Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

TT is not only in the variations Of
sporting activities, in the fckleness
Of fashions, in the methods OF adj
Il vertising or in the latest dance
steps that the Latin Americans fol-
low the tracks of Uncle Sam. They are
following them today in the solution OF
one of their outstanding economic PROP
lens.
No exception to the rule, the Latin
American countries are suffering these
DAYS from a serious economic crisis, one
Of the main characteristics OF which is
a general business depression resulting
in the alarming problem OF unemploy-
ment. Although not on the same scale
in which it has developed in more in
dustrialized countries, the unemPioy-
ment situation has also appeared IN
certain of the southern republics with
menacing proportions.
Naturally, those countries which are
more economically developed In the
southern continent are the ones con-
fronting a graver crisis. Their chief
industries, undergoing a severe period
of depression, have let thousands OF men
out of their factories. and the number
of unemployed is constantly increasing
with the continuance Of slow business
conditions. This is further enhanced
by that growing stream Of men coming
from the country, the farms and the
little villages to the big cities, which is
haracteristlc-andu navoidable-tn in
dustrialized nations.
Argentina and Brazil. the two largest
and best developed Latin American re-
Dublics, find Themselves in this en-
barrassing situation. One very much
similar to that Uncle Sam aWoke in, all
of a sudden, after the historical New
York market crash, and has ever since
been trying to rid himself Of.
The nature of their unemployment
problem being the same, 1t Is not sur
prising that the Argentine and Brazil
ian governments are now adopting the
same measures recently undertaken by
the Washington administration in an
attempt to solve the problem Of the job
less.
One Of the outstanding items of
President Hoover's program for unem-
ployment relief was the appropriation
of considerable sums of money for the
construction of highways and public
buildings, which would provide work for
| thousands of men in the United States.
A press dispatch from Buenos Aires now
announces that the Argentine govern
ment is launching huge scheme of
| highway construction for identical pur-
poses. Thousands of unemployed Ar
gentines will find temporary work on
| the highways TO be constructed under
| government supervision.
Another remedy suggested here was
the hating of foreign immigration,
which was said to be an important fac
tor in taking jobs away from native
workingmen. In fact, this argument
was decided to be so well founded that
the proposal for closing the doors to out
side immigration for a period Of two
years was favorably discussed by Con-
gress, not long ago, in one of its early
| sessions. Almost on the heels of this
step the new Brazilian administration
is now adopting similar provisions. The
cable announces that Labor Minister
Color has secured from the government
authorization to restrict foreign immi-
| grafton for a minimum period of one
| year in order ito alleviate the situation
of numberless men out of jobs in the
principal cities OF the country" AS
was the case with the United States
measures, those Of the Brazilian govern
ment are meeting strong opposition
from certain foreign countries, espe-
cially Portugal whose nationals are
particularly affected, but they will be
carried out just the same, so Minister
Color declares.
Argentines and Brazilians are thus
| closely following in the footsteps of
Uncle Sam in the solution Of their un-
employment problem. I would not even
are already being sold In the sunny
streets Of Buenos Aires and Rio de
Janeiro.
A TwO-edged Sword.
Not long ago President Ortiz Rubio
of Mexico was given authorization by
Congress to raise the tariff duties on
certain foreign articles entering Mexican
borders. In accordance with such reso-
luton the Mexican Congress has Just
submitted to President Ortiz Rubio a
list Of raw materials and manufactured
products, which in their opinion should
be included under the protectioniSt
policy of that government.
The Mexican legislators claim that
such measures are necessary for the
protection end benefit of the national
industries. particularly so at this time
of economic depression in the country.
High tariffs, they say, will help to re-
lieve the critical industrial situation in
Mexico and hasten the return to normal
conditions. Exactly the same arguments
that advocates Of protection made In
| the Capitol before the passage Of the