Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-12

eessful, Mr.. Creagsr stated The
system may be defined as an ex-
pertinent in applied socialism. The
communal lands are titled by the
individual workers, each securing
an acreage required for his needs
as determined by the communal
council. The communal body is a
law unto itself so far as the affairs
of the "ejido" are concerned. Sew
eral "ejidos" form a center. which
Is controlled by the state agrarian
association. and the federal associa-
ton. The communal lands are ron
firmed BY the federal government
and become the property Of the
community.
Taxes are assessed in the form or
a specified percentage OF the pro-
duets of the individual farms, and
90 into the communal fund. A very
small part goes to the state and fed
eral associations, the major part be-
ing utilized for educational pur-
poses within the community. i'm
provement Of HIGHWAYS operation
Of a communal store which retails
az wholesale prices, ard other COM
munity purposes including purchase
OF books fer communal librarie- and
maintenance of recreational centers.
Tho Ollama "ejido," which Presi-
dent Gil confirmed in the ownership
or communal lands during his visit
Thursday. started originally with q
loan Of $4,000 pesos from the fed
eral government The eiido council
reported 70 the president that this
loan had been repaid, and that the
"ejido" now he's $4,000 pesos in its
communal fund, the major part OF
which is to be expended in construc-
ton Of additional schools and i'm
proving highways.
The 'tienda cjidal," or
ity store at Ollama, carried a COM
plete line OF merchandise. which was
sold at actual wholesale cost, the
cost Of operation being derived from
the tax assessed for all communal
purposes.
Prohibition is rigidly enforced In
all "ejidos" Of which there are 10
in the state Of ~Tamaulipas. Under
the agrarian laws, the "ejido' is
permitted 10 invoke prohibition OF
the sale OF intoxicants by presenting
the governor a petition signed by q
majority of all adult residents or
the community. The governor then
proelaims the community "dry" ter
ritory, and the law is enforced by
the community police. Neither state
nor federal police are ever called
upon to maintain order. this duty
being entirely in the hands OF the
communal council.
After the proclamation Of prohibit
ton by the governor the following
sign is placed at each of the four
r. OF the communal lands: by
order Of the governor of the state,
under petition of the agrarians OF
this ejido, the sale of alcohol is pro-
hibited in this ejido." Any violation
Of this prohibition meets swift pun
ishment.
One OF the outstanding features Of
the agrarIan system, especially in
Tamaulipas, has been the develop
ment of the system of communal
schools. The school house has be-
come the center of all activities, and
the adults as well as the pupils APP
pear to take great pride in its ap-
pearance. School attendance j. COM
p~ulsory for all under the age of Is,
and every "ejido" in Tamaulipas IL
conducting night classes for adults.
"Illiteraey is rapidly disappearing
in the communal centers." Creager
said, in discussing the development
OF schools. THE progress that is
being made is astounding. Adults,
as we'll as children, show an eager
ness TO acquire knowledge, and ]
understand that the night classes
for adults are we'll attended. Among
the younger generation illiteracy nc
longer exists"
Another feature is the develop
ment of organized athletics, amateur
theatricals and other forms of diver
sion. All "eiidos' have their teams
Of trained athletes, and the rivalry
is keen. Plays are presented at the
community centers almost every
week. amateurs Of exceptional merit
carrying their art into other "eji-
dos" Rivalry in this branch is al
most as keen as athletics.
Few Americans realize what is
being done in Mexico in connection
with the agrarian movement" Creag-
er said. "A transformation is being
wrought among the rural popula-
tons in many parts of the country.
and especially in Tamaulipas. The
people on the communal lands are
well supplied with durable clothing
and shoes. which they secure at a
small cost. They are eager for
knowledge. as is attested by the
large attendance al all communal
schools. and their lands are produc-
ing magnificent crops. They are
adopting scientific methods in on
nection with their farming opera
tiors. and as a result they have inn
proved both the quantity and quail
ity OF their production.
"0ne of the most interesting fea-
lures is the fact that every 'ejido'
in the state has invoked and is en-
forcing prohibition, the direct result
Of the campaign inaugurated by
President Gil 10 educate the masses
and wean them away from the use
az intoxicants. In all the 'ejidos'
we visited appeared contented and
prosperous. we'll clothed. with sub
stsntiaI homes rapidly replacing the
jaeals and huts OF old days"