Page:The Mexican Problem (1917).djvu/76

34 damage or harm to the company's property entrusted entirely to its own faithful Mexican workmen.

When in June, 1916, the military governor of Tampico declared war on the United States and the Mexican Petroleum Company took out nine hundred Americans on two oil steamship carriers and the yacht Casiana, again the pumps never missed a stroke and the Mexican employees in about ten days put 461,000 barrels of oil in the tanks and also loaded two steamers for export; nor was there any thought of interference or of attack upon the property.

Superintendent Green declared that after such faithfulness the Mexicans should continue to run the pumps and the machinery.

It is no wonder, therefore, that the party of Americans visiting Tampico in March, 1917, were everywhere welcomed with smiles or that a Mexican youth in sandals, mistaking the writer for a company manager, applied in Spanish for work, declaring that he had a wife and babies and that he needed food and clothing.

That is the need of Mexico to-day opportunity to labor, opportunity for the family, opportunity for food, clothing, better shelter, and better social conditions.