140 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

the Mexican immigrants suffer from syphilis and its congenital and hereditary
effécts. Other prominent physicians advised me that Mexican immigration is a
menace due to Mexicans being easily subject to tuberculosis, smallpox, and
typhus fever, it being conceded that syphilis is general.
Since the Mexicans seem to be satisfied to live anywhere, under any conditions,
it is only natural that it is hard to get white labor to do the work and live as they
do. Indeed, the existence of such conditions is a menace to the health and
welfare of any community.
Doctor Taylor quotes a rancher thus: “Once when I went to look at some iron
beds I had provided, I found the three beds used for a chicken coop. The chickens
were using the house, while the family ate and slept outside under the brush
ramada. Of course this is an extreme case, but it indicates why I don’t pay any
attention to how the Mexicans live and don’t insist on any rules.”
Because of their low standard of living, cultural adjustment is not only slow
but in most cases is impossible. This gap in the standard of living, which it
seems impossible to bridge except in rare cases, is further evidence of the necessity
for the restriction of such persons. Indeed, the conditions in the slums of the
East will compare favorably with the housing and living conditions that Mexicans
will submit to. Yet we restricted European immigration because the existence
of conditions much less intolerable constituted a menace not only to the community
 immediately concerned but to the welfare of the entire country. Shall
we Sapna to stand idly by while a greater menace is engulfing us from the
south
The social line between Americans and Mexicans is drawn as sharply as the
separation of their dwellings. Mexicans are not wanted as neighbors in the
American community. To protect property values against depreciation Mexicans
are usually forced to live in restricted districts or eolonies, which are usually
located “across the tracks.”
According to Doctor Taylor, “It is not possible to assign exact proportions to
the influence of the various factors, poverty, gregariousness, and social pressure,
in establishing and maintaining separate colonies. Undoubtedly all play a part.
Social pressure seems to play its chief réle in determining the original location of
the Mexican groups apart from the Americans.”
While segregation of school children upon the basis of race is not legat in these
Southwestern States; nevertheless, such segregation is being accomplished by
drawing the boundaries of a school district around the Mexican colony and providing
 a school for that area. American children who happen to live within this
area are commonly permitted to transfer to other schools. In some sections segregation
 is complete. The causes of such separation seem to be several: Differences
in standards of personal cleanliness, the fear of diseases consciousness of racial
differences, the heavy influx of large numbers of children of migratory Mexicans,
and the necessity of protecting Mexican children from the social prejudice of
Americans. Frequently, where complete segregation does not exist Mexican
children are grouped in separate rooms in the same school building. Of course
in some cases this is necessary due to their inability to use the English language.
At the same time it gives the excuse necessary for such action. Many Americans
are opposed to educating the Mexicans because it makes them dissatisfied with
their lot and makes them look upon farm labor as menial. These Americans argue
that we should not compel the Mexican children to go to school. In so doing we
would not be depriving them of anything. By compelling them to go, their tastes
for things they can not acquire are increased. Indeed, some persons argue that
the Mexicans haven't the intellect, instinct or energy to acquire the things deemed
essential to an American standard of living. Thus education can only bring them
unhappiness. Such is the logic of the mind that is warped by greed and selfishness.

Superintendents of schools throughout the Southwest seem to be almost
unanimous in their protests against Mexican immigration, especially since the.
Mexicans pay practically no taxes.
Those who favor educating them point out, however, that the Mexicans are
here to stay, that we have to live with them, and, therefore, it would be best to
educate them. The masses of the Mexicans do not seem to resent segregation.
However, the middle or upper class Mexicans do resent it bitterly.
As I have already stated, Mexicans frequently find restaurants, theaters, and
even churches virtually closed to them. In the Mexican colonies in the. cities
of the Southwest one finds that they have their own movies, stores, cafés, ete.
Everything is written in Spanish. English is the foreign language. While there
are doubtless good reasons for their churches and missions being distinet from