Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-05-13
LABORERS May
BEBROUCHTlN
FROM LAREDO
Department Of Labor Men
State That There is Little
Surplus Labor to Supply
Valley Demand

Laborers TO supply the demand for the
Lower Rio Grande Valley may be-
brought in by the way # laredo a.
cording to J. NJ. Denton and NJ A.
Ibominguez, representatives of the state
labor department. who arrived in
brownsville last week 10 make a sur
vey Of the labor situation and To as
sist Valley farmers in securing an
adequate supply Of labor.
After making careful survey of the
situation here they found there was lit
tie IL any surplus labor in Brownsville
and that few laborers co,'a be expected
TO enter at this port. ov ! TO the be-
mands for labor on the other side of
the Rio Grande. They expressed the
opinion that all the labor entering al
Brownsville would hardly be sufficient
20 supply the demand Of this immediate
vicinity. and announced that an effort
would be made to divert some Of the
labor entering at Laredo to the upper
part Of the Valley. where there j. an
exceptionally large acreage Of cotton.
Thousands Of labcrers are crossing nj
Laredo. agents of the state department
announce. and the Robstown- Bishop
Corpus Christi districts. which formerly
received much Of their Mexican labor
through this port. are now securing Il
through Laredo. Thousands Of Mex
leans from the interior are coming 10
the border and while many Of them are
being secured by the northern and east
ern integests. the supply Is believed "a
be sufficient to fill the Texas demand
The population In this section of Tex
leo Is too sparce 10 provide the volume
of labor which the large acreage in
South Texas win demand this year.
Mr. Denton stated. Il doubt If enough
labor will come across TO supply the
local demand. especially in view Of the
large acreage planted on the other side
OF the rio Grandc The Department of
labor is anxious to cooperate with the
Valley farmers and will use every le-
gitimate means TO supply sufficient
labor, but after surveying the situation
here we have come To the conclusion
that the upper Valley sections or the
Robstown- Bishop sections cannot obtain
any part Of the labor they will need
through this port. 1t was the origina!
intention 10 keep man here to dis
tribute the labor crossing from Mexico.
hut we have come TO the conclusion
that better results could be obtained
By placing the department represent
alive nj Laredo and have him divert
some Of that labor to the Valley"
Both Mr.. Denton and Mr.. DominSuez
departed Saturday morning for McAllen.
where they will make an attempt to cap
tue some Of the "hijackers" who are
reported to be operating auto truck
systems for the purpose Of illegitima'eiy
Transporting Mexican laborers To San
Antonio. They have secured evidence
that several such trucks are being op-
Grated, and will make an effort to cap
ture the offenders.
The department representatives ad-
yisej that the various Valley ccmmun-
tiles hold meetings and determine the
amount Of labor that would be neces-
xary TO properly handle the crop ~
their respective communities. ascertain
the number Of field hands they have
available and the number that will be re-
ouired. and then report their needs 10
the Department Of Labor at Austin.
.The Valley will need an ever in
cressing supply Of labor until after the
cotton season." Mr.. Domincuez re-
marked. I'm former years little an
fieultv hns been experienced IN the N3i-
lev in securing all the labor necessary,
bnt conditions are different this year.
owing 10 the new immigration laws. and
the repeal Of the contract labor war
measure. and the competition Tor Mex
ican labor Is now stronger than ever
before. 1t would be advisable for them
% take steps Immediately to secure nm
adequate labor supply. The big cot
ton acreage in the Valley will demand
more field hands and pickers thnn ever
before, and serious loss may result
II labor il scarce"