Evening star., 1938-05-01


Diaz, and eliminated in the constitution of
1917. which only now is coming. into its own.
L. No Mere Disciple.
lombarao Toledano has been dubbed the
John L. Lewis" q. Mexico. and in many
respects the analogy between these two
chieftains Of the new labor movement, who
are fast friends, is more than striking.
Likewise, there are contrasts which absolve
the Mexican from any charge Of initiating
his American counterpart. He is no mere
disciple
To interpret Lombardo Toledano in
terms Of John L. Lewis is to do him an
injustice, for he was agitating for social
ism and greater returns for labor long be-
fore the rift in the ranks of the A. F. of L.
elevated Mr.. Lewis to his present pre-
eminence.
Like the American, however, Lombardo
Toledano represents to his chief executive
q working class whose political support is
necessary for continuance in power. His
basic doctrine that capitalism must be
made to yield decent living for those at
the base Of the pyramid and his prompt
resort to strike and aggressive warfare
against conservative labor groups are akin
to Mr. Lewis
Furthermore, and illustrative of the new
radicalism Of labor In. many parts of the
world, Senor Lombardo came to power In
exactly the same fashion as the c. l. o.
chieftain-through organization from with
in q traditionally conservative labor move
nar1f nf laff Al.
an almost fanatlcal crusade to shatter the
hold Of capitalism upon the worker and
peasant.
But II the ranks have been fanatically
aroused by the prospect of Utopia, the
leader has retained that cold precision Of
tactics which is the mark Of generalship.
Lombardo Toledano, who holds a doc
tors degree from the University of Mexico,
occupies distinctive position not only in
Mexico. but throughout Latin America.
Already In control of the vast body of Mexi-
can labor, agricultural and industrial, he
looks for new laurels by msrshalling behind
him Spanish American labor organization
which he hopes to make part of the Third
International, which meets at Oslo this
year.
Secretary General of c. r. M.
DR.. Lombaroo is secretary general Of the
radical C. T. M. Confederation de Traba-
1adores de Mexico), which he organized
among the leftist group in the formerly
Calles-dominated C. r. o. M. (Confedera-
cion Regional Obrera Mexicana) Long q
member Of the c. r. o. M. and once its
secretary. the rising young Marxist found
1t blind TO the needs Of the worker and
expressed his dissent in separation, along
with group Of his colleagues He was
never a member Of that group around Luis
Morones which enriched itself in the C. r.
O. M leadership.
The year 1888 marked break with the
past for both DR.. Lombardo and his native
Mexico. That year the Queretaro conven-
ton of the National Revolutionary party
adopted its six-year- plan for socialization
OF the country by 1910, the end of the
present presidential term; DR.. Lombardo
broke with the established labor organism
and plunged into radical leadership with
the C. T. NJ, was expelled from the Uni
versity Of Mexico for his Marxist views and
organized his own educational institution
the "Gabino Barreda" University Of Mex.
leo. which opened its doors In February
1884, with an enrolment of 500 students.
Around the small nucleus which deserted
the c. r. o. M. with him, DR.. Lombarde
built q virile federation Of unions COM
prising, 1t Is claimed, nearly 1,oooy0ot
members, which he is now militarizint
against an incipient Fascist threat d
overthrow the revolution and all its works
The ascendancy which the C. T. M
has gained over the parent c. r. o. M
Is illustrated by the proportions-abou
$4,000 members-to which the latter ha.
now been reduced. The long inter-fed
Grafton struggle, which has fiared into yio
lence occasionally in the past five years
seems to be drawing to close, however
for factional lines disappeared In the jubi
lation of all Mexico at getting rid Of tn
hated foreign oil interests. The c. r. o. M
offered to participate with its unwelcom
offspring In six-hour national genera
strike which the Q. T. M. called-befor