Thursday, May 30, 2019

CONDITIONS IN MEXICO AND MCKINLEY PARADE


Flag of Mexico 1893-1916.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, October 12, 1896.

CONDITIONS IN MEXICO.
The Wage Earning Class and What They Earn.
COMPARED WITH OUR LABORERS.
Report of the Committee of the Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly Submitted After a Short Visit to Our Neighbor Republic.
   CHICAGO, Oct. 12.—The committee of the trade and labor assembly sent to Mexico by that organization "to investigate the condition of the laboring classes of that country" has returned to Chicago and submitted its report at a meeting of the assembly. The report is in part as follows:
   The first stop made by your committee was at El Paso, Tex., where we investigated the wages paid and the condition of the American laborers. From that point we crossed to the city of Juarez, but two miles from El Paso. At this place a complete change met the eye—everything assuming a Mexican air—and we realized that the time had arrived when the real duties of our mission began. We took observation of the people as to their appearance, mode of living, social conditions, wages paid and prices of commodities, and were surprised at the contrast as compared with conditions, etc., in El Paso.
   The two peoples, as to their habits, tastes, customs and modes of life, are such that a comparison is unnatural. Life is regarded from very different standpoints, as they live under different conditions inasmuch as the Mexican laborer is apparently content with the four bare walls of his 10 foot square adobe hut with nothing inside but the ground to sleep on, a shawl or blanket to cover or wrap himself up in, a dish of tortillas (corn pancakes) and frijoles (beans) for his frugal meal, and in a large number of cases a little pig, a dog and a chicken or two of the game cock order sharing his scant quarters, while the American laborer across the line has all the comforts of home and many of the luxuries of life.
   Wages in Mexico, except to skilled and steady mechanics—always foreigners—are very low. On railroads, engineers (Americans) on passenger trains receive $210 per month, while the firemen (Mexicans) receive $1.85 per day; freight engineers (Americans), $250 per month; firemen (Mexicans). $1.50 to $1.70 per day; passenger conductors (Americans), $160 per month; brakemen (Mexicans), $1.50 per day; freight conductors (Americans), $200 per month; brakemen (Mexicans), $57 to $63 per month; Pullman conductors, $80 per month (American money), and the porter $30 per month (American money), with $5 per month extra for being able to talk Spanish.
   The national soldiers or regular army of Mexico, called rurales, and who are all ex-bandits, receive $1 per day. In a broom factory near the depot at Jimenez the men are paid 50 cents, women and children 25 to 37 1/2 cents per day. In the cotton mills, cotton seed oil mills and soap factory at Torreon men are paid 37 1/2 to 50 cents, women and children 35 cents per day.
   A carcador (public carrier) has a rate of 12 1/2 cents per hour, but you can hire him for from 25 to 37 1/2 cents per day.
   At Leon, where nearly all the leather goods in Mexico are manufactured, the peon gets his leather cut for shoes, harness or other goods to be made by him and takes the material to his hut, where the whole family assist him, the same as in the sweat shops in Chicago. For making shoes he receives $1 and upward per dozen pairs; on the other leather goods he receives 37 1/2 cents to 50 cents a day for his labor, working as long as daylight lasts, averaging 12 to 14 hours per day. Common laborers can be hired for 18 to 50 cents per day. House servants, male or female, receive $3 to $5 per month and board themselves. In or near cities peons live in adobe houses and pay a rental of $3 a year for the ground on which it stands. On leaving this for another location all "improvements" the peon has made go to the landlord or owner of the land, who pays no taxes whatever on the land.
   A man's chief article of dress is his sombrero, often costing as much as $35 (which is bought on the installment plan), while the balance of his clothing would make a crazy quilt turn green with envy owing to its variety of colors and assortment of patches, making it a hard problem to solve as to which is the original garment and which the patches. No stockings are worn by either sex, and only about one-third wear sandals, which are made from a piece of sole leather and tied to the foot with straps. These sandals cost from 13 to 20 cents per pair. The average cost of the necessities of life for a peon family of five is 25 cents per day, and clothing for the same costs about $30 per year.
