Miscellaneous, 



312 



[May 1907. 



because he is shiftless and likes to move about ; and 1 have known haeendados who 

 advocated punishing the laborers who were so bold as to leave the hacienda, by pre- 

 venting them returning. But those who think that any such treatment of the peon 

 will benefit him are greatly mistaken. Others believe that every Mexican laborer 

 who goes to the United States is maltreated by the gang bosses and capitalists, and is 

 handled like a slave. But this is a great mistake. 



Our people may be ignorant, lazy, timid, vicious, uncultured, anything, you 

 will, but they are not ungrateful, nor lack in patriotism, or unloving toward their 

 families and homes. Therefore, in going to the United States, they are but giving 

 proofs of advancement and of showing those very ambitions which every one denies 

 that they possess. 



Why not recognize the truth ? The Mexican peon in the United States does 

 not there occupy a lowly place in the work market, notwithstanding the fact that 

 he gains there the lowest wages and is engaged to do the heaviest work. He is 

 sought after and has abundance of offers for his services. 



The railroads give our laborers transportation free upon their giving their 

 word that they will work for the company. They do not require to beg to obtain 

 their passage. All they require to do is to go and work a few days on certain 

 sections and get free passage. 



The Mexican peon also is looked upon favourably in the United States, espe- 

 cially in railroad work, for the reason that he has no higher aspirations, and so is not 

 likely to quit his job to hunt for a better one. And urged by the necessity of the 

 case the peon works better in the United States under American masters than he 

 does with us. And as he works cheaper even than the Chinese, he is therefore a very 

 desirable laboi'er in the United States. 



The Mexican peon in the United States occupies the worst position as to wages, 

 kinds of work and the hardships of not kuowing the language and the differences of 

 customs of the two nations. And yet he is going there by the thousands, 



And what is the reason ? It is simple. This bad position which he occupies 

 there is better than he finds at home. It is a sad thing to say so ; yet we must, if 

 we are to find the remedy for it. 



The United States is a school for our peons. Those who go there soon learn to 

 clothe themselves better and use shoes and the clothing of the American laborer. 

 They eat better food, vising meats, potatoes and bread. And of necessity they have 

 to forget chile, liquor and tobacco, or are compelled to use them in moderation either 

 because they cannot obtain them or becavise they are very dear there. This 

 means the suppression of three disease-giving elements, and consequently leaves the 

 peon in a condition to work better than he does at home. 



His ideas broaden and he learns that the world is a very big place, and that 

 there are people who will pay him better for his work than he is paid at home, and 

 that these people take better care of him and are anxious to have him. 



He learns that it is not necessary to live in the land of his fathers where his 

 labor has ever been badly paid, and he has always been in debt to the tienda ; where 

 he has never known what good food is ; where no one has ever cared for him. 



And yet these peons cannot forget their own little home spot in Mexico, 

 and as soon as they have saved a little they return well clothed to their "tierra,'* 

 to see their people, eat tortillas and beans and chile, and to bring back some money 

 to their families ; and they throw their money around and get drunk to the envy 

 of all who have remained at home. And the result is, that the more adventurous 

 of their brothers, relatives and friends go with them to hunt fortunes in the 

 United States. All this helps to weaken our national forces,— Louisiana Planter '« 



