Rico paid to Samuel /
Gompers, punctuated BY round after
round of vigorous applause. The I
veteran leader was cheered and ap-
plauded through Rico's remarks and
throughout his own response. Rico /
recounted event after event, in which /
Gompers has been Of service 10 Mex /