The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1929-05-11
President Portes Gil Utters Remark
able Pronouncement Against Al
coholism; Asks Aid of States
PRESENTS EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM
Enlists Schools and Colleges; Sug-
gests No New Licenses; Substi-
tute Healthy Sports for Booze

=
remarkable pronouncement by Pres
ident Portes Gil. of Mexico, initiating a
campaign against alcoholism, was made
public April II. While this pronounce
ment is not law 1t nevertheless is hav-
ing and will continue TO have, tremendous
influence upon federal and state officials
and upon the people themselves in enlist
ing them in the fight to check the raw
0ges of alcoholism in Mexico.
Already, according to an Associated
Press dispatch. governors of 20 Mexican
states have notified President Gil of their
full cooperation, reporting that they have
begun campaign TO teach people in their
respective territories to be temperate. The
mayor of Guadahajara has ordered the
closing Of all saloons situated near rail-
road stations, workers assembling places,
and schools.
President Gil in his announcement
makes il plain that he is urging the course
of action he suggests in desire to pro-
mote the welfare of Mexican farmers and
laborers and TO bring higher standards of
living into the home and insure greater
happiness to women and children
MIR. Moody Edwards. one Of the staff of
Liga Antialcohohca Mexican, forwards to
AMERICAN ISSUE translation Of President
ellis pronouncement and program. It, in
part is as follows:
ONE OF GREATEST ENEMIES
OF PEACE
"One of the deepest convictions that
should dominate the followers of our rev.
olution' tthe movement embodied in the
1917 Constitution and now represented by
the Calles-Portes Gil regime) is that one
of the greatest enemies OF the race and Of
Ha fr al
which is deeply rooted in q large part Of
our rural and labor classes. We cannot
hope to elevate the home Of the laborer in
Mexico while alcoholism is undermining
its physical and moral life It destroys
conjugal happiness and ruins by degen-
crate children, all possibility of greatness
for the future of our country.
Because of these serious considerations
l feel under duty bound of making the
call upon the noble and stable forces of
the Republic to organize and to begin a
vigorous campaign against the vice of al
coholiSm. These forces should oppose by
all possible means this enemy of the we'll
being and health of the Mexican farmer
and the Mexican laborer.
ENEMY OF LABOR
mo single factor has given greater aid
to the, masters and the exploiters Of hui
man labor than alcohol, To dominate the
spirit of man one must first break down
his energy and lower his dignity Those
who would exploit labor understand this
and find alcohol useful confederate
THE purpose of the revolution is to es
tablish the liberty the responsibility and
the dignity of labor To bring this TO pass
it has had to struggle against powerful
enemies. nd alcoholism still stands as an
implacable destroyer of the energies and
of the virtues of the race.
4 appeal, therefore, to the state and
municipal governments to the Agrarlan
Communities TO the labor organizations,
mutual societies, political parties and 9TH
Ell institutions that wish to cooperate in
this undertaking to the end that they pro-
coed Immediately to the organization of
an energetic campaign against alcohol
within their respective units. BY expert
ence I know that these Institutions, con-
scious of their moral force and of their
functional duties, and animated by a high
ideal for redemption for the labor classes,
will cooperate. I particularly appeal to
women's organizations, and especially to
the mothers 1t is the women who suffer
the saddest and most deplorable conse-
quences of this vice; the destroyer of the
home