34

WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

is to teach the immigrants and Mexican descendants what American
citizenship means, what our form of government is, how it differs from
that of Mexico. It is a very commendable organization and has the
indorsement of the churches as well as the business interests in that
territory.
The Cuarrman. We will be very glad to have 1t.
Mr. Garner. Mr. Canales, who was a former member of the legislature
 and lives in Brownsville, is one of the directors, and I had a
letter from him yesterday saying that he had sent me that matter.
It is very short. He is one of the leading citizens of Mexican descent
in Texas.
The CuatrMaN. We will be very glad to have it, and without
objection it will be inserted.
Mr. Scanemer. I would like to ask Mr. Garner a question right
on that point, if he can furnish us any idea of the percentage of
people of Mexican extraction who belong to that organization?
Mr. Garner. What was the question, Mr. Schneider?
Mr. ScENEIDER. If you can give us the percentage of the people
of Mexican extraction living in that section of the country who
belong to that organization.
Mr. Garner. I will be glad to undertake to get that information
for you. I will write to Mr. Canales to-day and tell him that the
committee would like to know about what percentage of the people
in that territory belong to this organization.
Mr. ScaNEipER. Of Mexican extraction.
Mr. GARNER. I can say to you, sir, that there is quite a lot of them.
The reason why I am informed about that, I come in contact with
the president, was it not, Mr. Sexton—what is the gentleman’s
name who is president of that organization?
Mr. Sexton. Alonzo Parones.
Mr. Garner. Alonzo Parones, a gentleman who is in the employ
of the State Department, dealing with the Claims Commission, and
a very high type lawyer and very high type gentleman. He is the
president of it. And the reason why I know it embraces a great
many people, while it has no political purpose, it might be converted
into a political organization and I was always hoping that if that
should be done, I might be favorably considered. (Laughter.)
I will give you the names here of the gentlemen that we would like
to have heard: H. L. Yates, R. B. Rentfro, and John Gregg, of Brownsville;
 Ed Downs and J. Q. Lothan, of San Benito; Rex Baxter, of
Raymondville; Roy Miller, of Corpus Christi; and R. J. Cummins, of
Houston.
The CHAIRMAN. Previous inquiries here have made disclosures as
to actual, oath-bound American citizens of foreign ancestry who do
get into political organizations whose principles are at variance with
the fundamentals of the Government of the United States.
Mr. Garner. Now, Mr. Chairman, let me say to you emphatically,
that so far as my observation goes of the Mexican people in Texas,
that condition does not exist. I know what you refer to, and I am
very sensible of your criticism of that kind of an organization. I
am not only not in sympathy with it, but it is abhorent to every
thought of an American citizen that any man living under our flag,
whether he be a citizen or not, should in any way scheme or otherwise
contribute to the thought of loyalty to some other Government