El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-27
EXTENSION OF ALIEN LABOR LAW
WILL GREATLY AID BORDER STATES

A N order which viii 20 far toward solving the labor prob
Il lem Of the southwest has been issued by the department
Of labor The immigration law extended on June y
ia allow zcans to come into the United States for ra-
v maintenance work and Ignite coal mining under espe-
cav favorable conditions the immigration laws being re-
Taxed to facilitate the labor movement PREVIOUSLY only
ezcsns intending engage in agriculture were allowed
to cross the border under the hghtened recons CoaI
mining and railroad work were added 10 the casscaon
because Of the great need for labor IN those occupations and
the difficulty of recruiting II in the United States Be
sides the mining Of coal and the maintenance OF railroads
IN first class condition were deemed essential to the prose
cuon Of the ven to the existence Of businesses
and homes
the importation Of Mexcsus TO engage in mining Of any
and all kinds be employed IN the performance OF com
mon aor connection with construction work being done
by or for the government IN me eIecuon OF Duangs IN
the state Of Texas and also the jurisdiction Of mugra-
ton district o. adjacent to the Mexican border which
includes the states OF texas, new MEXICO AI1one anu
California These are the states which have been feeling
most severely the shortage Of labor to engage in the indus
tries above specified
At Camp Cody and the environments Of Texas there has
been an urgent need for labor and the need still
exists those aviation fields camp and environments where
b5i7g is st in Drogrsss The CONFER mines OF Arizona
hzve been suffering lack Of Mexican sb0res and the
need pointed out insistenty at the time the lporta
ton Of MeZicans purely agricultural labor allowed
Very important TO the southwest is the problem OF sup
plying labor for railroad maintenance work 1t has proved
impossible at any time peace times, to keep labor
ers, other than Mexcans, IN the railroad section gangs
whose groups Of dot the desert from here to Los
Angeles II has been even more difficult IN wartime when
al kinds OF labor American and 1oregn mas oee1 IN keen
demand at wages often higher than railroads could afford
TO pay for the class Of work they had to offer.
At recent conference Of Texas employers state Off
Gals and Others Of the critical phases Of the labor
situation discussed and the need for extending the
scope Of the immigration law pointed out The latest
departmental order relieves matters to extent
paragraph Of the order is deserving especial emphasis
as removing one the causes Of discomfort IN the past
It says:
eAt the same time the practice Of deducting portion
Of the sborer wages stipulated IN the amendment Ito
the immigration law and made part Of the contract
ecutsd and entered into between the employer the govern
neut and the alien VIII be discontinued" From this time
on all Mexican laborer working under special contracts
above mentioned viii receive their full wages they be-
due which is quite it should be- If the laborer
cannot be kept the Job by good wages and fair treat
ent until such time the contract expires the JOB
is finished and he returns to Mexico certainly he cannot be
kept at work IN the resentuI mood inspired by holding
back part Of his wages.
In addition to what has been done, the department Of
labor should wage unceang combat against the p0pa
Eznda in Mexico which is aimed at keeping Mexican labor
Of the United States by telling laborers they come
the United States they viii be drafted into military
service MeEcans could the fasy Of this statement
By asking any Of our consuIs Mexico by communicating
with their OWL ministry Of foreign relations any Of their
consuls in this country but they do inequeny. The
ecans TO return to Mexico but has kept thousands
from coming this country The department Of Labor
acting through the United States Employment Service can
help the situation very greatly by waging counter often
sve this propaganda, letting It be known IN every part
Mexico that the Mexican who to this country TO
work positively VIII not be taken for military service IN
any capacity whatever; that he nay build canonments
and receive wages therefor but VIII not be obliged to don
Uniform and live in them.