Imperial Valley press., 1934-10-20
By GEORGE II. BEALE

YERMO, Calf, Oct. 20.-Upton
Sinclair's End Poverty in Califor-
mia" gubernatorial campaign has
augmented the customary lure OF
the Golden State, it was indicated
in a survey conducted here today.
This border point, where checks
are made on all incoming automo-
biles, never before has seen so many
arrivals as at present.
The well-advertised climate of
Southern California and the mid
summer drought in the middle west
have contributed to the influx. Ad-
ditionally, it was indicated, the pro
misses of the Democratic nominee
for governor have had an effect.
Comparative figures:
Septembe 1888 - 8,844 cars
checked through the state quaran-
tine and the motor vehicle branch
es here.
September 1934-9,856.
October 1933-6,142.
October 1884 (providing the flow
continues as at present) $3.50.
Joe Petro, of Warren, Ohio, came
through while I was visiting the We
hicle department station. Petro was
driving an old model of popular
car. A crack in the windshield had
been treated with adhesive plaster.
Two spare tires were roped over the
front bumper and against the radia-
tor A trunk was tied to the running
board.
| The tires were worn smooth.
Petro said he worked in the steel
mills in Warren and that he also
was a barber. He was coming to
California, he said, chiefly for his
health. He and his wife intended to
live in Southern California perman-
emily Providing I'm lucky" He
didn't know much about Sinclair
and his Epic program but he under
stood and hoped Sinclair would fur
nish work for the unemployed, if
he is elected
AS Petro and his hopes headed
| for Los Angeles, j. H. McVey, EN-
ployee of the vehicle department,
said: THAT was only a mild Sim
clair case"
OF score of other transients in
terviewed, all profeSsed to be COM
/ ing to California for reasons other
than the possible election of Sin
clair. A good portion of the group,
however, were looking for work. Nc
Vey claimed it was unusual that
so few were I'm the Sinclair class"
on this particular day.
The day before, he claimed, a
Deadwood, South Dakota, man
passed through. His wife, his daugh-
and his grand daughter accom-
panied him. They were almost out
of funds. Their destination was
San Diego.
Depends On Sinclair
"I asked him if he had a job in
prospect McVey said. "He told me
he didn't but that all would be fixed
up when Sinclair was elected"
McVey openly supporting Cover
nor Frank F. Merriam, Sinclair's
chief opponent, holds an appointive
position.
| "a man from Minnesota came
through here last week." McVey
went on. HE had a homemade
! sign on his windshield saying Sin
clair For Governor When he
signed his motor vehicle permit for
California he wanted to know if by
the signing he had earned the right
to vote for Sinclair"
McVey, attributing the increase of
QUITO state travellers to Sinclair
and the hope for employment when
and if Sinclair is elected, admitted
that the drought in the middle west
was a contributing factor.
At the branch of the state depart
ment of agriculture. where every
out-of-state automobile is checked
to determine if it may be carrying
something that might lead to a
blight of California's crops, vet.
eran of the department said he
never had witnessed such flow
of broken down automobiles and
dead broke people"
1--WE been working for the de-
partment for 13 years." he said.
1--WE never seen anything so bad.
The other day a Colorado car came
through, carrying five men. The
machine was patched up with old
string and chewing gum and any