Imperial Valley press., 1936-01-26
WHERE
Are They Going,
And to
WHAT!

Where are they from? Where
are they going? What do they hope
to find at the end of the long road?
These families who pass through
the inspection station at Yuma each
day, driving rattle-trap automo-
biles piled high with curious objects,
bedding and children-why are they
on the move?
Joe Conklin, frankly, does not
know.
Joe, fondling the handle of an
axe, cast a quizzical glance toward
his skinny wife, then to the two
white headed girls and the equally
skinny white headed boy playing
about the old truck they had con-
verted into a travelling home. Just
at the moment, the home happened
to be beside the Yuma highway.
about four miles west of Holtville.
We're headin' for Los Angeles,
I reckon" he drawled. Maybe
there amt nothin' there. If there
amt, we'll go on someWheres else.
There wasn't no work in Okla
homa," Joe went on. He accepted
a tailor made cigaret gratefully.
Long time since I smoked one Of
those" he said. USED to buy them
regular when I was workin' fer my
last boss. He had a farm, but they
foreclosed."
Joe was not eager to 60 on. Re-
minded that he was heading for
Los Angeles, he looked nervouSly
at the wife and children again.
Wife Wanted Trip
81 didn't want to come out here"
he muttered But the wife, she
had heard so much about California,
she reckoned we could make a go
of it. So here we are"
What about the children?" Joe
was asked. do you think they're
getting a fair chance, travelling
around like this?"
Likely not" he answered, "but
what else is there to do? They
amt got much chance anyway, les
I strike it lucky. Anyway" he smil-
ed," they're seein a lot of the coun-
try, which is more'n a lot of kids
do"
How long have We been on the
road? Why, we been travelin' about
six months now. Got kinda used
to it. Ali you got to do is snitch
some gas now an then, or bum it
from service station guy. They're
pretty kind-hearted, usually. Havin'
the wife and kids along makes it
easy. Sometimes you get work for
a few days, and some places you
can get relief. Other places" Joe
seemed indignant, they won't give
you nCthin' les you lived there
long time"
Joe's philosophy came out in
rush when he was asked if, given
the opportunity, he would return
to his home in Oklahoma, and to
a Job there.
Don't think so," he answered
you know, there amt much use
slavin' for living in one place all
your life, when they's so many other
ways to make it. Sides, 1 might
find a better job somewheres else.
How'll I know less I look around
a while. No-I reckon I'll keep or
traevlin' for a bit You sort O.
keep up with the seasons that way
never gets too cold anywhere-an'
maybe someday I'll strike it rich"
Backs Sinclair
joe is firm believer in the Town.
send plan, but he is regretful that
Huey P. Long was asSassinated
Huey's king program
was better still, he believes. Upton
Sinclair, too, is among. his favorites.
One reason he came to California,
come to thing of it, was so he could
vote for Sinclair if he ran for gov
ernor again.
Joe's automobile is like the auto
mobile of most of his fellows of
his fellows of the road. He bought
1t in Oklahoma City, for S25. Two
OF the tires on it came with the car.
Another he got in Phoenix for a
dollar and half, and still another
was salvaged from a wrecked ma
chine while no one was looking.
Joe admitted it unblushingly.
You've got to do lot of funny
things to get along" he remarked,
by way of explanation.