Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  For the town of Mercedes, the year 1922 was one of the worst ever, with a hurricane hitting in the fall and bringing devastation, typhoid, and dysentery. Doctors were in great demand. Stagnate water stood for many days and weeks breeding mosquitoes and other insects. Water had to be boiled for drinking. The saturated ground produced a build-up of green slime and moss on the sides of trees and buildings, and the air smelled of moldy compost. Life came to a standstill. Schools and businesses were closed, and ranchers and farmers with cattle and cotton and other agricultural products all suffered huge losses.

  Months after the flood, the town began renovation by building the new South Graham High School for whites, and a two-story City Hall. Downtown on the white side of town, new lamplights were erected with large lampposts on each corner, and palm trees were planted all along Main Street, enhancing that area.

  The Catholic citizens were busy completing the new Lady of Mercy Church on Vermont Street. Don Florencio Saenz and Don Federico were contributors of money for that project, along with many other citizens. Many Mexican-American families became anxious to send their children to the new private parochial school, which would be built in the coming years. Victoria was looking forward to sending her son Luis Martin, who was growing up very fast and learned so quickly. By being educated in the Catholic schools, the Mexican-American children had a better chance of learning, being given close attention by the nuns who ran the schools.

  To the west of Mercedes, the newly reconstructed town of Weslaco had been formed with a new Chamber of Commerce, a newspaper, a bank, community housing where children were attending elementary school classes, and a new station for the Texas Rangers.

  The segregation and discrimination within the new town were the same as Mercedes: El Pueblo Americano to the south, and to the north, El Pueblo Mexicano, which was also the industrial area. The hypothesis was the same, pretty homes for the whites, with paved streets and sewer systems. To the north were unpainted ramshackle homes, no civic services, and Mexican schools that were second-rate in education.

  Intimidation of the Mexican-American people was still prevalent, especially in El Pueblo Americano. Mexican workers had to be home before dark. "No Mexican was to be found in Anglo town after dark," was still the edict among the Anglos ruling South Texas with their new laws. The hatred continued, in spite of the ending of the Mexican raids. Evil forces were alive and well. The Mexican-American citizen living in Texas was still blamed for any and all mishaps and was punished with death through lynching or shooting, saving the expense of a trial.

  It was the same old established pattern. In November of the same year a young Mexican-American by the name of Elias Zarate, living in the tin shacks north of Weslaco, got in trouble with a smart-ass Anglo because the white man had insulted his beautiful sister by calling her a whore. Zarate, who believed in machismo, got into a fistfight protecting his sister's honor. Zarate was arrested by the Texas Rangers, without any investigation of who was actually to blame. The young Anglo was looked upon as a victim and patted on the back as "doing good." Zarate was ruffed up and later lynched without explanation.

  This sent the Mexican residents of Weslaco, and families related to Zarate, into a rage, demanding justice. Many associates of the Zarate family lived in surrounding ranching areas of Mercedes. The Mexican-American families stormed over to Don Federico's home demanding that he, as an official State Representative, order the Texas legislature to help fight the injustice. Don Federico paid for the poor family to hire an attorney from McAllen and filed charges against the Texas Rangers for disregarding civil rights in not giving Zarate justice in court. He received anonymous death threat letters from white Mexican-haters. The courts took many months as they dragged their feet, never coming to any conclusion, and finally, it was taken out of court. This did not set well with many of the Mexican people who had elected Don Federico and wanted immediate justice. His term was coming up and he would have a hard time convincing the Mexican citizens of his power to enact justice.

  That same year in June, the country heard about the great discovery by British Egyptologist George Carnarvon and Howard Carter, who unearthed King Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

  The arrogant, egotistical Ricardo had unexpectedly returned, but only to receive his income from the cotton profits. He was becoming more obstinate and controlling to the point of being ruthless. Victoria preoccupied herself and avoided his presence as much as possible. He had stayed for only two weeks, visiting Yolanda in Spanish Acres, and his mother, who was so willing to return to Monterrey. Ricardo had started an engineering business in Monterrey and was preparing to build his mother a home. He was trying to organize and rebuild their property that had been completely demolished by the Revolutionists; however, this time there would be no slaves or workers he could whip and order around. This time, if he wanted any work done, he would have to pay for the labor, and material, too, was not cheap. There was no conversation about his sister Magdalena or their young baby, and nothing was said about how Juan's practice was going.

  Complaints from the servants circulated within the household about Mrs. McCray giving orders and taking over Don Federico's care. It did not sit well with Victoria that Mrs. McCray was insinuating to anyone who would listen, that Don Federico was her "soul-mate" and she intended to marry him. In her garrulous conversation with Emma and Grandmother Gloria, she raved about how lucky the Don was to have her around. It sent a jealous rage through Victoria, knowing that Emma was behind this entire charade! Victoria told Mrs. McCray, kindly, that it was time to leave.

