The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-31
MEXICAN LABOR
MEETING SHOWS
U. S. BACKWARD
A. F. of L. Delegate
Shows Vivid Contrasts
Especial to The Daily Worker,

NSPeStdi 10 ne lazy WOENeTy
Los ANGELES, March 2e-The
baekwardness Of the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor and the political Iimi-
tations of the American labor move
ment were concIusiveIy revealed In
the report upon the Mexican labor
movement made to the local labor
council by John S. Horn, the former
secretary Of that body. Horn was a
fraternal delegate to the recent Mex
lean Federation of Labor convention
at Mexico City. His report emphasized
facts which the local radical delegates
have been hammering home for many
months. Coming from an ultra-reac-
tionary, however, II was most signIfi-
cant.
The American delegation was made
up of President Mahon of the Street
car Mems International Union, repres-
enting the American Federation of
Labor; Paul Scharrenberg, represent
ing the California State Federation of
Labor; and Horn, himself, represent
ing the Los Angeles Central Labor
Council. The delegates were all great
ly Impressed with the remarkable
spirit prevailing at the Mexican con-
vention.
Horn stated the convention con-
trasted favorably with those Of the
American Federation of Labor. but
was very much larger in number Of
delegates attending. The American
convention draws some 400 delegates
representing 100000 workers. The
Mexican convention had $500 dele
gates representing 100000 workers.
The contrast, he pointed out, extend
ed to the physical appearance of the
delegates. Most of those of the A.
+. of L. conventions wear fine clothes
with spotlessly clean collars. At Mex
leo City about 81 per cent of those in
attendance were poems. Some dele
gates, of course, were welI-dressed but
many came in their working clothes.
Despite the fact that Negroes con-
stitute an eighth of the population of
the United States, there are never
over half-a-dozen colored delegates at
the A. F. of L. conventions Is These,
moreover, are from federal unions
which are directly chartered by that
body and have no autonomous rights
Horn stated that all shades of color
were represented at the Mexican
gathering. as no color lines are drawn
in that country.
IT. NF 1n
there, he pointed out, was indicated by
the fact tina. there were men present
from every Mexican cabinet since the
overthrow of Diaz.
Most remarkable of all, he thot,
we're the oratorical abilities Of the
Mexican representatives. Many OF the
workers took the floor on matters con-
corning their groups or when conflicts
of policy involving the interests OF the
working class as a whole We're In
volved. This, too, was quite different
from the American conventions where
a few old-time leaders do all the talk
ing and there is very little oratory
1.-THE whole atmosphere" he exclaim-
ed, was SO filled with earnest emotion
that altho we could not understand
the language we felt just as If we
could" s..i r.
Horn then pictured the moment
when Gales. the President of Mexico,
appeared and told Of his own surprise
to hear Morones, the chairman of the
convention. address him familiarly as
0Conrada Even the most rpactiOn-
airy delegates thot that Horn had real
ly learned something from his visit
in thus having Witnessed the power
full influence of Mexican labor in it's
own country. But no! He was merely
an American patriot delighted to see
the Red flag in Germany during the
(Continned on page ~