WESTERN HEMISPHERE TMMIGRATION 109

_ But we can not stop there. We have the additional thing to con-Sider
 that when you destroy or when you injure the prosperity of the
Industry which gives us the traffic, you not only cut off our prosperity
when you cut off our traflic, but you add to our burden, because the
law is compelling us to contribute to the restoration of the agriculbural
 industry to its normal state of prosperity by reducing freight
rates.
In other words, on account of the industrial conditions, on account
of the necessity of the use of Mexican labor in their business as well
8s ours, you threaten the prosperity of the agricultural industry; and
If its prosperity is lessened then the Congress of the United States
and the Interstate Commerce Commission, under the express direction
of the Hoke Smith resolution, must require us to reduce our profits on
what traffic is left to us in order that we, by our contribution, may in
Some measure alleviate the destruction of their prosperity which has
been accomplished by the passage of the Mexican labor bill.
It is in such a predicament as that that we find ourselves—we are
not on either horn, but we are on both horns at once.
The Cuarrman. Have vou reduced the rates on agricultural
commodities?
Mr. McInnis. Some rates have been reduced. Agriculture is in
&amp; state of depression—Congress has said so—and it is not for us in
this presence to dispute what Congress has said. It is not for us in
this presence to try out our issues with the Interstate Commerce
Commission. The Interstate Commerce Commission has said and
Congress has said that there is a depression in agriculture. Apparently
 it is the belief of Congress that there is a depression in agriculture.
 Perhaps there is nothing which has been given more
Prominence, more publicity during the past few months than the
condition of agriculture in the United States; and yet it is proposed
to go in and pass an act at this time in the presence of a depressed
condition in agriculture extending nation-wide, according to the
Public press and according to the expressions in Congress and accordong
 to the expressions of Congress in 1925 in the Hoke Smith resolutlon—in
 the presence of a depressed condition of agriculture extendng
 nation-wide, and in the presence of a depressed condition of
agriculture found expressly by the Interstate Commerce Commission
to exist in this very territory, it is proposed to go in and baldly pass
an act which will cut these people off from their supply of labor and
leave them to struggle along as best they can.
Is this aiding a depressed condition? It is adding to it.
Our interest in the matter, let me say again, is not an unselfish one ;
but at the same time it is not an immoral one, and it is not an un-Patriotic
 one. It is our duty to look out for ourselves. It is our
duty to do what we can to assist those upon whom we depend for
business.
This country is built on the foundation that people take care of
themselves; and so we have no apologies to make in coming here and
Speaking for agriculture in this matter.
. The CuATRMAN. Are not the people who want Mexican and other
Similar immigration restricted speaking from that same foundation
and standpoint?
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