Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-02-25
I'm O u r
WAllLEY

the South Texas Chamber OF Com
merce il lzading South Texas fight
on the Box bill.s now pending in
congress, which proposes TO place
immigration from Mexico on the
quota basis, similar to that of
European countries.
South Texas knows that labor
from Mexico is largely seasonal. but
u knows even better that tn. only
way in which Il will be possible 70
bring South Texas 10 its right point
Of development Is through the avail
Utility Of that labor.
Congressman Bcx, living in Fast
Texas. Is Of course not interested in
South Texas problems, and no doubt
cares less.
REPLYING TO some statements
attributed in press reports to Con-
gresham Box, Mr.. Morrison. calling
attention 20 depression I'm agricul-
ture throughout the country. said:
I'm the face Of this situation. ag-
riculturc in Texas and the southwest
and the far west generally has been
developing by leaps and bounds. this
development bringing with Il greatly
increased population. for the impOr-
tant cities and towns Of the area.
"The reason for this development
Is that while tn. central agricultural
producing area Of the United States
have been without labor. there has
been supply Of reasonably cheap
and efficient agricultural labor
available in the southwest and fas
west.
''it il our belief that the only
practical relief congress ever will be
ahla to afford agriculture in the
United States Is 10 promulgate some
method of selecting imm igration TO
secure not more immigrants but inn
migrants skilled in agriculture and
who have nm inherent desire to live
on the soil"
ALONG THIS same line. "Think." !"
has the following 70 say in the San
Antonio Express:
"Coming from an East Texan. the
arguments which Renrea ,ntative Box
advances for his bill TO restrict inn
migration from Mexico sounds
strange. The congressman onpoSes
continuing the present permission
given Mexicans (and canadiansl TO
cross the border. because (Il the
hulk Of the immigration goes 10 in
dnstrial and metropolitan ccnters.
and t2) because this pcon and serf
labor will raise hundreds Of thous-
nnds Of bales Of cottnn at prices on
which the American farmer and his
family cannot live The peculiarly
IN that argument lies In the fact
that the Fast Texas district which
Mr.. Box represents is not an indus
trial nor metropolitan center. and il
produces probably less cotton than
any other congressional district in
the state.
"MEXICAN LABOR to which Ren
resentative Box objects "a desired "
Southwest Texas for two reasons:
On TO clear land which has lain idle
for centuries and which. put in cul-
tivation, will incrcease the country's
food supply; (2) 10 supply the alb
normal demand for seasonal labo-.
ouch as is needed in onion planting
and spinach harvesting and cottcr
picking. The immigrant laborers do
not raise cotton They are employed
at picking time. and wage Of $i.25
or more a hundred pounds picked j.
q long way from 'serf labor
PERHAPS THE East Texas con-
gressman. and other congressman as
well, profitably could visit those
parts of Southwest Texas where this
Immigrant labor Is employed in
largest numbers, and get newer
and more Illuminating picture They
would find workers, ignorant. Il IS
true, in respect 20 reading and writ
ING. but quiet. Industrious, fond Of
simple pleasures. and in many cas- ss
genuinely fond of the employers who
pay them wages unheard Of in their
native land
The South Texas Chamber " Con-
merce will justify itself II il Is able
10 do no more for South and South
west Texas than 20 look after such
Of its interests as have 20 do with
the supply Of labor.
TWENTY-FIVE TO thirty new
storerooms have been made avail
able in Brownsville recently. to be
occupied by old and new concerns.
Indications are that these store
rooms. All Of which are intended Tor
small enterprises. will soon be alb
Sorhcd.
That will call for more new build
infs. And plans onw underway for
n half dozen other buildings costing
from $4,000 sp indicate there j. %
be no let-up in construction IN
Brownsville during the present year
Carpenters. bricklaycrs, plastererS
and the other artisans were never
buster in their lives than they arc
now in the Lower Rio cfande Na'
ley.