The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-17
BY JOHN L. SPIyAK

RE SN 0, Cal. - G.. F.
Thomas here had had a small
auto store and when economic
events beyond his control
ruined small automobile
stores, his was one of the ruined
ones. He had had a home and that.
too, went. But he was "a good
guy" a believer in the modern bust
ness methods which resulted in his
losing his business and home. and
when he had to have some kind
Of a job so he and his family could
eat. they made him secretary of
the Fresno Chamber Of Commerce.
The depression has not changed
Mr.. Thomas much He is still es-
sentially the small business man
who believes in cut-thrcat competi-
ton but Of "a regulated sort like
curtailing production so too great
a crop will not ruin the market"
The country had depressions before
and got out of them" and MIR.
Thomas is hopeful that one dav.
perhaps in the near future. he will
be able to reopen his store. This
hope is shared by other business
men here who see things picking
up a little" Hence he looks with
more than little trepidation at
the inroads made by Communists in
organizing migratory workers.
Mr.. Thomas mirrors the filters
that local business feels about the
reds" His whole attitude. sitting
there in the cool and spacious Of
flee Of the Chamber Of Commerce is
the attitude of most business men.
politicians and farmers with whom
I talked. Even words vary only
slightly.
Frankly, I got very little out of
Mr.. Thomas Despite trousers
pressed to razor edge. a fairly
clean face and unaccented speech.
Mr.. Thomas looked upon me with
suspicion, It was unheard of that
a person seeking a picture of what
happened since the depression
should ask questions about the
Of farmers, who lost their
land or the wages and living con-
ditions Of migratory workers. No
one had ever cared about migratory
workers before the Communists
organizing them; consequent
ly anyone who asks questions about
these workers must be a red" or
If not red" at least sympathetic.
If not either Of these, why should
he want information which. if made
public, would be munition for red
agitators."
But though I got few facts and
figures his whole jittery attitude
speaks volumes of the change which
Communist activities here has pro-
duced not only in the life of work
ers but in business men.
Whom do you representa-" he
asked suspiciously.
mo one. I'm writer gathering
material for a book"
Whom do you write for9"
"A publisher"
>. What :, VT sort Of books do they pub
All kinds" @
What kind of a book are you
going to writer"
"A truthful picture as find it.
neither praising nor condemning.
ALI want are facts"
This quizzing continued for some
five or ten minutes. He reverted
10 it repeatedly during our CONVEX
Sation. Finally he called up a book
store to find out if 1 had ever had
published.
How do I know you're John L.
5pivak?"
whats the differenceq" I f.
nslly said after proving my identity
by letters, cards. monographs, hat
oand initials and underwear. I'm
not trying to sell you anything or
lake anything from you. All I'm
asking for are facts and figures
which should be public property"
"Okay, what do you want?"
IN the course Of my questioning
him it was inevitable that I ask
or comparisons of wages, loss of
arms, methods of importing migra-
DRY workers, etc. The moment I |
would ask question about the poor
'armer or the migratory worker the
ieep suspicious light appeared in
lis eyes.
What do you want to know that
orr"
They are records showing