Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-16
Especial To The Herald

SAN JuuG 1o.-Aliu
what excuse has the leek-eating,
Welch-born secretary Of labor for
trying to deport "other foreigners"
Just because they were born in
Mexico instead Of Wales.
Thus Goes Col. Sam Robertson
word his opinions in connection
with the activities of immigration
officers in deporting Mexican aliens
from the Valley, in affidavits and
letters Of which he showed copies
here.
Col. Robertson, former sheriff Of
Cameron county, former developer
Of Padre Island, World War vet
eran. former railroad builder. etc,
has found a new occupation-one
forced upon him. This IS identify
ing his amigos" Of the early days
in the Valley, so that they won't
be shipped back TO Mexico.
They are flooding in on him from
various parts of the Valley. They
have come from as far as Houston.
Some of them are MeXicans whom
the Colonel knew before 1904, In
railroad construction days in La. at
the opening Of the century. others
are Mexicans who helped build the
railroad, who helped carve San
Benito out of the brush, and who
otherwise wrote history in the early
days Of the Valley.
The laborers all remember Col
Robertson and are going to him TO
secure identification.
He told of one man who walked
all night long from Donna TO San
Benit0. 10 get Col. Robertson to
identify him before being deported.
This man the colonel remembered
because they both recalled the name
OF a foreman who the men had
dubbed "ZoriIlO." the skunk.
Another came from Houston. He
was a young man who was only a
child when Col. Robertson was de-
yeloping the Valley. He and his
mother came to San Benito from
Houston to secure an affidavit that
they we're in the Valley in 1904.
And others have come while Col.
Robertson a~iternates between anger
At his old amigos" having to be
worried about remaining here, and
pleasure at the memories OF old
DAYS which association with them
reviveS.
The affidavit. filed in the interest
OF one Bernardino Castillo, and a
49, A. -. C1vfnr nnNrnwN-
nm saimmigration matters follow.
fEt affidavit for Bernardino
CaS1Kt1o follows:
This is to certify that the bearer,
Bernardino Castillo. aged about 50.
came to work in my construction
camp near San Benito early in 1905
along with his wife. five or six naked
kids, and two or three half-starved
dogs.
IN my opinion this man has done
more for Texas (but not much Tor
himselO than a large percentage OF
native born Of purest Anglo-SaXon
blood who were educated In our
schools and colleges at the expense
OF the state Of Texas. For nor than
20 a this man has labored for
nv neighbors and myself, worked
like a DYNAMO early and late along
with his family. They have torn
out by the roots hundreds of acres
Of the jungle which covered the soil,
and he and his companions have
made this jungle land susceptible Of
cultivation and made It possible for
almost two hundred thousand people
l. --NN -. a% --@z@AuaNWT 80 an
Joy a high standard Of living.
Americans. Welchmen. Italians.
Germans. Irishmcn. or niggers could
never have grubbed out this tick
infested haunt Of the rattlesnake
and coyote: the thorns of the cac-
tus would have torn the tender hides
from the bodies az any other class Of
workers besides these Mexican In
dians.
"This ~so-called Magic Valley
would still be a magic jungle but for
Bernardino Castillo and his COM
panicns. Bernardino Castillo and
his familS have made It possible for
scores of native born human bar
nacles like myself 10 live here on
profits derived indirectly from the
cultivation Of the soil. which the
labor OF this man and his family
have made possible TO be cultivated.
after more than twenty years Of
hard labor this worthy Indian has
accumulated q little Casita. matched
roof and no floor for his family.
clothed his children and fattened his
dogs and accumulated an extra pair
Of sandals for himself, many corns
OH his hands but no holes In the
seat OF his breecheS.
ut is to be hoped that the agents
OF our Welch-born Hon. Secretary
az Labor will continue 10 let this
real working mar remain here in
peace so he can continue to grub
out the jungle, so that more crops
can be grown 10 be transported over
our railroads, TO furnish positions.
(not iobs) for organized labor. 30
that they can continue to draw
down from $3.50 to $500 per month
for ling the bell cord in the cabs
or burning locomotives or &C
cumulating holes In the seat OF their
trousers from riding on the cushions
of cabooses behind freight trains
which would have no loads but for
the labor Of this old Indian and his
companions.
sBernardino Castillo ard his kind
should be a great favor with the
secretary Of labor. they having pro-
duced many thousands Of carloads
of 'Teeks for Taffy" Crafty is the
bet name Of the WEIGH people: Leek
- A. ..---V r---~-
and perfume of Wales.
when Bernardino Castillo and
his family and companions started
clearing out this jungle land nov
called the Magic Valley Of the Rio