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62
MEXICO UNDER CARRANZA

on account of lockouts, strikes, or any other like reason, without the authority of the executive who shall be empowered to administer them whenever, in his judgment, the suspension or closing of operation may prejudice the interest of society or the demands of the public service. So soon as the difficulties which have brought about governmental administration shall have disappeared, the government shall return to the owners, or their lawful representatives, the establishments that have been intervened, and the net proceeds obtained therefrom during the official administration. Establishments or concerns of public interest shall be deemed to be those having to do with communication by railroad, telegraph, telephone, ocean cable, radio-telegraph, radio-telephone and tramway; places for the sale of drugs and medicines; light companies; undertaking establishments; municipal water and sanitation enterprises; the mining industry, including both the extraction and the treatment of ore; agricultural establishments; cotton mills, and all other concerns which are analogous in the opinion of the executive."

Just how the power that would be granted by this amendment to take over and operate any business or enterprise upon the occurrence of a strike of its employees would be used by the government in power is shown by an incident which transpired in the City of Mexico shortly after the Carranza soldiers took possession of it in 1914. After