March 2020 Blues Vol 36 No 3

THE TEXAS FIRST RANGERS TEXAS RANGERS
The history of the Texas Rangers is as complicated as Texas history itself
The history of the Texas Rangers spans nearly 200 years. Thousands of Rangers patrolled the frontier,
fought in military battles, and arrested cattle rustlers. Their story contains heroic acts of bravery, but
also moments that challenge our idea of the Rangers as noble lawmen. They protected settlers and
enforced laws, but also sometimes executed thieves without a trial, drove Native American tribes from
their homelands, and some Rangers even lynched Mexicans and Mexican Americans along the Texas-Mexico
border. This month we go back to the early 1900’s.
Bandit Raids
entire company
was dismissed.
In one battle in
1917, as many as
20 Mexicans may
have been killed
by Rangers who
crossed into Mexico.
The 35th legislature
also created
a “Loyalty Ranger
Force” under the
“Hobby Loyalty
Act” to serve as a
secret service for
the State. Loyalty
Rangers were to
brief the Adjutant
General on Mexican
revolutionary
activities outside
Panic spread in 1915 when Texas also responded, as it
authorities in McAllen, Texas, arrested
had so many times in its his-
Basilio Ramos, Jr. Ramos tory, by raising the number
was carrying a copy of the Plan of Ranger companies. At the
an attack against Laredo was American deaths; an estimated
of San Diego, a revolutionary time the Texas Ranger Force
considered with a combined 300 Mexicans or Tejanos may
manifesto supposedly written was very small, and incapable
force of “San Diego raiders” and have been killed in South Texas
and signed at the South Texas
of maintaining law and
regular Mexican Army soldiers. by the actions of Rangers, vigi-
town of San Diego. It called for order along the border. The
A state of war was narrowly lantes and citizens. Some sources
the formation of a “Liberating Texas Legislature by authorizing
averted when US and Mexican
place the death toll as high as
Army of Races and Peoples,”
mass inductions and
officials agreed to a peaceful 300 and 3,000.
of Mexican Americans, African the “overnight” creation of
settlement.
In January of 1919, Representative
Americans, and Japanese, to new Ranger companies.
The fragile peace was threatened
José T. Canales of Browns-
“free” the states of Texas, New Hispanic, as well as Anglo,
again in 1917 when a ville demanded a legislative in-
Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texans served in these units.
World War I telegram sent to vestigation of the conduct of the
Colorado from the United States. The Ranger force grew to its
Mexico by the German Secretary
various Ranger forces during the
Versions of the plan called for largest level, but the lack of
of State Zimmerman be-
period 1915-1917 and the reorga-
the murder of all white citizens training and controls were
came public “. . . we propose an nization of the force. The Texas
over 16 years of age. The goal evident. Some of the new
alliance on the following basis Legislature investigated nineteen
was an independent republic, companies upheld
with Mexico: That we shall charges made against the Texas
which might later seek annexation
the law while others func-
make war together and togeth-
Ranger forces in the aftermath
to Mexico.
tioned as vigilante groups in-
if they invade the State let them
er make peace. We shall give of the Plan of San Diego and the
Raids from both sides of the censed by raids from Mexico. understand they do so at the risk
general financial support, and War.
border quickly escalated into These Rangers were given of their lives.”
it is understood that Mexico is The investigation resulted in the
guerilla warfare. Francisco orders and wide powers to keep The vigilante nature, and poor
of San Antonio and in the border to reconquer the lost territory in reduction of the Ranger force to
(Pancho) Villa’s raid on Columbus,
the hostilities in Mexico from command structure on the new
counties in Mexico and Texas. New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. four companies of 17 men each.
New Mexico, in March 1916, washing across the river into Ranger units led to incidents un-
In response to Pershing’s US The details are left to you for A tightening of qualifications for
caused more panic, and the United
Texas. Gov. O.B. Colquitt wrote acceptable to “regular” Rangers.
troops on Mexican soil, President settlement....” Nothing materi-
the Texas Ranger service led to
States responded by sending Ranger Capt. John R. Hughes: Serious crimes were commit-
Carranza demanded the withalized,
but it served to further its initial professionalization.
a large military force under Gen. “I instruct you and your men to ted that led to the 1919 Canales
drawal of US forces, which was alarm the public.
John J. Pershing in pursuit of keep them (Mexican raiders) off Investigation. After one retaliatory
summarily rejected. As a result, Mexican raids into Texas in
Villa.
of Texas territory if possible, and
Ranger raid into Mexico, an
Mexican raiding intensified and 1915-16 caused an estimated 21
38 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 39