   The day's work in Mexico runs from 10 to 14 hours. The bakers work 20 hours, and workmen who take work to their homes work as many hours as they please.
   The Mexican laborers work easy compared with the American laborer, except the carrier who bears enormous burdens on his back all day without manifestation of fatigue. The question of shorter hours to Mexico is a long way off for a country in which labor is so cheap and plentiful that it is offered as an inducement to bring foreign capital in and its toilers will be compelled to work as many hours as they are physically able and, thanks to organized labor, or the American workingmen would be in the same condition today as his Mexican brother.
   The haciendas (or plantations) are owned by the very rich and cover an area of from 10 to 100 square miles. Farming and agricultural implements are very primitive. The plow is a crooked stick or beam and scratches the ground to the depth of three or four inches. This plow is drawn by two oxen and the harness is a broad strap or rope passing over the forehead instead of the shoulders of the oxen.
   Planting is done by poking a hole into the ground with a stick, dropping the corn into it and the seed is covered by the peon stepping from hole to hole. On these immense tracts of land the natives or peons have lived for centuries and are forced to buy all their necessities of life at the haciendados' (land owners') truck store.
   On the hacienda the peon gets from 18 to 25 cents per day for his work and a hut to live in, if he builds himself. The peon gets no money except on feast days and for religious offerings. By this system he is always in debt to the haciendado. This form of slavery has been forbidden by law for a number of years, but two thirds of the peons do not know it, as they can neither read nor write and their masters take good care not to teach them this fact.
   Organized labor is unknown here, which is considered a great blessing. But that country today that has the best system of trade organizations and the greatest number of union men per capita of its population is the foremost in wealth, progress and the happiness of its people.
   The cry is raised that there are no poor houses in Mexico, but that is no indication of the absence of poverty, as your committee can fully testify without fear of contradiction, as the voice of the mendicant supplicating alms rang in our ears all through Mexico. In the cities of Zacatecas and Guanajuato, with populations of 40,000 and 70,000 respectively, we failed to get tea and potatoes on the tables of the best hotels. On inquiry we were informed that if we paid $1 a pound for butter it would be purchased and kept for our exclusive use.
   Your committee would caution American workingmen against going to Mexico without sufficient funds to bring them back, or to have employment secured before going there, or they will be obliged to subsist on cactus and the sap of the tequila plant while doing the country. On asking an American who was conducting a prosperous business in one of the cities which your committee visited why it was that the foreigners all seemed to be making money, no matter what business they were engaged in, he, with characteristic Yankee frankness, replied: "The laborer here is different from the laborer in the States. Here labor is cheap, and we have no brains to contend with."
   This epistle does not abound in high sounding platitudes on the sublime and beautiful of that country, but on facts that still exist and are ready to speak for themselves to those who will go and seek as we have done; and should they do so they will feel as we do, that the American workingman is a prince compared to the workingman of Mexico.
   That in this country all stand equal in social and political life, and in that political right they should exercise with care the faithful discharge of their duties, unprejudiced and unbiased, by supporting such principles as will do the greatest good to the greatest number, irrespective of party politics or the machinery of either party who may manipulate conditions and measures for personal gain to the detriment of the whole people.

