180 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION
answer any question you may ask. I do not want to indulge in any
long flight of oratory, here.
Mr. ScHNEIDER (acting chairman). You know, the regulation of
the committee is 10 minutes for any one speaker. Can you give us
the substance of what you want to say?
Mr. PeraLes. I will give you the substance, and if this can be
incorporated in the record, I will not exceed it very much. }
Mr. ScuENEIDER (acting chairman). I think it should be incorporated.

Mr. Gisson. I think so, too.
Mr. PeraLes. At the outset, Mr. Chairman and members of the
committee, I want to state that I am not here to oppose the Box bill
or the Johnson bill or any other bill, but to promote the welfare of
Texas—of the American people. Therefore I am not going to discuss
the economic phases of this problem.
However, I do wish to refer to the statements made by some sponsor
of this quota bill, to the effect that the Mexican people is an inferior
and degenerate race. Being a Mexican by blood, and being just as
proud of my racial extraction as I am of my American citizenship, I
feel it my duty to deny most emphatically that the Mexican race is
inferior to any other race, and I have quoted authorities here in
support of my statement.
The charge is also made that Mexicans ought to be restricted
because they do not become American citizens. I am one of the
founders of what is known in Texas as the League of United Latin-American
 Citizens.
Mr. Canales, the gentleman who preceded me, is also one of the
founders, and foremost leaders, of this organization. The main
objects of this organization are to develop within the members of our
race the best, purest, and most perfect type of a true and loyal citizen
of the United States of America; and fo define with absolute and
unmistakable clearness our unquestionable loyalty to the ideals,
principles, and citizenship of the United States of America.
The acquisition of the English language, which is the official
language of our country, being necessary for the enjoyment of our
rights and privileges, we declare it to be the official language of this
organization, and we pledge ourselves to learn, and speak. and teach
same to our children.
We shall oppose any radical and violent demonstration which may
tend to create conflicts and disturb the peace and tranquility of our
country.
Now, gentlemen, the question is also asked that, if we are not an
inferior race, why 1s it that we have not produced outstanding men?
Well, if I may answer that in a general way, I will say that we have,
despite our handicap as a race, produced a few outstanding men.
I will quote, for instance, Doctor Maca. one of the outstanding states
men of the world.
I will also refer to another Mexican, who is now in Europe, an outstanding
 European lawyer, now serving as umpire on several international
 claims commissions.
Why have we not produced outstanding men in Texas? Gentlemen,
 the problem in Texas has been mostly one of racial prejudice
with us. We have received very little encouragement to forge ahead
and become useful American citizens. On the other hand, attempts