The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-13
By JOHN l. SPIvAK

FRESNO, Cal.-There was
an old man standing beside
the shiny black counter filled
with charity applications in
the Fresno County Welfare
Department when I walked in to
see Stith Ledbetter, the director.
The old man was a county farmer
who had lost his 20-acre farm for
non-payment Of taxes. He lived
now on the outskirts OF the city
with his old wife.
They had two sons, but two years
ago when the father lost his land
the boys took to the road. He had
not heard from them since. He did
not know whether they had become
migratory workers or we're with a
government relief camp or were
merely just two more Of the count
less homeless floating about the
country.
do you want to help me or not2"
the old man asked irritsbly. "All
want to know is whether you are
going to pay the $40 rent for us
before they put us out.
You'll have to fill out an spph-
cation, Mr.. Ledbetter said.
But filed one out two weeks
ago. My wife filled one out two
months ago. How many spplica-
tons must We fill outP"
I'VE looked up your wife's appli-
cation and it's been mislaid," Mr..
Ledbetter said apologetically. And
we're unable to find the one you
filled out"
And we've been starving and the
landlords been threatening to throw
us out while you can't find our ap-
plications," the old farmer repeated
in a high voice. DO you think we
like to come here every day? It's
bad enough 10 have to come once. -
I'VE haven't been able to find
your applications" Mr.. Ledbetter
kept repeating. Il know you filled
them out but we can't find them"
Can you find $40 for our rent?"
the old man asked desperately.
This conversation gives a clear
idea Of the state of charity in FIRES
no County-the Department OF We'll
fare, the Community Chest. the
Volunteers Of America, the Saliva
ton Army, the Catholic groups.
They not only lose" applications.
but none has any idea of how many
are unemployed In the city or
county or how many are destitute
and in need Of charity.
THERE are ten different organiza-
tons in the Community Chest
alone and each group keeps its own
records. its own expenditures. Some
keep only the amount Of money
expended; others keep only the
number Of food orders issued. Some
organizations know how much they
spent q year or two ago, still others
have skeleton records for each
month-records which tell very lit
| tie, If you want sums expended for
a year, for two years, for five years
you simply have to sit down and
take their records and total the
figures yourself,
Sometimes, after talking with di-
rectors of the various charity
groups, I have wondered whether
there was not something deliberate.
this not knowing the total extent of
charity and restitution in the COM
munity and county. Not even the
budget estimates show the total
number of people in want. The
charities know only that If the ap-
phcant has been state resident
for three years and a county resi-
dent for one, the county will give
him something to eat. Otherwise
the applicant will be shunted from
charity group to charity group until
in his desperation he cries for food.
Then some one will give it to him
and his family.
This residence law was passed TO
keep migratory workers who had
been imported, especially the Mexi-
cans, to work in the county, from
applying for charity when they
we're stranded.
Some 1000 to 5000 Mexicans who
had been imported by fruit and veg
A HE TT G. II