30 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

The CrairmaN. They are trying to hire the same hall for another
dance shortly. That is the work of the communists, a practical
demonstration of their work among the negro population. Those
that came in here were of the undesirable immigrant class. Is that
Pythian hall adjoining the Federation of Labor Building in this city?
Mr, Gisson. I could not say.
Mr. Jenkins. I think it is just north of it.

STATEMENT OF DR. E. G. PETERSON, PRESIDENT UTAH STATE
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. LOGAN. UTAH

The CuatrmaN. Please state your business.
” Doster PETERSON. President of the Utah State Agricultural
ollege.
The CrairmaN. You are president?
Doctor Perrson. Yes, sir. At Logan, Utah.
The Crarrman. How long have you been president?
Doctor PeTERSON. Fourteen years.
The CramrMan. How long have you lived in Utah?
Doctor PETERSON. Out i Sond 46 years, I suppose 30.
The CratrMan. You are a member of the committee on immigration
 of the United States Chamber of Commerce?
Doctor Pererson. Yes, sir.
The CrairMAN. And came here to attend their meeting?
Doctor Pererson. Yes, sir.
The CuatrmMaN. You heard this discussion that has been going on,
and some of the problems that confront us?
Doctor PETERSON. Yes, sir.
The Crairman. This particular hearing relates to efforts to place
A quota on all immigrants on this hemisphere, and some of the witnesses
 are more interested in the semiarid regions. Any information
you can give us will be appreciated.
Doctor Pererson. I came, designated by the Chamber of Commerce,
 as one of a group of three, to express for the chamber its
attitude, to the extent that it can be expressed. on the Mexican
immigration situation.
It 1s an important question, of course, in our judgment, from the
standpoint of the western industries, not only as 1t affects the border
States in their fruit, vegetable, and cotton production, but it is, to a
less extent, an important question in the mines, the ranges, and sugarbeet
 fields in certain States, as Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. :
We feel, under natural economic law, that the Mexican has had
a part to play in the development of western America, and particularly
the southwestern United States, and that the industries have grown
up with his help to a considerable extent, and the fact is that the
loans, and the individual farmer’s investments in canal companies,
and so forth, are all predicated upon a large supply of common
labor, and our predominant feeling is that while we appreciate,
as has been stated by Mr. Chandler, and others, that the American
standard of living is, after all, the most sacred concern of this committee,
 and the chamber of commerce, and every other intelligent
American citizen, at the same time, the economic life that has been
built up should not be quickly destroyed or interfered with, and we
came here to express the hope that drastic interference with these
natural channels of labor should not take place.