364 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

During the first week in May when most of the growers were preparing to
sign agreements with the contractors, they received letters from the union stating
its demands in respectful language. The union asked 15 cents a crate for picking
cantaloupes, or 75 cents by the hour, and requested among other things that the
growers furnish picking sacks, ice for drinking water “lumber and brush enough
to build sheds for the laborers and install all necessary closets for the service
of the same,” and that in case of accidents, the companies ‘ pay indemnity, as
the law requires.” The chambers of commerce of Brawley and El Centro were
appealed to for aid, which, having a large membership from among the growers,
they naturally declined to extend. The letter addressed to the growers and
accompanied by a detailed statement of the demands, is as follows:
“To whom it may concern:
Hereby we make to your acknowledgment, that on the 22d day of April, of
the year 1928, was formed the board of directors of the union of United Workers
of Imperial Valley, State of California.
“By the same means we opportunately believed on directing to you, soliciting
your valuable help for a convenience agreement to the picking season of cantaloupes,
 tomatoes, and watermelons.
“In accordance with the bad oceasions that we've had in the past years, it
makes us necessary of a better understanding of our business among the Mexican
people residing as strangers in the United States. We want to keep on cooperating
 with our hand of labor, but we claim a more liberal wages, enough to cover
our most urgent necessities of the actual situations, and we hereby propose to
you gentlemen the points of our wishes.
“ During the year we scarcely work 185 days, of which we acquire the sum of
$550 in which we couldn’t meet our expenses of alimentation, clothing, house
rent, medicine, automobile, and other small exigents.
“‘ As you understand, with this amount above stated, we live in most unhonorable
 and miserable way, in our concept. For instance, you know that the picking
season of cantaloupes is at hand, and we make to your acknowledgment that the
prices we are asking for are very reasonable according to justice of the companies
and we union laborers.
“We hereby note the prices in accordance with all the laborers and were
approved convenient, and we hereby wait for the approval of the honorable companies.
 The fact is that in the past years in cases like the present, they have
demonstrated their willing attitude as we’ve said before in our sacrifices, in compliments
 of our labors, for such reason we wish that the prices we ask for will
be approved.
“Therefore, we ask of your valuable moral and material influence to our petition
 before the companies.
“For the above anticipated this union retires, giving you many thanks for the
nresent.’”’?

Mr. Box. The “Call for strike” you read a little while ago was the
demands of the striking Mexicans, as I understand?
Mr. HusminG. Yes, sir, of the labor organizations of the Mexicans.
The CrairmaN. Do you know whether the organization fostering
that strike is part of the Mexican C. R. O. M.?
Mr. Husming. I think not. When they went on strike in 1926
such great pressure was brought to bear by the sheriff there that he
practically succeeded in abolishing those labor organizations, and
they were obliged to cover up their labor organizations by these
mutualistic beneficial societies which are not supposed to be organized
to increase wages. These labor organizations had to hold their meetings
 in the halls of the benefit societies. Mr. Taylor covers all that
in a treatise on Mexican Labor in the Imperial Valley. I have a
copy of that book.
5 The Cramrman. I do not believe I have it, but I should like to
ave it.
Mr. Box. Is that Professor Taylor's report in which he says that
a certain farmer said he desired the Mexicans because they were the
best damned dogs he could got?