Labor Agencies
Hugo L. Summerville, “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W. J. Lewis, of the Alamo City Employment Agency, 1401 W. Commerce St. and 111 North Frio Street, San Antonio, Texas, Distributing Bread Three Times a Day to Mexicans Who Are in Distress Waiting to Be Sent to a Job” (San Antonio, Texas, March 22, 1924), Goldbeck, E. O. (Eugene Omar). Papers and Photography Collection. Hugo L. Summerville and Charles Steele Negatives Collection. Collection Number: PH-00366. Source: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
Labor Agencies
Since the 1910s, Mexicans migrated north to escape the violence of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and the subsequent Cristero War (1926-1929 and 1932-1941) in search of safety and jobs. They used the railroad to travel to San Antonio, Texas. Others crossed illegally using the Rio Grande to San Antonio, Texas, and to other cities in the United States, as these areas needed agricultural, railroad, steel, canneries, and mine workers. The Bracero Program, started during and after the Great War, further increased Texas’s reliance on Mexican migrant workers. San Antonio’s labor agencies connected migrants to jobs in different sectors. The 1920s saw the creation of several labor agencies on San Antonio’s West Side, which took advantage of high US labor demand and the availability of cheap labor. The number of agencies peaked at nine in 1924, up from one in 1919. Still, all had ceased operations by 1934. I want to highlight two agencies, namely The Alamo City Employment Agency and the C. Campa Labor Agency, as prime examples. These agencies distinguish themselves through unconventional advertising, employing striking photographs to appeal to prospective employers. This innovative strategy has proven to be quite effective.
Between 1914 and 1919, Mexico had a significant amount of anticlerical activity. Catholic Churches, schools, and convents were either destroyed or shut down, which led to the immigration of hundreds of Catholic clergy and followers, mainly to the United States, to escape the violence and lack of job opportunities.[1]
The Cristero War (1926-1941) was similar to other uprisings in Mexico following the Revolution of 1910-1920. Various groups with different political backgrounds attempted to rebel against the governments of Venustiano Carranza, Álvaro Obregón, and Plutarco Elías Calles after the constitutionalist forces emerged victorious in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Popular revolts were common after 1917 and continued until the mid-1930s.[2]
In the 1920s, the West Side of San Antonio saw a rise in labor agencies due to the high demand for workforce solutions.[3] The many conflicts in Mexico occurring during the same period led to an influx of Mexican immigrants seeking refuge and employment in the US, which many employment agencies took advantage of to hire cheap labor. The number of agencies peaked in 1924, with nine in operation, a significant increase from just one in 1919. However, by 1934, none of these agencies were still in operation.[4]
A notable moment in March 1924 was captured in a photograph of the Alamo City Employment Agency, representing a time when twelve labor agencies dominated the era. During this period, Mexican immigrant laborers had a significant demand to work in beet fields, particularly from sugar companies like the Great Western Sugar Company in Denver, Colorado.[5]
The photograph labeled “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W.J. Lewis, of the Alamo City Employment Agency, distributing bread three times a day to Mexicans in distress waiting to be sent to a job” was taken on March 22, 1924, in San Antonio, Texas. The text on the photograph also mentions “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W.J. Lewis,” indicating the proprietors’ names.[6]
The sign in Spanish, “Oficina de Enganches de Braceros Mexicanos,” suggests that the employment agency specializes in hiring Mexican immigrant workers, or “braceros.” The crowd consists mainly of men, many holding El Nacional newspapers, likely related to employment, and some carrying bags or belongings. They are dressed in work clothes, hats, and coats, indicative of the fashion of the late 1920s.[7]
The photo captures a moment when bread is distributed to Mexicans who are distressed while waiting to be sent to jobs. The text at the bottom of the image states: “Distributing bread three times a day to Mexicans who are in distress waiting to be sent to a job.” It highlights these individuals’ economic hardship and the agency’s efforts to provide relief.[8]
The photograph provides a poignant glimpse into the lives of Mexican immigrant laborers in the United States during the late 1920s.[9]
The recruitment efforts were extensive, with ads in La Prensa Newspaper seeking workers and promising transportation to and from various locations across Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming.[10] About ten thousand workers took advantage of these opportunities in the preceding year alone.[11]
