Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-07-17
SHERIFF WILL
ARREST oilers
EANNOUNCED
Valley Cotton Fields Demand
Every Available Picker,
and Idling or Vagrancy
Will Not be Permitted

With the labor situation in the Val
ley becoming more acute every day
and with the biggest cotton crop in tie
history Of the Valley in sight, the Of
flee Of the county sheriff with the CO.
operation of city police, is attempting to
aid farmers and laborers by acting rs
q central agency for the distribution
Of those desiring work. There is no
real labor employment organization in
Brownsville. and the Sheriff's depart
ment is aiding the Board Of City De-
velopment in the effort TO get labor 10
harvest the cotton crop. A mounted la
Dor agent Is now working under the
direction Of the Sheriff, to bring men
who are out of employment to the Of
flee. where they are put in touch with
farmers needing help. The cost Of this
agent is being paid by the farmers.
I'm order TO get the crop harvested.
every effort will be made to put all
available men TO work." stated Sheriff
Robertson, "and those who refuse TO 60
to work will be arrested for vagrancy .
He urged that all men desiring work
report to his office, or to the chief of
police, or to mounted labor agent,
Daniel Rubio.
Reports from a number of communi-
ties are to the effect that there are
many idle men who aye apparently re-
fusing to work at any price. These men
will be dealt with as vagrants. accord
ing to the sheriff. il they continue to
refuse to wcrk.
AZ nts Taking Pickers
The labor situation in the Valley Is
made even more acute. by the operation
Of labor agents from points outside the
Valley. according to reports. These
agents are carrying many pickers out
Of the Valley. II is reported that As
pickers left on the afternoon train yes
terday, to work in the cotton fields
near Taft. and agents from other towns
are reported to moving pickers out Of
the Valley.
According to farmers who were seek
ing pickers this morning, the cotton
will practically all open at once, due
to the defoliating of the fields by the
leaf worm. 1t is expected that within
another week. all the cotton in the Val
ley will be ready TO pick. The remov-
al Of foliage makes the cotton ex-
tremely easy to pick this year. and
pickers are making high wages at the
prices offered. The prices offered here
in most cases II IS cents per hundred,
the farmers agreeing that this is n good
price.
Demand In Heavy.
Many farmers are employing their
own agents. in an attempt to get pick
ers. News that the sheriff's office was
acting as a labor agency brought az
least a dozen farmers TO the court
house bright and early this morning,
but only six CT seven pickers turned
up and these were taken Immediately.
"How many pickers do you need." one
farmer was asked. "All can ret and
more" was the reply. With the pres
ent rapid opening Of the crop. almost
any number of laborers could be used,
according to the reports.
Reports from towns up the Valley
are TO the effect that conditions there
are but little better than in this sec
tion. and the demand for pickers far
exceeds the supply. Work on the high
ways is showing the effect of the short
ago. too. The work oct Of La Feria en-
the new concrete road. was stopped
Saturday and Monday. because of lack
of men. but an attempt to begin work
again will be made today with the few
men available.