WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 187

bo advance the material interests of the common people along the lines of educa~
tion or higher civilization. * * *

“Tt is true that our Spanish-American population of the border States has not
kept pace with the ambitious and hard driving Anglo-Saxons with whom they
have lived since the cession of their territory in 1848. In their defense we must
acknowledge that practically no encouragement or assistance has ever been
rendered them by the National Government, State, or community in which they
live up to the present time, while on the other hand they have always been ignored,
treated as aliens, and often shown less consideration than the Indians, or even the
Negro since his emancipation.
“So little consideration has been shown them as individuals, that even to-day
‘hough native born, few regard themsevles as citizens of the United States, as
was shown during the draft of the recent World’s War. Thousands of the
Mexican boys in the border States failed to return their questionnaires and when
salled to account by the local authorities frankly stated that they did not return
them because they were not considered American citizens. Later thousands of
them were sent to France where they rendered an excellent account of themelves
 in the trenches and on the fighting line—many of them lie among the
honored dead on the fields of Flanders and France, while hundreds of others
returned home wearing the highest military awards for heoric deeds.
“Under the auspices of the International Reform Bureau, and with the
financial assistance of Mr. A. A. Hyde of Wichita, Kans., who has taken a great
interest in the welfare and betterment of these people, I went to the Mexican
border during the past winter and spring to make an educational, industrial, and
sociological survey of the Spanish-American population living on our side of the
line. My investigation extended from Texas to California and included many
of the small and large towns of the four border States.
“Although I had served 15 years on the border while in active service in the
Army, I was very much surprised to find such a large increase in the Spanishspeaking
 population of San Antonio, which 20 years ago numbered 20,000, while
to-day it numbers 75,000. Owing to the disturbed conditions in Mexico, hard
bimes, and poor wages, there has been a constant stream of Mexican immigration
nto the United States during the past two decades, which has proven a veritable
godsend to the people of the Southwest and should be encouraged. Mexicans
have largely superseded the negro on the farms, ranches, and in the cotton fields,
and also emploved in great numbers on the railroads. in the mines and reduction
works.
“* * * They are naturally a timid and shrinking peaple, living apart in
separate pueblos and districts, with little or no social or business intercourse with
the English speaking population, by whom they are held at arms length. Thus
sstracized, as it were; by their American neighbors, they have little opportunity
to learn our language or to become useful American citizens.
“During my survey I paid much attention to the educational opportunities of
the Spanish-speaking children, whom I found eager to learn, and who measured
up well with the American children after learning English. They are more
gifted than the latter in writing, drawing, music, and artistic work generally, are
better behaved and more amenable to discipline. Unfortunately, the majority
of Mexican children enter school without a knowledge of the English language,
which proves a tremendous handicap during the first two or three years of school
life, It is largely ob account of this condition that many of them spend years in
school before reaching the fourth or fifth grades.”
So much for the character of the Mexican people.
_ Now, as the charge that Mexicans are incapable of assimilation or of good
citizenship, I am pleased to add that there are present three of the founders
of an organization known as the League of United Latin American Citizens. I
refer to Mr. J. T. Canales, or Brownsville, Mr. Ben Garza, of Corpus Christi, and
myself. Some of the outstanding aims and purposes of this body are:
, To develop within the members of our race the best, purest, and most perfect
‘ype of a true and loyal citizen 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
bo learn and speak and teach same to our children.
To define with absolute and unmistakable clearness our unquestionable loyalty
to the ideals. principles. and citizenship of the United States of America.