Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-12
U. 5. Plans 10 Recruit
100000 Mexicans
For Harvest Labor
by the Associated Press

The United States Mexican
agreement, negotiated during the
last few weeks. became effective
formally yesterday with an ex-
change of diplomatic notes in
Mexico City.
1t replaces q 194s pact by which
private United States farm inter-
ests recruited Mexican labor for
seasonal work. This pact was
ended by Mexico last July is after
Mexico had charged the rights OF
her workers had been abused.
Hopes to Step 'Wetbacks.'
The Labor Department, by han
ding the recruitment operations,
has said 1t aims at protecting the
rights Of both Mexican and Amer
lean workers. 1t also hopes to
stem the flow of illegal Mexican
workers. or "wetbacks," into this
country.
President Truman has said that
as many as 500 900 Mexicans slip
ped into this country annually
under the old system.
Congress is expected to COM
pletc action tomorrow on a meas
ure providing $950.000 to finance
United States operation OF the
new program.
Under the new program. Mexi-
can nationals will be recruited in
their country through the joint
efforts of the United States and
Mexican governments and then
brought to reception centers to
be set up on the United States
side Of the border.
Costs Troned Out.
There they will be hired by
American farmers and farm oper-
ators, who must pay them pre-
vailing wages in their localities,
transportation costs within the
United States and up to SIS per
individual to cover travel costs in
Mexico.
Representative BentSen, Demo-
crat. of Texas, said the United
States officials told him they hope
to have the first reception center
ready for operation in Harrington.
Texas, early next week. Others
would be set up as quickly as
possible, officials said.
Secretary of Labor Tobin said
efforts would be made to bring in
100000 Mexican laborers within
the next so to rs days to help
harvest one of the largest Amer1-
can farm crops in history.
The Secretary's statement said
the Justice Departments immi-
grafton service will handle all en-
try clearances with sharp eye
to bar any Communist or other
subversive elements.
Note of Disagreement.
The Government and private
farm interests, particularly In the
Southwest, have said large-scale
recruitment of Mexican labor is
necessary to save farm crops.
They contend that there is in
sufficient domestic labor.
American labor union leaders,
however, have charged that the
recruitment of Mexican workers
will cause new unemployment OF
American workers and force a
lowering of domestic working
standards.
H. L. Mitchell, president Of the
AFL National Farm Labor Union.
denounced the new agreement as
a gross fraud and deceit worked
out by willy Government lawyers
and shakespeare diplomats to
cover up the Vaccinations of GER
tain United States officials oper-
ating on behalf of big business IN
American agriculture"
In statement, he said the
agreement provides for the i'm
portation Of 100000 poverty
stricken Mexican nationals for ex-
ploitation on huge farms Of the
Southwestern States"
Unionist Objects to Article.
MIR. Mitchell said the National
Farm Labor UNion strongly OBJ
tects," among other things. to ar
ticle 81 of the agreement which
states: Mexican workers shall
enjoy the right to elect their own
representative who shall be rec
ognized as such by the employer
for the purpose Of maintaining
contact between the workers and
the employer"
Mr.. Mitchell said this article
"avoids the issue Of representa-
ton OF Mexican nationals by
American trade unions"
In anticipation of yesterdays
formal enactment Of the agree
ment, the Senate on Friday passed
a House-approved bill providing
S950.O00 to the Labor Department
to finance the recruiting opera
tons.
Returned to House.
The measure was returned to
the House for it's approval Of a
Senate amendment which would
permit the Labor Department to
employ Mexican citizens at re-
cruiting centers in Mexico.
Mr.. Tobin said United States
recruitment centers would be es-
tablished near Brownsville, La
redo and FL Paso, Tex; Nogales,
Aliz., and Calexico, Calf.
The Mexican government will
set up migratory labor stations at
Monterrey, Chihuahua, Aguascal-
ientes. Irapuato and Guadalajara.
Mr.. Tobin said governments of
both nations considered the new
agreement an outstanding ex-
ample of international co-opera-
ton