Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-02-03
CANALES ASKS
KILOGRAMS ON
SOLONS VISIT
Valley Delegate Tc
Washington Tells
of Hearing

Mission to Brownsville, j. T. Can
ales makes the following report on
the immigration question:
"On January 81 at ten o'clock in
the morning I attended the con-
ference OF delegates from Southern
California, Arizona and New Mex
leo. and the testimony that was TO
be presented to the Committee was
there outlined so as TO avoid repe-
tition. Next morning the hearing
began and all these interests de-
monstrated that it meant disaster
to further curtail Mexican labor:
that they had tried to substitute
other labor, on recommendation Of
the u. S. Department Of Labor,
such as Portorican laborers, but
found that IL was both expensive
and wholly unsatisfactory. Through
out the entire day / watched close
ly the effect this testimony had on
the members Of the Committee and
observed, from their attitude and
the questions they asked, that the
members had made up their mind
and were almost unanimous In fav-
or OF their pet theory, to-wit: put
ting immigration from Mexico and
Canada under the quota basis, both
for the solution Of the problem Of
unemployment claimed TO exist now
in the north and east. and also as
a permanent policy Of u govern
ment.
Bills May Pass
The Committee listened with
manifest impatience, bordering on
personal antagonism, TO evidence
which would tend TO contradict or
show the impracticability Of their
own theory, as ] was 70 appear as
first witness the next morning I
saw clearly that it was a waste OF
time and energy TO present the
same line Of testimony, the Com
mittee would not have listened 10
1t: hence, being familiar with the
history and development Of the
Valley, I re-arranged my testimony,
as originally outlined at the con-
ference. and presented our problem
from a different angle. ] told the
Committee that the climatic con-
ditions testified 10 by the witnesses
from Southern California, Arizona
and New Mexico, was only one
phase Of the problem as peculiarly
applicable to them; but in the Low
er Rio Grande Valley our problem
arose from other factors which had
not been clearly presented, to-vit:
Problems Outlined
81. The rapid transition from a
wilderness into a intensive farming
district requiring a large number
Of unskilled laborers TO clear y
grub our lands and to gather our
crops and prepare same for market.
q. Local conditions created by
virtue Of our treaties with Mexico
specially the Treaty Of Guadalupe
Hidalgo ceding not only this land
but the inhabitants TO United
States and the Treaty OF 1905 al
fecting the elimination OF bancoS.
IS. The overzealouSness and o.
ten the abuse Of power on the part
OF immigration officials in the en-
forcement OF the present immigra-
ton laws along the Mexican border.
AS this angle OF the problem had
not been presented the committee
appeared very interested as can be
Judged from the fact that although
the ordinary time allowed a wit
ness is twenty minutes ] was per-
mitted to address them hour.
Tactics Outlined
1T Is my sincere opinion that
the time has come when We must
change our tactics by not appear
ing in an antagonistic attitude to-
ward the pending bills (the Box and
johnson bills) but to manifest a
spirit Of cooperation and offering
to assist the committee in the right
solution Of this question by insist
ing and urging the committee 70
visit the whole Mexican border, es-
pecialIy our section, so that the
members may see the actual con-
ditions confronting us. BY such
method we may be able to secure
relief as there is hope. slight hope
perhaps. Of securing either OF the
following alternatives:
"(a) The members Of the COM
mittee. by coming here, may alb
sorve sufficient facts which will
convince them that their pet the
DRY Is both disastrous to us as well
as impractical Of enforcement along
a two thousand mile border; or
"(b) The committee may see the
necessity of amending the pending
bills so as 10 give us. at least par
tial relief, in permitting season
able Mexican labor possibly with
this provisio: That such laborers
shall not be permitted to 60 be-
yond two hundred miles from the
Mexican border SO that the same
may not come In competition with
labor In the north and east.
kilograms Urged
MY whole effort, therefore. be-
fore the committee was to get the
members interested in coming over
here to see and study actual con-
ditions themselves for II we succeed
in getting them to come we may
hope for q measure OF belief; II not
then either or both Of the pending
bills will be reported fayorably and
IL either bill reaches the House OF
Representatives it would then be
easier to stop the SIN in its course
across the heavens than 10 prevent
their passage. I therefore recon.
mend every city in the Valley
through its chamber OF commerce