The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-01
BY ERNEST GRUENING

ance with all the men now figuring in
the Mexican political situation.
BY ERNEST GRUENING
I'm regard to labor, or rather in
4 regard to the wing of labor rep
resented by the Mexican Federation
of Labor, Gales followed a directly
opposite policy from that adopted
toward the agrarians, on whose as
pirations in the political field he
frowned.
The federation did not include
the railroad workers, who form a
separate organization, nor the Cen
eral Federation of Workers, a group
not believing in political action
Gales encouraged the growth of the
Mexican Federation Of Labor's po-
litical wing-the Mexican labor
partyz-and appointed its chief to
his cabinet.
A cabinet position carries with it
greater power in Mexico than in the
United States. Moreover, the par
ticular post given to Morones was
vastly important. 1t put the labor
leader in charge of the destinies Of
the nations industry and commerce.
Taking Aorones into the cabinet
seemed at the time a shrewd move.
Morones already had given evidence
of extraordinarily organizing ability.
He seemed to offer a guarantee that
the bitter struggle, which had lasted
ten years between capital and labor
and was running the nation, would
be adjusted.
= UNFORTUNATELY for Mexico it
" did not work out. The labor
leaders, particularly the inner group,
of less than a score, secured fat
Federal jobs. Business could find
no basis of understanding with Mo-
rones. He was totally unaware of
the needs and methods Of the BUSH
ness world. He was more interested
in politics and was converting his
labor following into a great politi-
cal machine. He was its master
and dictator. This organization also
was vastly useful to the government.
1t stood by the administration dur
ing the crises of the last four years.
Meanwhile, a split between the
agrarians and laborites was pre-
cipitated by the criticism by Morones
of certain tactics of the agrarians.
He pointed out what was obviously
true that there was a great deal of
agitation by agrarian leaders, but
little benefit to the pea,antry. They
countered with violent personal at
tacks upon Morones.
Considerable basis of justification
for the agrarians' retaliation lay in
the fact that the labor leadership
followed up its opening attack by
/ seeking to invade the country dis
tricts to organize the peasantry and
to enlist the rural as we'll as the
urban workers under the federation
banner. This labor was not quail
fed to do.
The attempt to invade the coun-
try, which the agrarian leaders
themselves chiefly city-bred law
yers and publicits deemed their own
happy hunting ground; merely wild
enc dthe breach.
+ Il q
/ a LTIIOUGH Gales and Obregon
Ahave maintained an unblem-
ished friendship from the earliest
association nearly sixteen years ago,
and have worked hand in hand for
the nation, differences between their
respective adherents have cropped
out.
With Gales favoring the Morones
following, the American leaders, al
though satisfied with the Gales ex-
ecution of the agrarian program.
were hoping for a change in the
presidential attitude toward them
and were in consequence enthusi-
astic supporters of Obregon.
Personal considerations play
large part in Mexican politics.
Counting on the support Of a large
section of the Mexican army, of the
agrarians, as we'll as all the labor
elements not included in the Fed
Grafton, Obregon did not need the
support
Moreover, resentment has been
growing in Mexico at ATorones' self
enrichment. wen within Fedora
ton ranks there has been increas-
ing grumblings that a few leaders
had risen to affluence on the backs
Of the masses. That is true of
NIorones, who received a share OF
the proceeds" of the Mexico City
government, controlled by laborites.
A reform adopted by the last
congress made the Mexico City mu-
nicipal offices appointive-by the
president. The elections" under
which the laborites had COINED con.
troll of the capital were to be no
more.
In the prediction period the
Federation could make no political
deal of any kind with Obregon, al
though it had formerly been friend
| ly. Morones' declared hostility to
Obregon followed Morones' failure
to entrench himself with the COM
ing Obregon regime as he had been
entrenched in the Gales regime. In
the closing months Of the cam
paign neither Obregon nor Nforones
made any secret of their mutual
bitterness.
This, then, is the basis for ths
agrarian leaders charge that Mo-
rones had created psychological
state" responsible for Obregon's as
sassination. The charge is political
piffle. The assassin, who comes
from outside the revolutionary camp.
was obviously not influenced by this
intra-revolutionary split, but in the
excitement following the assassina-
ton the most fantastic charges may
be expected.