Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-31
TEXANS OPPOSE
! WAR WITH MEXICO
Need of LaborerS Skaters
Old Tradition and Opens
Immigration Dispute.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, January I'll
The impression which prevails
throughout the country that Texas
and Texans always are ready TO spring
at the throat of Mexico and that war
with the sister republic below the Rio
Grande would be about the most en-
ioyable outdoor sport that could be de
Vised for this section or the Chleo
States must be revised.
Such a theory might have held good
p generation or so ago, but changing
conditions nave changed sentiment
Today Texas and the entire far Soulh'
west. as we'll as some OF the ROCKY
Mountain states. are dependent TO
very large extent. economically ana
egriculturalIy, upon continued reign
Of peace along the Rio Grande and an
unchecked inflow of unskihed Mexican
labor.
Reports from Washington of move
in Congress TO put Mexico on quota
immigration basis, the same az the
countries of Europe have caused some
thing akin 10 CONSERVATION down mere
| Mon labor is credited with bringing
the pressure to bear upon the lmmi-
grafton committees of the IlGuse ana
senate but 1t is contended here the
Mexican laborer is not like the lnlhl-
grant from Europe. lie does not flock
TO the cities and his work Is alinost
wholly on the farm.
Negro Migration Felt.
The migration of the negro TO the
North has been felt in Texas, as else
where throughout the South, and the
problem OF rough labor with the hands
has become acute.
The American Live Stock Associa-
ton. which has just concluded its SEES
sions at Salt Lake City, adopted reso-
luton protesting against restricting I'M
migration from Mexico on the quota
basis The resolution was sponsored
hy the delegates from the Southwest
ern States, who said Mexican labor
WAS necessary to the proper harvest
ing of the cotton and sugar beet crops
OF these States and also was needed
on the ranches. Colorado, parts OF
Utah, Kansas and Wyoming have to
draw upon the seasonal supply of Mex
lean labor Tor harvesting their beet
crops.
sort of Macedonian cry has gone
up from the country to the South and
West of San Antonio. The San An
tonic Express treats the situation
editorially as follows:
Southwest Texas is vitality inter
ested in the proposal TO restrict
Mexican immigration. Millions OF
acres of land are to be cleared, and
millions OF acres already cleared need
an abundance of unskilled labor to
raise the crops they can produce. The
supply of resident labor is inadequate
and has been inadequate for half
century.
"Oniy by obtaining laborers from
Mexico in increasingly large numbers
can the present era of development In
southwest Texas be continued. Every
property owner, every community con-
'sidering irrigation work, every in
,vestor in southwest Texas securities
aie interested in keeping up this devel-
.epment. To handicap it by restricting
labor supply would be disastrous.
View Called Shortsighted.
1.-THE American Federation of Labor
itself by sponsoring such restriction,
takes a shortsighted view of what an
Unrestricted labor influx from Mexico
means to it's ovAa membership. About
10000 carloads of fruits and vege-
tables this year win be shipped to
Northern and Eastern population
eenters and most of 1t has been pro-
duced by laborers whom restricted
immigration policy would have kept
out of Texas. The wool and mohair
which provide garments for American
Federation members, as well as en-
ployment for many OF its members,
come from southwest Texas, and this
production is largely possible only
through laborers who come from Mex.
leo to Texas"
Thus, it will be seen that the ami
mosities of the old days across the
border are disappearing in the on rush
in the new industrialism of the South
and the continued increase in the
value Of its agriculture. The fruit and
vegetable development in the Rio
Grande Valley of the last few years
Ia amazing,
One hears little or no war talk" In
this one-time hotbed of nti-Mexican
sentiment. There is, instead, every
where a hope for continued peace.
Gov. Dan Moody himself probably will
lead a good will motor cavalade into
Mexico in the early Spring to help
dedicate the new motor highway from
the Rio Grande to Monterey