NEGROES SHOT TO DEATH.
Two Accused of Murder Perish at the
Hands of a Mob.
   BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 12.—A negro named Jim Anderson was shot to death by a mob near Taylor's Ferry, 22 miles from here, on Friday night. Henry Cyat, another negro, was taken Saturday by a mob at the same place and riddled with bullets.
   The negroes were accused of having murdered and robbed Randolph Falls, a farmer residing near Toadsville. Anderson is said to have confessed the crime.
   Officers have gone to Toadsville to investigate the case. It is asserted that there is some doubt that the men killed are the guilty parties, and fear is felt that the mob may murder others before they finish.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Town Bonds and Free Silver.
   There is now outstanding a very large indebtedness consisting of town and municipal bonds, payable interest and principal in gold coin, at its present weight and fineness. There is also a vast indebtedness consisting of bonds issued by business corporations and by private individuals that are also payable in gold coin.
   If this country should adopt free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, all the gold would be immediately driven out of circulation. Nevertheless, all the gold coin obligations would have to be paid in gold. No act of congress could relieve them from such payment, because it is not within the constitutional power of congress to limit or impair the obligation of an existing contract. If the disposition to do so existed, the power is absolutely nonexistent.
   How then can a town, a municipal corporation or a private individual meet such obligations? The obligations so incurred must be met and paid according to their terms, The gold to meet these obligations with must be purchased at a large premium.
   Mexico is upon a silver basis, and something may be learned from her experience, and it is a sad one. Her national debt, interest and principal (except what she has repudiated), is payable in gold, and in order to meet her accruing interest she has to pay at the present time $1.90 in silver for every gold dollar she purchases. The average premium that Mexico has to pay to obtain the gold is fully ninety per cent and sometimes higher. There is no reason to suppose that this country, if it entered upon free coinage, could purchase gold upon any more favorable terms than Mexico now obtains. It might be slightly lower at times, but if we should enter upon free coinage and it should result in largely increasing the output of silver, silver would be cheapened, and the premium on gold would correspondingly increase.
   Under our present currency system, gold coin obligations are as easily met as obligations not thus payable, because all of our dollars are maintained at a parity. Under free coinage at 16 to 1 the burden that would rest upon municipalities, corporations and individuals who had to pay obligations in gold coin would be extremely burdensome and oppressive.
   To vote for free coinage at 16 to 1 would invite the burden—with no possible benefit in return.

