316 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION
did not need any men, except one firm, they said they could use a few negroes,
but no white labor.
Why is it that they want to let in more Mexicans, when there are thousands,
of Bong) Amestumns looking for work and glad to get any kind of work at most
any price
They are only paying most of the Mexicans 15 to 20 cents per hour. Yet,
American men can’t get a job at that price.
Now, you will remember these race riots. We have had some
already. We had some in which some Filipinos were involved. You
remember that. } 3 :
And now, here is what this farmer boy writes:
Judging from the way the American laborers are talking, if there isn’t soon a
stop put to so many Mexicans coming to Texas and getting work while American
men have to go idle, there are going to be race riots in Texas, and they won't be
long in coming, I am thinking.
I am an American working man, and interested in seeing your bill become a
law.

Respectfully vours.

A. J. ALLEN.
The CuairmaN. Here is the same thing from the editor of the
Holtville Tribune, published at Holtville, Calif, in the Imperial
Valley, 15 miles north of the Mexican border, and he resents the
statement. .
And, he quotes among the editors of California that have traveled
in Mexico signed in protest, one living in Hollywood, thinking that
he must of rubbed elbows with one of these Argentian dancers. or
something of that sort.
Now, I will ask to put this in the record. ‘
‘The matter referred to is here printed in full, as follows:)
HovrviLLeE TRIBUNE,
January 25. 1930.

Hon. ALBERT JOHNSON,
Washington, D. C.
My Dear Siz: 1 wish to take this opportunity of expressing appreciation for
your efforts on behalf of establishing a quota for Mexican immigration. Having
had ample opportunity to observe the influx of these Amerinds (not Spanish
blood) into this fertile American valley, I am of the opinion that there is a great
need for limitation.
There are always two viewpoints in discussing immigration, namely: The
economic and the social and, although they are closely interwoven, there are
lines of cleavage. The economic issue is being stressed by a great many growers’
organizations throughout the Southwest who fear that establishing a quota will
increase their production costs or retard their operations because of cutting down
the continuous stream of Amerinds who flock over the back door to America.
But these growers and the few ranchers that are interested are thinking only of a
selfish desire. In fact, they are proposing unlimited immigration as a basis of
cheap, ready labor with a surplus available at all times. Cutting down immigration
 will naturally impose a problem for them—and they would rather not have
a problem if they can avoid it. None of us would. So they have sent lobbyists
to Washington fo tell how the ranching industry in the Southwest will collapse
if America’s back door is not kept wide open. How do they know it will collapse?
How can they forecast such a condition when unemployemnt is general, and I
have white laboring men in here every few days to tell me they can’t obtain
work—and we are in the height of the harvest of our lettuce crop.
Selfishness is the basis for too much legislation, and this is just another case
where it is being applied by large interests who are cultivating lands in the
southwest region. Establishment of a Mexican quota might reduce the number
of Mexicans or Amerinds who are now entering through the back door, but there
Is no reason to believe that it would stagnate and curtail crop production any
more than the establishment of quotas from European countries stagnated production
 in the Middle West farm area, which for decades depended for much
of its farm labor from European sources. There is a large Mexican population