WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 293

at, that can not be interpreted by anyone to mean that we are in
favor of getting peasant labor, under peasant conditions. We are
merely wanting to keep our American farmer, on the boarder as well
as anywhere else in the United States, on the American basis, paying
an American wage for his labor, but saving crops and permitting
him to continue in the production of his crops, which, if he is to discontinue,
 will add more to the surplus of diary, wheat, corn, and
various other commodities which those fellows might have to go into
if they can not continue in the things that they are raising now along
the border.
The Cuairman. Now, every time that we stop to continue this
thing further—you see, we have had this five years now.
Mr. Gray. That is about the time.
The CrarrmaN. The population from neighboring countries ine
creases in the United States, and we get some figures from California
based on the school census. The charge is made that our inquiry in
California was made by scientists and experts. Well, they are made
on the basis of the situation in the schools. I have two maps here
which show the situation. That shows the increasing number of
the children of the peasant type in foreign countries getting into the
schools. “Now, let us see what that is going to do, and consider the
strength of the city population and the weakness of your rural population.
 As those children come into voting age, they are of a generation
 from lines of people just above serfs. Now, is not there a danger?
Would you stop for a couple of vears. or take a couple of vears to
pursue it out?
Mr. Gray. Yes, Mr. Chairman; a couple of years to study that
proposition and find a solution of it, so that these farmers in the States
that I have designated can carry on their activities, and not have to
sacrifice in transition. Whenever it will come and under what form
it comes, it would be better than to give an arbitrary solution over
night which would force many of these farmers in the border States;
if not to go out of the business that they are in now, at least to shift
into some other farm business, which would add to the commercial
troubles of the nation as a whole. But even if we have to delay for
for two years, if at that time we can find a solution for it. such delay
would be a permissible one.
The CuairmanN. Now, let us see. In recent years the farmer, in an
affort to find something profitable, has gone into sugar-beet farming.
Mr. Gray. Pardon me. They will not go into it much longer,
with the tariff rates as it is on the Senate side now. :
The CuarrmaN. I agree with you. Now, the sugar-beet industry
is in Michigan and it employs Mexican labor. That is a long way
from his climate and his habitat, and he is staying there more and
more, in a fine State like Michigan. It is a small thing now, but
every time a Mexican farmer and his family stop in Michigan, more
children of people domiciled there years before will go to these cities
with no jobs. It is a driving process. don’t vou see?
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir. .
The CHAIRMAN. And right in Michigan, more and more, these
Mexican families stay there, because it is a long trip; it is clear out of
their climate, but they stay there. Now, as they continue to stay on the
farms, it is true that people will more and more try to stay in the cities.
Mr. Gray. I will not deny that it might develop, and there are
indications along that line at the present time. I would presume it