WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 373
UniTeED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE,
Fort Worth, Tex., December 5, 1929.

From: Assistant Director. }
To: Francis I. Jones, Director General United States Employment Service,
Washington, D. C.
Subject: Track labor for Southern Pacific Railway Co.
Stop order for track labor for Southern Pacific Railway received yesterday,
December 4. Inclosed copy of telegram sent to-day by A. B. Cushing, executive
representative of railway company. Iam demanding acceptance of all Mexicans
recruited prior to hour when stop order reached me. Made it clear to representatives
 that this must be agreed to when the work of recruiting began. They
complied, but do not know yet whether the executive higher up will recognize
agreement when field men sent to take charge of shipments.
Handicaps discovered while filling this order were about as numerous as
sneountered in serving Arizona with cotton pickers. There were the Mexicans
with families who were denied employment. There was the handicap of nonacceptance,
 except in groups of 50. But perhaps the greatest handicap was the
wage offered being lower than railroads of Texas pay except on the El Paso
Division of the Southern Pacific running east. To make this handicap greater,
began recruiting on a wage of 31 cents an hour, then changed to 29 cents.
Delayed in recruiting due to apparent disposition of eastern division of
Southern Pacific to deny 1 cent mile rate to western division—Shoup’s. Rate
supposed to go into effect November 1 did not go into effect until November 16.
Correspondence with Mr. George Waid, general manager of the eastern
ivisions, proves this. He stated, in effect, that it would be unpopular to move
Mexicans from Texas. His reply to second letter from me indicated a change
of opinion. One letter from him advised me that he proposed reducing the hours
of labor on the El Paso eastern track division two hours per day, reducing wages
to $2 per day, based upom my claim that there was no shortage of labor. Replied
 by advising him that the United States Employment Service would not
necome a party fo wage reductions; that all we ever did was to quote wages
offered by employers. Mention this that you may know apparent inclination
on part of Southern Pacific officials to take advantage of our service to decrease
income of workers.
Inclosing copy of telegram in order that you may know that it became necagsary
 to protest against refusal to accept labor on hand when stop order was
received. Reply to this telegram was instructions to accept labor on hand.
Will ship this labor to-morrow night.
Trom the foregoing you will know that we have completed the task assigned as
vo track labor and cotton pickers.
Juan Flores has rendered such a conspicuous service, shall not discharge him
mtil the 10th, when the 1 cent per mile rate terminates. Will employ him
-geruiting grubbers during the four remaining days.
In closing report on two tasks assigned, pickers for Arizona, track labor for
Southern Pacific, it is only fair to say of special agents, extra help, and the regular
staff, that hours have not been considered, nor Sundays nor Thanksgiving Day.
No man could ask for a more loyal set of men.
C. W. WoopMaN, Assistant Director.

UniTep States DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE,
Harlingen, Tex., January 20, 1930.

Mr. C. W. WooDMAN, .
Assistant Director, Farm Labor Division,
United States Enployment Service, Fort Worth, Tex.
Dear Mz. WooDMAN: Arrived in the valley Sunday noon. Came straight on
jo Harlingen.
This morning I began on what farmers I could locate and called on the packers.
[ found them all to be members of the chamber of commerce and familiar with
the chamber’s eall upon us for labor, so that put a stop to my quietly surveying
the situation.
The freeze of last Friday and Saturday has damaged the crops, both the fruit
and vegetable. but not seriously. The beet crop is damaged more than any and