The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-14
MEXICAN LABOR
LEADER FLAYS
ROMAN Church
MOrones Says Clergy
Enemy of Workers
Especial to The Daily Worker

especial 10 me Daiy Workerl
MEXICO CITY, Aug. u. - Address
ing an audience that filled the Esper-
artist Theatre, Luis N. Morones, min
ster of industry, commerce and labor
and dominant personality in the Mex
lean Federation Of Labor, charged the
Knights Of Columbus in the United
States with seeking to force the Coo
Idge administration to intervene in the
struggle between the clergy and the
government Of the Republic of Mex
leo.
Morones delivered the speech in a
debate with a young catholic student
who was selected by the church in an
attempt to show that the youth were
with the clergy and against the gov
eminent,
viii Not Trembie Before Pope.
"The government of Mexico Nor
ones shouted, will not tremble before
the vatican. TIT Roman pontiff does
not govern Mexico and If he did we
would have gone back 100 years"
That the government has no inten-
zion Of compromising with the church
was indicated by the strong stand
taken by the minister of labor who is
one of the closest friends of President
Gales. The government intends to 60
forward with its program regardless
of protests native or alien.
UnfriendIy To Workers.
Tremendous applause followed Mo-
rones' statement that the catholic
church is not now and never was the
friend of the working classes. The
overwhelming majority of the au-
dience was with him thruout his
speech.
Il am a member Of the Mexican
Federation OF Labor" Morones began.
''The catholic church has never shown
any interest in the welfare Of the
Mexican worke s but has on the other
hand sought to keep them in ignorance
for the benefit OF the land owners, who
were strong catholics"
Worked Them To Death.
2 Protection for the workers." shout.
ed the speaker, assuming a dramatic
pose. Yes. they had them working
from sunrise to sunset and according
to the church, that is what the lord
made them for" The applause was
deafening.
The church had used it's influence
with Mexican mothers to force the
children to attend catholic schools so
that as workers they would not be re-
bellious against their employers. When
the revolution first started. continued
Morones, the clergy warned the work.
ers not to join the revolution and
citing the example OF Jesus, who turn
ed the other cheek, urged them also
to turn the other cheek and refrain
from joining the revolution. which
was started to better the lot of the
laboring man.
Defeatist Propaganda.
How many Of you revolutionists,"
the speaker asked, will remember
that you received in the heat of the
campaign letters from your mothers,
wives and daughters, counseled by the
priests. begging you to desert the re-
volutionary movement"
THE priests from their pulpits con.
demned the revolution. They did not
study whether the public had any rea-
son to seek TO liberate themselves
from their oppressors. They continued
to try to control, thru the souls OF
women, the destinies Of men"
Morones then charged the clergy
with playing the role Of spies during
the.reyolutionary war. There may be"
he, said, those who are honorable and
dienifed even tho followers Of the
catholic church but they are very
few"
Witnessed Horrible Lights.
He recalled that as youth he had
for five years worked in the church
OF Santa Cruz Acatlan in Mexico City.
(COntinued on page d