El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-16

IL pASOS Young Mems Christian association has two
Il branches among the Spanish speaking population and
they are doing strong and useful work They greatly
reed increased financial resources order TO enable them
70 extend their service in the community.
The subject has both local and international as
pect One-hah the population Of Fl Paso IS spanish
American OF Mexican These people superior IN every
to the foreign bonn population Of our American cities
They quiet law abiding folk INDUSTRIOUS gooo
workers when trained and intehgenty directed reliable
loyal; ambitions for seprovemen they respond read
y to every effort extended IN their behalf; they are ap
prsciatve they possess fine proud spirit and many other
qualities Of character that set them apart and make It
pleasure to work with them and for them It at all
unusual for them positions Of responsibility and
trust and to excel competitive work. whether IN school,
trade OF profession Fl Paso has always provided school
ing them equal that given the rest Of the community
and they have made good often 70 an astonishing degree
Immigration from Mexico IN normal times is very
heavy, and during the Mexico there has been
constant increase in this division OF the population
Owing to e constant and heavy demands for laborers
throughout the west and southwest there Is steady
stream Of Spansh-Amercans through Fl Paso; and while
there is large fixed population, there is also large
(psrhaps a-ser) floating population, which presents to Fl
Paso many and peculiar problems. There Is constant
change This results IN filtration process which affects
al the southwestern states Of the United States and also
Me1co.
YM c. A. work among the Spanish speaking pOpula-
ton OF FL Paso old the 7. N C. a ITSELF since
f rbIe has never been IGNORED But in spite Of the
very generous support given the z n C. A. work by the
81 Paso people It has never been possible to develop ana
broaden this work to anything Ike the extent seen to be
desirable. Financial limitations have held the work to
uzrrow limits so far as plant and equipment con-
csned that the very strong and productive work that
has been done Is due manly TO the oeFoled personal WIZ
Of individuals carried in spite Of material obstacles
Since the earliest years the international opportunities
duties and responsibilities Of e Paso have strongly ap
pssd to our people Up to years ago. when the Mex
revolutions began and when the United States govern
nsnt entered upon its entirely mistaken policy, there
no two peoples the world living terms Of greater
understanding and accord than the Means and Ameri-
cans During the disturbed PERIOD spite Of thousand
occasions for loccI friction e Paso has invariably main
tanned Order and this Is due as much to the Spanish
Americans to any other element Indeed E Paso has
performed signal service to both nations by Of its
answering discrimination locally not to let any nterna
tonal difficulty disturb the peace and safety Of its OWL
inhabitants.
Fl Paso has strategic situation Of prime importance
relation international border affairs There have
been times when this city may be said to have held the
power Of peace Its record IS clean. Great import
ancs to be ascrbed the influence Of right spirit and
that the spirit has been right IS due largely 70 the earnest
efforts that have been made here to afford to the Spanish
speaking population al deserved opportunity for self
bstereut and to eounteract By definite and positive
means, any tendency toward racial antagonism-
e Pasos geographical situation has made this city the
principal city along the border great railroad, traffic.
and taoe center an INDUSTRIAL and SOCIAL center whose n
tuenoe N Mexico especially northern Mexico, has been
great for generation past It IS also important train
ing center, and many Mexican Young and have
received here their schooling training IN trades IN COM
sraI branches and their only contact with American
methods, people, and ideals.
Emphasis nay justly be placed upon the importance Of
this continuous filtration process in its effects Mexico
n On the United States Not only there constant
erchange through trade and travel at this great crossing
Of international and transcontneutai highways but Il
Psso IS and has long been actually political center for
lszeans Of al political parties and factions, who here
contact with Americans and American thought and
whose opinions and conduct necessarily subject local
influence An the why that local influence
should Be strongly mhusd with sentiments Of justice law,
morality, and social service right education and the
osssity Of work and thrift
Mexico has resources Of which the greatest is
her mznpoWer; and ths is precisely that which is
least copshended and least developed Mecos spiritual
needs pressing than her material nee There
need Of education, need Of modern training need above all
Of inspiration the inspiration that especially from
contact with strong and actual experience Of applied
ideals.
This the international opportunity that presents itself
the 2 H. C. IN FL Paso and that ought to appeal to
any person group Of persons having the capacity to
sense these problems broadly.
The vision Of the future coprshends adequate plant
here for = H. G A work among tbe Spanish Americans;
plant built for big work. 70 take care Of the floating and
transient population well permanent residents; i'm
poanr Confirmation schools and speciality schools for the
common branches Tor the trades and commercial branches
for teaeherE and especially for training social workers in