Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-21
ADMIT SITUATION
AT BORDER MAY
BE DANGEROUS
Unemployment At Mexi-
cali Causes Hungry PeO-
pie To Seek Relief

Unemployment in Mexicali and
vicinity has created a situation
which authorities admit is uneasy,
and while not as yet dangerous, has
all the material for trouble.
Workingmen who have been with
out employment for months. and
who are existing on short rations
for themselves and families, have
have been active throughout this
week in demanding relief from the
government
Yesterday the Mexicali Chamber
of Commerce distributed a quantity
of corn to the needy, the supply
however, being considerably less
than the demand Those who were
unable to obtain the corn after the
available supply had been distrib-
uted, staged demonstration, which
was dispersed by the territorial po-
lice, who we're compelled to use
force in several instances, to break
up the crowd.
No arrests were made and no SER
ious injuries were reported.
In an effort to provide means for
relief, Governor Carlos Trejo y
Lerdo de Tejada has asked Mexico
City to give him authorization to
proceed with the road building pro-
gram which was undertaken while
General Tapia and Arturo Bernal
were acting as governor. Such au-
thority has not as yet been re-
ceived, it was stated today at the
palace, but it is hoped it will arrive
over the weekend.
Senorita Menuelita Peralta. chos-
en- queen of the annual carnival
which is held in Mexicali just prior
to Lent. took the funds raised for
her court to purchase supplies of
food and clothing for the residents
of the section known as New
Town, and these were distributed
to the needy today, as far as they
would go.
During yesterdays exciteme n
following the distribution of corn,
and American, Matthew PEARLS, de-
cided it was a good time to do a
little thievery and was discovered
by a policeman while in the act of
trying to steal a spare tire and
other equipment from an automo-
bile
Bystander Shot
PEARLS took to his heels when
discovered and the officer gave
chase, firing several shots at the
fugitive. One of the shots hit and
slightly wounded the usual innocent
bystander, Mexican. Another
lodged in PEARLS thigh and brought
him to a halt.
While being transported to Jail in
the patrol, PEARLS made an attempt
to escape, but was prevented from
doing so. He is held in the Mexicali
Jail and the officer wl>o did the
shooting is also a technical prison.
er, charged with the careless use of
firearms.
The shooting gave rise to a re-
port that one of the Mexicali banks
had been held up and robbed and
this, added to the excitement fol-
lowing the distribution of corn,
kept the business section of Mexi-
cali in turmoil for the balance of
the Afternoon, though there was no
further trouble.
Saturday, always marked by a
large influx of residents from the
sections, is recognized as
having the material for trouble over
the weekend.
While the authorities secuted the
idea of any organized disturbance,
they admitted being prepared to
cope with any situation that might
arise. and were prepared to call the
battalion stationed at the
border into action, if the police
were unable to handle any disturb
ance that might be started. This,
they said however, would be done
only in an extremity.