  With the coming elections, Don Federico, who was still walking with a cane and was weak and felt ill, decided not to take any part in politics. He had grown older and was dealing with the problems of the two nationalities and the hassles of traveling as well. He retired to stay close to his home in Mercedes and spend most of his time at Spanish Acres. Mrs. McCray would occasionally join him when he traveled back and forth on these visits. Carlos had graduated, but had decided not to attend college; he wanted to be with his father and stay close to the cattle and help out with the oil wells and cotton. He became Victoria's right-hand man with the family business and helped her with the bookkeeping.

  Fred finished his residency and returned home to Mercedes to a fully furnished, spacious building with all of the modern medical equipment he would need to run his practice. Dr. Hedrick had helped Don Federico in the purchase of the instruments. The edifice for his medical practice was several yards away on the north side of the family mansion. The Juelson's name was still controversial among the white business citizens in the town. Don Federico had made these preparations since the Mercedes Hospital had objected to having Fred, being half-Mexican with Mexican clients, join the staff. There was no room for them in that hospital, especially in pediatrics and obstetrics. The Mexican-American women were having children by the dozens but were not accepted there. They were anxious to have a Mexican doctor to take care of them in the area.

  Dr. Hedrick was not biased and had stayed in Mercedes after the Mexican raids and was pleased to accommodate Fred in helping him get established.

  The year 1923 delivered perhaps the most shocking news for the Mexican people, who were stunned to learn that Pancho Villa had been assassinated. He was considered the "Robin Hood of Mexico" and was respected by many people.

  It was also in this year that a Mexican, Ramon Delgado, was shot and killed by an Anglo near Hondo, Texas. News traveled fast among the Mexican-American natives and fomented hatred and anger throughout the Valley. In protest, the Cinco de Mayo festivities were canceled that year.

  President Warren Harding suddenly died in office. Charges of corruption involving his cabinet members became a big scandal. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was headed by Vladimir Lenin, who began building forced-labor camps in Russia.

  In the following years, Fred's medical practice prospered, mostly from word of mouth. He had more patients than the regular white docto
rs. Sick people showed up from Weslaco, La Villa, and from as far away as Edinburg, as well as people living on ranchitos around the area. Three large rooms were added for patients who needed extra care in their recovery, and for women in labor. With so many people who needed help and care after minor surgery, a total of six Mexican women nurses were hired to assist Dr. Fred around the clock.

  Many of the Mexican-American people who were being treated were very poor and brought baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables as payment for their treatment. Fred never asked for money and never kept track of his patients' debts. He was happy that his wishes and desires had come true, for he was doing what he had dreamed of many years ago—taking care of the Mexican-American people. His father and Victoria were very proud. He only wished his mother had lived long enough so that he could have taken care of her. Medicine had become modern, with new drugs and instruments, and pills were becoming more effective. Victoria took on the responsibilities of keeping Fred's books and deposited his money in the Hidalgo Bank once a week.

  In the winter year of 1925, the gods played a joke on the residents of the Rio Grande Valley and had a hearty laugh. The unthinkable happened—snow! Nobody had ever seen snow. It was a historical event. The residents were asking if the world had turned on its axis!

  Within the next several years, the government of Texas was being run by the only woman governor in the history of the state up to that time. Miriam Amanda Ferguson, called "Ma" because of her initials, was the wife of impeached governor James Ferguson, who was in office when the raids were at their worst in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Ma Ferguson became famous for pardoning fugitives, murderers, and people who had been in prior trouble with the law. On her list of priorities was one name that was pardoned: Bernard Edward Hanson. His Ranger friends had sent numerous telegrams urging her to pardon him, and now the monster Hanson, full of hatred and revenge, had been pardoned and was welcomed back into Texas with open arms.

  There were rumors of bribes and kickbacks as Ma Ferguson took a firm stand against the Ku Klux Klan groups that were made up of state government workers controlling the state of Texas. The KKK included many members of the Texas Rangers, sheriffs, judges, attorneys, and city merchants. Their underhanded secret activities kept the Mexican-American citizens from their civil rights and economic advancement and kept their public schools inferior.

  The new parochial school had been built so the Mexican-American children could be educated and motivated and encouraged to go forward into college. Victoria's children, starting with Luis Martin, now fourteen years old, Aaron, now going on eight, and little Maria Theresa were all attending the Catholic school.

  *****

  In 1927, Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. The theory of evolution was being whispered and talked about in secret meetings, and being discussed among intellectuals, while being hush-hushed in the public schools. Charles A. Lindbergh had flown a nonstop flight from New York to Paris. The Latin lover and movie star Rudolph Valentino died. The Hollywood revolution had started by bringing "talkies" to the scene, and Al Jolson was singing melodies in a black painted face. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were big names. Charlie Chaplin could make everyone laugh in one movie; in another, he would make people cry. The radio had brought the American people closer to bringing instant news. The telephone brought communication to those who could afford one, and folks would take turns answering when the Bell phone rang. The white people danced to the Charleston, and the Mexican-American people listened to the sounds of the newly invented radio. The first radio station in the Valley was KRGV in Harlingen. A Spanish-owned radio station was started in Brownsville for Mexican citizens, who would have their ears close to the instrument listening to the beautiful Latin songs: Los Boleros, Las Sambas, Los Corridos and the Tangos.

