4

WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

Doctor Peterson. The numbers are so small that it has not created
an educational problem. I think they sit with the white children.
The CuairmMaNn. You know there is a school problem in Texas?
Doctor PeTersoN. Yes; undoubtedly.
The Cuarrman. And California?
Doctor PETERSON. It is not as acute, Mr. Chairman, and I have
felt, and there are other people who feel, that the people in the Southwest
 are more afraid of other races. The Mexican is an amiable
citizen, in comparison with some of them.
The CHAIRMAN. You mean Europeans? .
Doctor PETERSON. Asiatics principally but also Porto Ricans and
others.
The CrairMAN. You have been with this committee in restricting
riental immigration?
Doctor Pererson. Decidedly.
The CrarrMaN. Would you like us to go a little further?
Doctor Pererson. I would have to think that over.
The Cuairman. We are thinking it over ourselves [laughter].
Now, in your studies of the matter, you know something about the
situation in New England?
Doctor PereErson. Extremely remote. My knowledge of New
England is not very intimate.
The CratrMaN. Have you given much study to the South and
their labor troubles?
Doctor Pererson. Only to a limited extent.
The CrairmMaN. You realize if cotton is produced in Louisiana and
Texas and these other States, by itinerants, who come into those
States and go out when the crops have been harvested, those States
have an advantage over the old South who have to keep the colored
{abor throughout the year?
Doctor Pererson. That is an economic advantage.
The Cuarrman. Do you think that will help the general comity
which should exist between all the States of the Union?
Doctor Peterson. I think there is legislation that prevents their
iaking the negro out of the South. They want the negro in the old
South.
The CuarrmMan, But in the old South they have to carry common
labor month in and month out the year around in order to procure
these laborers during the cotton planting and picking time, and your
part of the country can bring in Mexican labor and let him drift
out again, has not your section of the country got an economic
advantage?
Doctor PeTEROSN. Apparently more on the surface than in reality.
Since the boll-weevil trouble the South has diversified its plantings.
The salvation of the old South is in the recent diversification. They
have a larger variety of crops and the Southwest is more restricted.
Diversification tends to make the farmer——
Mr. Box. Let me interrupt you, if I may, Doctor. Doctor, have
you read the report of the commission appointed by the United States
Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Conference, on the condition
of American agriculture, the causes and the remedies?
Doctor PerERsoN. I have read portions of it.
Mr. Box. Have you read that chapter in which they point out
that there is a big area in the western part of Texas, Oklahoma, and