William Jennings Bryan.
Bryan's Day of Rest.
   ST. PAUL, Oct. 12.—This was the usual Sunday of rest for William J. Bryan. In the morning, in company with Mrs. Bryan who joined the party, he attended services at the Central Presbyterian church and listened to a sermon by Rev. L. W. Beattie of Hanketo. In the afternoon the [presidential] candidate kept close to his room and rested. He had a few callers, among them being Ignatius Donnelly, Senator W. C. Squire of Washington, Senator Tillman of North Carolina and C. A. Towne, the free silver Republican and Democratic nominee for congress in the Duluth district.
   Today there will be no speaking by the nominee until evening, when he will address three audiences in Minneapolis. Tomorrow morning he will take the train for Duluth. The special car which brought the party here will be under the charge of National Committeeman Campau of Michigan.

William McKinley.
Major McKinley's Sabbath.
   CANTON, O., Oct. 12.—Major McKinley feels well after the record breaking week just closed. The major attended the morning services at the First Methodist church. In the afternoon he accompanied Mrs. McKinley on her usual drive. He also paid his accustomed daily visit to his mother and then received a few visitors and read the papers, an occupation in which he particularly delights. Murat Halstead and ex-Representative Finley of Baltimore were guests.

REV. JOHN T. STONE ACCEPTS
The Call of the Presbyterian Church—Will Come Nov. 1.
   Rev. John T. Stone, pastor of Olivet Presbyterian church of Utica, to whom last week a call was extended to become the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Cortland, has accepted that call and will be prepared to begin his pastoral duties in connection with this church on November 1.
   Yesterday morning at his "church in Utica, after preaching a sermon from the text Is. liii:10 —"Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin," he read to his people the following letter of resignation which was published this morning in the Utica Herald:
   To the Session, Trustees and Members of Olivet Presbyterian Church of Utica, N. Y.:
   MY DEAR PEOPLE—During the week past I have received a call from the Presbyterian church of Cortland to become their pastor. Through the frank courtesy of the representatives of that church I have known of the probable need of deciding in reference to this matter for some weeks. During that time I have spent much time in earnest thought and heart-searching prayer. The fact that this door has been opened absolutely without solicitation or encouragement on my part, has convinced me that a divine hand has led both the church and myself. It is with no small victory over personal feelings that I take the stand of this morning. Ere I do so, however. I desire to tell you my appreciation of all you have been to me and mine as a church. I can say from my heart, I love this church and city and never expect to minister in a more sympathetic and responsive parish.
   If I have partially been as much to you in loyalty and devotion as you have been to me I feel that God did not call me here in vain. How I wish my heart might speak to you this morning instead of my lips, for then I know you all would understand me. It is my strong conviction that I should accept this call. My reasons for such conclusion are both general and personal. The field I believe is a very broad one, although I do not fail to appreciate the influence and ultimate development and possibilities of Olivet church. My first ambition is to preach Christ wherever he would have me for his greatest glory, but I feel the need of more time for quiet study. With frankness I also state that an increased salary has had weight in my decision, although I have sought to make such consideration secondary. With a clear conscience then in this, my final decision, I ask you as a church to meet in the chapel on Tuesday evening of this week, Oct. 13, at 7:30 o'clock to appoint representatives from the session and congregation to unite with me in requesting the presbytery of Utica to dissolve the pastoral relations between myself and this church, my resignation to take effect the last Sunday of this month. Such action to be presented at the next meeting of the presbytery, which will be held at Vernon at 7 o'clock next Wednesday evening.
   The Herald then quoted in full the item in The STANDARD of last Thursday giving the facts in regard to the call.

Missing Convict Found.
   Lewis Sarles, the convict who tried to escape from Auburn prison Thursday night, was found late Saturday afternoon in a cupboard in one of the keepers' offices in the main building of the prison. He had secreted himself in one of the most conspicuous places in the prison in the expectation that there he might be overlooked.
   He was right in his anticipations, as every other place in the prison had been examined and the guards blundered upon him by accident never thinking that he would be found there.
   This was his second attempt at escape and because of this he forfeits all of his good behavior time and must now nerve nine years and three months longer.


BREVITIES.
   —The grocery stores and meat markets begin closing evenings at 8 o'clock tonight.
   —A large oil painting of McKinley has been placed in Republican headquarters. It is the work of Prof. L. J. Higgins.
   —New advertisements to-day are—C. F. Brown, sponges, page 6; Bingham Bros. & Miller, great fall opening, page 5.
   —A party of eleven young men, students of Cornell university, came to Cortland yesterday on a four-horse-tally-ho coach and spent some hours here calling on their young lady friends.
   —A successful operation for appendicitis was performed by Dr. F. W. Higgins at the hospital at 4 o'clock this afternoon on Frank Sheridan, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. James Sheridan.
   —Next Sunday evening at the Universalist church Rev. H. W. Carr will deliver the annual sermon before the O. U. A. M. All patriotic people are invited, and a special invitation is extended to the G. A. R., the W. R. C., and the S. O. V.
   —A small army of men is at work on the paving on Railroad-st. The girder rails for the electric road were all laid Saturday night at 5:30 o'clock and connection was made as far as the first switch of the D. L. & W. R. R. Cars began running through to McGrawville that night. A small section of track between the switches yet remains to be relaid, but that will be done a little later. The men laying concrete are now nearly down to the St. Charles hotel on the south side of the street.