  The rainy season started near the beginning of the fall, bringing a change in the weather, and the leaves had begun to turn colors and fall from the trees. Many of Fred's patients, especially young children, and their families, had come down with colds and chest congestion. Some of his older client customers, especially old men whose teeth were falling out, had not seen a doctor in years; many could not afford one. He saw one old man who had never been to a doctor in his entire life and had arthritis so bad that he was unable to move, especially during the morning hours. His son had persuaded his father to see the young Dr. Juelson and had even smuggled two whiskey bottles from Reynosa as a gift for him and Fred. On many other occasions, Fred spent his time away from the clinic in his 1926 black, four-door Packard with his trusted black medical bag, making house calls. He was often summoned on emergencies, usually women in childbirth, or for farming and ranching accidents.

  On one occasion, Fred was surprised to have as a patient a young white woman by the name of Emily Ferguson, who was suffering from a chest cold. Up to this point, his visitors had only been Mexican-American people of all ages. After carefully checking her age on the chart, which said eighteen, Fred became instantly smitten by the beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed Emily with a shapely figure and a nice bosom. She instantly undressed with no modesty, taking her blouse off, exposing each of her breasts, hot with promise, without any effort.

  "Does your chest hurt?" Fred asked, distracted by her beauty as she lay on the examining table with her pointed nipples staring up at him. He stood breathlessly and bent over her and began examining her with his stethoscope, listening for any congestion in her lungs.

  It did not take long before she circled her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her, his face to her lips. The wild response sent him completely out of control, causing him to forget his profession. The passionate examination took over an hour. When he was finally finished, he asked her if he could see her again on a personal basis, for she was a dream come true. He was completely taken by her and had not encountered anything like this in all the years of his medical practice. He wanted her more than ever, even though this was against all medical practice, ethics, and codes.

  Emily wanted very much to see him, especially at night when they could be together and embrace more discreetly. She had planned the seduction all along and was very pleased with herself, for she had accomplished her goal, knowing that Fred was single, handsome, with a wonderful profession, a name, lots of money—a good catch.

  "Name the time and place," she coquettishly replied.

  "May I pick you up at your home? Do you live here?" Fred questioned, trying to find out more about who she was and where she came from. He loved the devil-may-care attitude of this young, forbidden girl—she was every man's dream. She had excited him with her wild passionate pleasures. He found himself drained and out of breath.

  "No! Meet me at the park," she said brusquely and gave him a sober look. "You can pick me up, and we can go somewhere in your car. I live with my father on a farm close to La Feria. A rancher neighbor brought me to Mercedes so that I could spend time with my sister and her children. She does not know that I was coming to see you. And if my father finds out, he'll have me whipped for seeing a Mexican doctor. We will have to be careful and discreet so that nobody sees us. I'll wait for you around seven tomorrow."

  He gave her a bottle of red syrup to take by mouth three times a day, and told her if a cough persisted, he needed to see her again. She returned every other day after closing hours to see him when he did not pick her up in his car. The exciting affair continued off and on for many months.

  On certain days, Fred closed the office early; trying to get more time for himself and refusing to let his mind get caught up in his medical work. Emily would show up and wait until the last patient left. She and Fred would spend hours together locked up in the examination room, where low voices could be heard and the windows would get fogged up. This caught the attention of Victoria, whose hawk-eyes never missed anything. "Who is this girl you're keeping company with?" she questioned, mystified and concerned. "Do you know who her parents are, and where she comes from? Fred, you have to be real careful who you're deal
ing with, especially with a gringa. That will cause gossip in this town. The people in this area love a scandal and watch for any mistakes the Juelson family makes and ay qué dirán? Father had to go through quite an ordeal to get established in this town and earn respect."

  She changed the tone of the conversation. "I've invited the Castillo family from the Castillo ranch in McAllen to join us for dinner this evening. They want you to meet their daughter, the beautiful eighteen-year-old Catalina. She is very suitable, a perfect match for our family. As your sister, I have been quite concerned. It is time for you to find a wife, get married, and have children. The family is worried that you are too occupied with your profession."

  "Manita, I hope you're not trying to find a wife for me. I'm a grown man and can find my own woman," Fred replied with confidence in himself and obviously annoyed.

  "Apparently, you are not in your right senses," responded Victoria, exasperated. "For your own protection, I had the girl you call Emily checked out. Emily is not her name. She is lying. She comes from a very trashy background. Her mother disappeared several years ago. The neighbors around them know little about them, except that the husband had routinely beaten and abused his wife. The neighbors could hear her scream but were afraid to interfere. Then one day, they noticed that the wife was not around, imagine that!"

  Victoria paused and then continued. "The girl you call Emily's real name is Martha, and she is related to Otto Foster. Remember him, Uncle Howard's buddy? The two were in jail together until Howard died—remember? The German traitor, doing his scientific research on insects and boll weevils hoping to destroy our cotton crops? He is still serving time in federal prison, and the government is trying to decide what to do with him, now that the war with Germany is over."