This surge in demand led to the emergence of eight agencies that played a crucial role in facilitating this labor migration. These agencies, such as the Sunshine Labor Agency and the Aldrete Employment Agency, connected eager Mexican immigrant workers with promising prospects, operating not only in Texas but also in cities such as Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and Laredo.[12]
Six agencies ran ads for beet workers as the battle for laborers in San Antonio continued. Several agencies also mentioned Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio as possible job destinations.[13]
Interestingly, most agency proprietors had Hispanic names, reflecting the community’s diversity. However, Martin L. Osborn, proprietor of the San Antonio Labor Agency, used the moniker “El Colorado” in his advertisements to highlight his distinct identity and appeal more to Mexican immigrant workers.[14]
The Alamo City Employment Agency and the C. Campa Labor Agency distinguished themselves by employing unconventional advertising tactics, utilizing striking photographs to capture the attention of potential employers. This innovative approach proved to be successful. The photographs from a century ago, namely “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W.J. Lewis, of the Alamo City Employment Agency, 1401 W. Commerce St. and 111 North Frio Street, San Antonio, Texas, distributing bread three times a day to Mexicans who are in distress waiting to be sent to a job,” and the “Shipment to Beet Fields in Colorado. Shipped by R.C. Burbank Labor Agency, 1308 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, Tex.,” continue to immortalize their legacy in 2024.[15]
The second image, titled “Shipment to Beet Fields in Colorado. Shipped by R.C. Burbank Labor Agency, 1308 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, Tex.” is a black-and-white photograph depicting a large group of people standing beside a train labeled “Texas Limited.” The scene occurs at a train station, with the people seemingly preparing for a journey.[16]
The text on the photograph reads: “Shipment to beet fields, Colorado. Shipped by R.C. Burbank Labor Agency, 1308 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, Tex.” It indicates that the group is being sent to work in the beet fields in Colorado, organized by the R.C. Burbank Labor Agency.[17] The group consists of men, women, and children, all dressed in clothing typical of the late 1920s. The men wear hats, jackets, and work clothes, while the women and children wear dresses and headscarves. Many people carry bags or bundles, indicating they bring personal belongings for the journey.[18]
The background shows various residential and industrial buildings and a large structure to the right with the sign “Caffarelli & Bros. Wholesale Grocers.”[19]
This photograph captures a significant moment of Mexican migration and labor movement, highlighting the mobilization of Mexican immigrant workers for agricultural work during that era. It reflects the economic conditions and the role of labor agencies and the “enganchadores” in facilitating employment opportunities for Mexican immigrant workers in the United States.[20]
Beneath the surface of this bustling industry, there was fierce rivalry marked by cutthroat competition and innovative tactics. Agencies vied for supremacy, offering incentives like free food and newspapers, transportation, and even enlisting nearby stores to attract undocumented Mexican immigrant workers. This intense rivalry led to high business turnover, ultimately contributing to the eventual demise of this once-thriving industry.[21]
Today, the legacy of these labor agencies endures, their fleeting presence etched into the annals of history as a testament to the ebb and flow of economic dynamics in a bygone era.
[1] Young, “Revolution and the Cristeros,” 5; Padilla Rangel, Los desterrados, 239; James T. Moore, Acts of Faith: The Catholic Church in Texas, 1900-1950, 1st ed, Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A & M University (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2002), 81–82.
[2] Young, “Revolution and the Cristeros,” 2; Osten, The Mexican Revolution’s Wake; Fallaw, “Religion and Revolution, Mexico.”
[3] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261.
[4] Bates, 261.
[5] Bates, 261; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com.
[6] Hugo L. Summerville, “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W. J. Lewis, of the Alamo City Employment Agency, 1401 W. Commerce St. and 111 North Frio Street, San Antonio, Texas, Distributing Bread Three Times a Day to Mexicans Who Are in Distress Waiting to Be Sent to a Job” (San Antonio, Texas, March 22, 1924), Goldbeck, E. O. (Eugene Omar). Papers and Photography Collection. Hugo L. Summerville and Charles Steele Negatives Collection. Collection Number: PH-00366, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
[7] Summerville.
