Evening star., 1938-04-10
This Man Curdenus
His Past an Open Book-His Future Mystery

the outer world. Cardenas actually be-
leved in the aims Of the National Revolu-
tionary party and was resolved to realize
them.
These were aims piously repeated by
Mexican politician after Mexican politician
for years but observed only academically.
They called for redistribution of land to
the poems, improved educational facilities,
higher standard of living for Mexican in
dustrial workers. better roads and other
transportation media. economic restric-
tions against foreign exploitation of Mexi-
can resources.
Cardenas, the burning ascetic, the de-
termined nationalist, set out to make these
aims come true And because he could
be President only years, he wanted to
make them come true as fast as possible.
First education. A principal reason why
Mexico has been a backward democracy
is that its populace, for the most part, lives
in ignorance. AS Governor of Michoacan,
Cardenas introduced a system of voca-
tional education for the farmers and the
laborers which would lead them to .
socialistic, communal point OF view IN
their pursuit of a livelihood.
There were 1000 government schools in
Mexico in 1884. There are $4,000 in 1888.
The number of teachers in government
schools has risen from 5000 to 10000. and
these teachers themselves are taught to
master local problems and expound the
virtue of the socialistic national life.
Once True Collectivists.
Second, land redistribution. Before
Cortez began the conquest Of Mexico for
Spain, the Indians had cooperative So
ciety. They were true collectivists, chiefly
agrarian, and they worked their land
holdings communally. Since Cardenas be-
came President he has redistributed to
the poems 24,000,000 acres formerly at
tached to large estates. He has endeavored
to bring back the old pre-Cortez land
economy, and the 24,000,0OO acres are
held by the government and worked by
the poems for the collective good.
Third, transportation. Vast tracts Of
Mexico can be reached only by airplane
or by mule. So long as such isolation con-
tinues, the power of the central government
is weak and a central program moves
slowly. Cardenas has built roads and rail-
ways. He has reduced the powers of the
local chieftains. always the enemies. in
almost feudal style, of central authority.
Fourth, the industrial worker. Only
eight per cent of Mexco's gainfully en-
ployed make their living from industry,
but Cardenas meant to aid them as he
aided the rural workers. He fostered
strikes for higher wages. He sponsored
new government labor union, the Confed-
Grafton of Mexican Workers. Now it has
100000 members, and to keep the union
under his thumb. Cardenas has split its
leadership so that he remains for workers
the dominant figure.
Assured Oil Companies.
Fifth, the foreigners. Cardenas fathered
a stringent appropriation law in 1886, but
as recently as last April he said in an inter-
view that he would act on it temporarily
and respect existing contracts made by
foreign oil companies with Mexican hold
ings. That was just II months before
he seized the foreign wells.
For most Mexicans Cardenas has be-
come sort of god. For the church. busi-
ness men and provincial chiefs, he Is =
man to be rid of. How successful they are
in their efforts to turn him out may depend
greatly on the United States.
Although Cardenas IS declared oppo-
nent Of isolation, he raised customs duties
In order to fatten his treasury, in CONTRA
diction Of Secretary Hull's theories Of free
trade. And whether he can go ahead with
out the silver subsidy Washington granted
him u . question.