The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-10


 San Joaquin and Imperial
 Unless immediate measures are adopted to provide medical treat ment and rehabilitation, also some plan to stop this homeless horde from coming into California, by autumn this state will be facing the most serious health, moral, economic and sociological problem In It's history" Robertson declared,
 He said that the Gospel Army, which originally called attention to the seriousness of the situation, would refuse to listen to threats or intimidation from any source until the federal government and pub- lie agencies affected by the menace launch some comprehensive pro- gram to handle 1t,
 We cannot assume the task of feeding, clothing and housing these people because such @ task Is beyond the combined capacity of all private and welfare organizations" Robert son said.
 County No santa Claus"
 In support of Robertson's con- tention that the situation was one for the federal government to deal with, the board of supervisors of Los Angeles county issued state- ment recently that the county was through playing Santa Claus" to indigent transients.
 It notified other counties and states that Los Angeles county hereafter will turn deaf ear to the relief pleas of employable tram sient indigents, leaving them to work and earn their own way as best they can. Health records in three northern counties of Cali fornia reveal that many of the migrants have died from malnu- triton and exposure and, accord- ing to one physician, 5000 have been Vaccinated for typhoid because of fear of an epidemic.
 Robertson, in his survey, said he had made study of what the transients and migrants are doing to rehabilItate themselves, their numbers, everyday life, recreations, their earnings per family, morality, Illness and deaths, and what aid they are receiving either from the government or charity
 Tour of State Made
 Following the his opinions, the result of his trips to northern and southern California, and his ob- servations In Los Angeles county:
 These refugees are mostly from the flood and dust bowl sections of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, with e smattering from Kansas and Oklahoma.
 "The majority of them came to California within the last six or seven months, and according to a statement recently released by the U s, resettlement bureau, 100000 are on the way, Few Of these peo- pie have obtained employment. They are settled mostly in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, in Los Angeles county, and In the Im- perIal Valley counties.
 "A percentage Of them come from the cotton states Of the South and large numbers of these people who have had some experience with cot- ton, are camped in two. counties, where there are not jobs to take care of them.
 10000 in Family Groups
 "AS far as l was able to deter. mine through questioning chiefs of police, mayors and representatives Of welfare organizations, approxi- mately 10000 migrants are camped in the valley counties in family groups. This does not include the single transient or migrant. have been informed by members Of the Los Angeles board of supervisors that the number Of migrant or transient indigents in Los Angeles county is three or four times that number at he present time.
 There also Is a large group camped around some Of the Impe- rial Valley communities;
 Approximately one-half Of this migrant group Is of g particularly low moral caliber. Many Of the adults have never had any educa- ton and are unable to sign their names to receipts for food and clothing given them by welfare or- ganiza tons"
 Indicating the seriousness Of the situation, Q representative of the Oovarnffaenf Raid that na Eadara fund.- were available to cope with the matter and 6 representative of WPA said that no jobs for these migrants were available.
 Cooperation Of California in Stemming the tide of indigents and migrants and in meeting the grave relief situation which has developed