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Overview The Order of the Sons of America (El Orden Hijos de America) was a civic organization formed by thirty seven men of the lower-middle-class Mexican community residing in San Antonio, Texas on October 13, 1921. [2] The OSA existed in various cities throughout Texas including Somerset, San Antonio, Pearsall and Corpus Christi. As one of the three largest organizations of its type, its goal was to protect and advance the interests of Mexican-American people and community. Group leaders were generally Spanish-speaking Mexicans of the upper class including attorneys, teachers, and entrepreneurs. [1]
Historical Context During the 1920s while Mexican immigration to the United States continued, Mexican Americans began to realize they were being equated with Mexican immigrant because of their physical similarities. Mexican American citizens who had served in World War I, who were born in the United States were seen as equal to Mexican immigrants. To many Americans, Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrant were both seen simply as ‘Mexican’. Mexican Americans saw this as problematic because Mexican immigrants were typically very poor and viewed as a part of the bottom class of society. Because of the harsh anti-Mexican feelings already spanning across the nation, Mexican American citizens were afraid to be undermined in society any further by association with Mexican immigrants. As the Mexican immigrant population in the American Southwest continued to grow, Mexican Americans realized some action must be taken against large scale Mexican immigration [1].
Ideology The ideology of The Order of the Sons of America coincided with the idea of American assimilation toward the ultimate goal of being an equal member of American society in all respects. Distancing itself from traditional Mexican organizations that would have combined the interests of Mexican American citizens and immigrants as one group, the OSA only allowed membership to native born and naturalized citizens of America. Excluding Mexican immigrants from membership and taking a stance against large scale immigration were bold and controversial political strategies [1]. A main goal of the OSA was to persuade the American people that Mexican Americans were as loyal and admirable as other Americans. Mexican Americans concluded that taking pride in and maintaining Mexican culture and ethnicity for so many years had hindered their ability to become proper American citizens. They saw it as their duty to be as American as possible and to assimilate into American society because they too were American citizens [1].Therefore they worked hard on their public image as upstanding Americans; “America” was named the official hymn and the saying “For Our Country” was taken as the motto [3]. By living American lifestyles, members of the OSA sought to be treated equally and fairly. The organization's purpose was to use its "influence in all fields of social, economic, and political action in order to realize the greatest enjoyment possible of all the rights and privileges and prerogatives extended by the American Constitution [2]." Founding and Organization The Order of the Sons of America was organized under a constitution. Among the creators were John C. Solis, a twenty-year-old wholesaler; Francisco (Frank) Leyton, a thirty-year-old saddle maker; his brother Melchor Leyton, a baker; and Santiago G. Tafolla Sr., a district criminal court clerk [5]. On November 4, 1921 over 150 people game together at Fest Hall for the first OSA meeting [2]. Santiago G. Tafolla was made president of the OSA and Feliciano G. Flores, a deputy sheriff, was made vice president by majority vote. The organization name, The Order of the Sons of America was selected at this meeting [5]. On January 4, 1922 the Texas state charter was granted to the OSA to become an official organization and in 1925 the OSA headquarters were opened in downtown San Antonio. By 1923 the original San Antonio chapter had around 250 members including Manuel C. Gonzales. The Corpus Christi Chapter had around 175 members by 1928 that included Louis Wilmot, Bernardo F. Garza, and Andrés de Luna [2].
Constitution A 45-page [5], English written constitution for the Order of the Sons of America was produced in 1922 [2] by Clemente Idar, James Tafolla Sr., and Ramon Carvajal Jr. [5], and was translated into Spanish in 1927 [2]. It included a preamble, order of business, declaration of principles, officer’s stations, obligations, bylaws, rules of order, and a committee report. The constitution read that members were “to use their influence in all fields of social, economic, and political action in order to realize the greatest enjoyment possible of all the rights and privileges and prerogatives extended by the American constitution [5].” to those and only those who met the following two requirements: members must be over the age of sixteen and must be United States citizens of Spanish or Mexican origin. While none was ever organized, the OSA constitution allowed for juvenile sub-organizations and ladies auxiliaries within the OSA [2].
Chapters Known chapters created by the original San Antonio Council were in Texas cities including: Somerset and Pearsall by the year 1923 and Corpus Christi by 1924. In 1927, the Corpus Christi chapter created a council in Kingsville, Texas. Other known councils existed in Alice and Beeville, Texas [2].
Historical Contributions The OSA fought to increase Mexican American representation in the political sphere and decrease segregation in the social and economic spheres [1]. They supported lectures on constitutional rights, developing responsible citizenship and more, all of which were open to the public [5]. Both the San Antonio and Corpus Christi chapters participated actively in civic affairs and civil-rights movements.
- In 1925, the Corpus Christi chapter successfully lobbied for and helped fund the Cheston L. Heath School for Mexican students;
- In 1926, the OSA helped in desegregating the Palace Bath House;
- In 1927, they helped the first Mexican American to act as a juror;
- Also in 1927, the OSA took action in the removal of a sign reading, “No Mexicans Allowed” from North Beach;
- And In 1932, Juan Morales and Victor Fuentes were accused of murdering a European American man. The OSA paid for the attorney and other financial burdens of the case [2].
References
1. Gutierrez, David G. Walls and Mirrors: Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the Politics of Ethnicity. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California press, 1995. 74-7, 81-2. Print.
2. Cynthia E. Orozco, "ORDER OF SONS OF AMERICA," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/veotu), accessed September 29, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
3. Julie Leininger Pycior, La Raza Organizes: Mexican American Life in San Antonio, 1915–1930, as Reflected in Mutualista Activities (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Notre Dame, 1979).
4. John C. Solis, Interview by Angie de Cueto Quiros, ca. 1977, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas at Austin. O. Douglas Weeks, "The League of United Latin-American Citizens," Southwestern Political and Social Science Quarterly 10 (December 1929).
5. Orozco, Cynthia ynthia. No Mexicans, Women, Or Dogs Allowed, The Rise Of The Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. Univ of Texas Pr, 2009. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=0292721323>.