WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 261

Mr. Garza. They have this to combat—they said that Mexican
shildren by themselves could make faster progress than by going to
other schools, but so far as I know, each one that is able to dress his
children well can send them to the ward schools.
The CuairMaN. So that there are children of mixed blood in the
ward schools.
Mr. Garza. Yes, sir.
The Cramrman. How much of the population of Corpus Christi is
Mexican, born in Mexico or born in the United States?
Mir. Garza. Between 4,000 or 5,000.
The Crammman. Is that all of the Mexican population in Corpus
Christi?
Mr. Garza. Yes, sir; it is about one-fourth.
The Crairman. It is, I believe, a fact that at other places in your
rommunity the percentage is much higher.
Mr. Garza. At Laredo probably it is more.
The CrairmaN. What is the situation in that respect at El Paso?
Mr. Garza. I am not acquainted with conditions at El Paso.
The Cuammman. Did your parents come from Mexico?
Mr. Garza. Yes, sir.
The Cuairman. Did they do pretty well in the United States?
Mr. Garza. My father died at an early age.
The Cuairman. Do you find that most of these Mexican laborers
who have come into the United States during the last five vears desire
to return to Mexico?
Mr. Garza. After they come to the United States, they see the
zreat opportunity of making a good living here and many of them
want to stay here.
The Cuarrman. How do they feel in Mexico, say, two or three
States below the line? Do they want to come here?
Mr. Cooke. Do the Mexican people participate in running the
government in Corpus Christi?
Mr. Garza. Yes, sir; in the police department. If you will pardon
me for saying this, I will tell you that it is rumored around our city
that 1 am going to run for trustee of the city next year. Many
gentlemen of Anglo-Saxon origin have approached me and requested
me to offer myself for that office, because they know I would have the
Mexicans solidly on my side.
Mr. Ramey. Trustee of what?
Mr. Garza. The city schools.
Mr. Cooke. Of the 5,000 or 6,000 Mexicans in Corpus Christi,
about how many are citizens of the United States?
Mr. Garza. The poll-tax books show that there are more than
2,000 paying poll tax.
Mr. Cooke. That would designate them as citizens,
Mr. Garza. Yes, sir; but that is not all of them, because many of
them do not take any interest in paying the poll tax. On the other
hand, that does not include the children. Co
Mr. Cooke. Is that population of 5,000 or 6,000 in Corpus Christi a
constant figure, or is there a seasonal fluctuation that increases or
decreases it? }
Mr. Garza. It is constant. The only time we have a large increase
in that particular part of our population is when we get 4,000 or 5,000
cotton pickers.