[Letter from A. S. Milikien to T. L. James, January 11, 1951] Page: 1 of 2

                                
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Those. L. Jame                              January 11, 1951
Mexican Nationals
I am heading this Mexican Nationals for filing purposes, however, I
want to cover most of the meeting held at Austin on January 5. I am
attaching a list of those attending together with a copy of the agenda.
The first speakers gave more or less general information as to crop
trends and possibilities of getting in the cotton acreage desired,
also fertilizer and insect control practices to save labor.
The Selective service said very specifically that men 18 to 25 will
be called and while local boards may give temporary deferments it is
expected that thos employing men 18 to 25 will have to replace them
with older or ineligible men. The National Service bill now under
consideration contemplates the registration of all men and women
18 to 65 and general regulation of use of all.
One important point mentioned in connection with possible labor
shortage is the fact that in 1940 there were 345,000 unemployed
while now there are less than 90,000..
On the Mexican National problem there was lots of disuussion but
nothing really concrete developed. The big question is what is the
Mexican Government and our State Department going to do in regards
to a new International Agreement. Mr. Luis J. Ivey, who is Secretary
and General Manager of the El Paso Valley Cotton Association, which
used some 30,000 Mexican Nationals last year, said that his Associa-
tion paid to Mexican Nationals $365,000.00 more than they should have
paid last year just because it is impossible to use them without
"paying off". As an example of the "pay off", say a railroad fare is
$1.65 actually and the Consul says it is $2.75, then you pay the $2.75.
Both Mr. Whalen and Mr. Holland of the San Antonio office of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service were there and explained that
the detail of th.ir office can be handled readily. I talked to
Mr. Holland about handling our bond by phone or mail and he said that
it could easily be done.
The Child Labor Law also came up for discussion. It is against the
law to work any child under 16 years of age during the time that
school is in session. We appointed a Committee to work with the
school people and the legislature on this problem.
These are the highlights of the meeting.
A. S. Milikien
ASM/nlt

Encl.