MESSING AROUND IN MEXICO 



Such methods, whether true of Lower Cali- 

 fornia or not, are certainly not uncommon in 

 other Mexican states and largely explain the 

 stagnation of business at this writing. It is the 

 more regrettable because, prior to the Madero 

 experiment in political science and the subse- 

 quent chaos, foreign capital was as safe in 

 Mexico as were foreign lives. The lot of the 

 peons was unhappy, pitiful ; nevertheless, the 

 country was developing, advancing, and that 

 very outside capital which is now discouraged 

 was doing much to improve the condition of 

 the poor. 



While on this subject, it is interesting and 

 instructive to note the circle through which 

 the Mexican experiments have revolved. As 

 everyone knows, much of Mexico's lands were 

 held in large parcels by the wealthy class. 

 When the revolution triumphed, the reformers 

 said: 



"Enough of the old system. It is unjust, 

 malicious. We will expropriate these lands 

 and sell or give them away in small pieces." 

 So they went at it. 



But did the land-hungry small investor 

 buy? He did not. He said, very reasonably, 

 too: 



261 