[8] Summerville.
[9] Summerville.
[10] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado.”
[11] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado.”
[12] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado.”
[13] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261–63; “Atencion–Atencion, Betabeleros Para Iowa $25.00 Por Acre y Bonos. International Labor Bureau,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado”; “Para Michigan, Houston, Texas. Michigan Labor Agency. E. P. Leal, Gerente,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Atencion–Atencion, Betabeleros Para Iowa $25.00 Por Acre y Bonos. International Labor Bureau”; “Pasaje Libre Ida y Vuelta. Michigan Sugar Co. Saginaw, Mich. Ignacio M. Garza,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Atencion: Betabeleros, Betabeleros. National Labor Agency,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Para Michigan: Forth Worth, Texas. Michigan Labor Agency,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “¡Atención Betabeleros! Northern Sugar Corporation, Mason, City Iowa,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com.
[14] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261–63; “Betabeleros Para Michigan, Pasaje Gratis Ida y Vuelta. Compañía Azucareras ‘Colombia’ y ‘Holland’ San Antonio Labor Agency. M. L. Osborn (El Colorado),” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com.
[15] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261–63; Summerville, “The C. Campa Labor Agency & W. J. Lewis, of the Alamo City Employment Agency”; Hugo L. Summerville, “Shipment to Beet Fields in Colorado. Shipped by R.C. Burbank Labor Agency, 1308 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, Tex.” (San Antonio, Texas, 1924), Goldbeck, E. O. (Eugene Omar). Papers and Photography Collection. Hugo L. Summerville and Charles Steele Negatives Collection. Collection Number: PH-00366, The Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
[16] Summerville, “Shipment to Beet Fields in Colorado.”
[17] Summerville.
[18] Summerville.
[19] Summerville.
[20] “Check out the Translation for ‘Enganchadores’ on SpanishDictionary.Com!,” SpanishDictionary.com, accessed July 9, 2024, https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/enganchador. Enganchadores are “the agents or intermediaries who provide the link between the workers and the employers often demand a percentage of the farm worker’s wages.”
[21] Bates, “Disposable Labor,” 261–63; “Betabeleros Para Michigan, Pasaje Gratis Ida y Vuelta. Compañía Azucareras ‘Colombia’ y ‘Holland’ San Antonio Labor Agency. M. L. Osborn (El Colorado)”; “Atencion–Atencion, Betabeleros Para Iowa $25.00 Por Acre y Bonos. International Labor Bureau”; “Atencion: Betabeleros, Betabeleros. National Labor Agency”; “Atencion–Atencion, Betabeleros Para Iowa $25.00 Por Acre y Bonos. International Labor Bureau”; “Atencion: Betabeleros, Betabeleros. National Labor Agency”; “Se Reanudan Este Año Las Salidas En Nuestras Oficinas. Carnegie Steel Co. Pittsburgh, PA and The Great Western, Sugar Co. Eduardo Aldrete,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Aviso Betabeleros: La American Sugar Company de Rocky Ford, Colorado,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Para Michigan: Forth Worth, Texas. Michigan Labor Agency”; “¡Atención Betabeleros! Northern Sugar Corporation, Mason, City Iowa”; “International Employment Agency. C. G. Garza, Gerente,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Pasaje Libre Ida y Vuelta. Michigan Sugar Co. Saginaw, Mich. Ignacio M. Garza”; “Se Necesitan Trabajadores. The Great Western Sugar Company. Denver, Colorado”; “Betabeleros Para Michigan, Pasaje Gratis Ida y Vuelta. Compañía Azucareras ‘Colombia’ y ‘Holland’ San Antonio Labor Agency. M. L. Osborn (El Colorado)”; “Alaska. Comidas Gratuitas. Comidas Libres. Alaska Packers Associacion. San Francisco, Cal,” La Prensa, March 30, 1924, GenealogyBank.com; “Pasaje Libre Ida y Vuelta. Michigan Sugar Co. Saginaw, Mich. Ignacio M. Garza”; “Para Michigan, Houston, Texas. Michigan Labor Agency. E. P. Leal, Gerente.”
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