1. P. H. McGraw, founder. 2. A. P. McGraw residence. 3. Warehouse and Shipping. 4. Corset Factory. 5. A. P. McGraw.
McGRAWVILLE.
Crisp local Happenings at the Corset City.
   Saturday night was a Republican night in this village, for the rally announced for that evening was the greatest in the history of McGrawville. At 6 o'clock people began to arrive from every direction and at 6:30 when the parade started, the streets were thronged. Nearly every voter in the district was out with his family and before the parade was finished the Village hall was packed and it was found necessary to arrange for an overflow meeting. Rogers hall was secured and fifteen minutes after the parade that too was filled, as well as the stairs. If another hall and speakers had been at hand it seemed by the crowds still coming as if a third meeting could have been held.
   The McGraw Escort club with their new caps and gun torches formed at their rooms on Church-st. at 6:30 and marched to Main-st.. where they were met by the McGrawville band and in turn they met the Young Men's McKinley club of Cortland, who to the number of fifty with their drum corps and with Dr. E. M. Santee commanding had arrived by special cars. The parade was then formed with P. W. Chaffee as marshal. It marched up Church-st. to North, up North, countermarching at Highland-ave., to Gothic, to Washington, to Main, to South, on Factory, countermarching to Center, to Clinton, to Spring, to Academy, to Bennet, to Elm, to South, to A. P. McGraw's residence, where the boys marched around the house cheering for McKinley and for A. P. McGraw.
   They then countermarched to the hall and that ended a parade which was greeted by decorations and illuminations at nearly every house and which was one of the most orderly body of men that ever paraded our streets. Where there were so many McKinley decorations it was hard to cheer them all, but with F. D. Graves as leader of that branch of the service it was pretty well done. It would be unfair to particularize in the matter of decoration, as McGrawville people did themselves proud, but the display of red, white and blue lights in the McGraw Co. factories was too beautiful to pass by, while the transparency of the G. O. P. on the front of the corset factory won repeated applause. Mr. A. P. McGraw's residence was a blaze of light, topped in the cupola by the tri-colored lights while the "Gold Standard" transparency on the lawn was simply grand.
   Among the transparencies borne were "Return to G. O. P.," "Honest Ballot" "Brains against Wind," "Law against Anarchy," "We must have the work," "More business, not more money, is what we need," "Silver men will vote for silver," "They have the silver," "Workingmen should vote for work," "We want no Anarchist for America's chief executive," "Give men work," "Work means more dollars," "Protection against free trade," "Honesty against repudiation," "Honest money opens the factories," "Protection." These were constructed in the paper box factory of the McGraw Co. and were artistically made of cardboard with the inscriptions cut out and lined with colored tissue paper through which the concealed lights shown in many colors.
   Mr. J. H. Kelley acted as chairman at the village hall, while Mr. J. H. Hill was selected chairman of the second meeting. Hon. Thomas McVeigh, Judge A. P. Smith and Mr. N. L. Miller addressed the two meetings, which were both enlivened by songs from the Standard quartet consisting of Messrs. G. D. Bailey, Henry Huntley, Fred Maricle and Rollo Dibble, also by a fine glee club of ten enthusiastic young lady Republicans, Misses Maude Purchas. Daisy Pritchard, Jessie Pritchard, Nellie Manzer, Nellie Benjamin, Effie Henry, Carrie Dunham, Bertha Rumsey, Cora Haughton and Lena Parker, assisted by E. Fancher Kinney and Arlie Ensign.
   The speakers and other participants won the hearts of the audiences if the frequent thunders of applause which shook the buildings can be considered as the verdict.
   The Cortland club while enthusiastic as all believers in protection and sound money were won unstinted praise not only for their sticking through the song march, but for their gentlemanly behavior throughout.
   Of course every Republican was interested and did his part, but great credit of the big success is due to our member of the county committee, Mr. A. P. McGraw, who furnished the caps, torches, transparencies, supper for the visitors, besides his time and money with unstinted hands. Not only this, but he marched nearly the whole length of the line of march and only fell out when compelled to go to the hall to call the meeting to order.
   We had nearly omitted to mention the decorations of Will Pritchard's residence which was flanked by a torch in the bunghole of a barrel. The question as to its being a money or cider barrel isn't yet settled. Ask Will.
 

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