The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-13
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
By A C STINNETT

ties are sitting around biting their finger nails,
waiting to see what the census has to report
on the migrants.
You could live in any one of two dozen
states and think this report a minor item,
but don't fool yourself.
Let's take Oklahoma, for example. (Theres
really no particular reason why we should,
except that John Steinbeck has popularized the
conception of migrants from that state). Ever
since the Grapes" made the nation migrant
conscious, Oklahoma has been privileged to
laugh up it's sleeve at California.
1--WE are getting rid of a lot of surplus
labor-a burden of relief-at the expense of
California. Ha-ha," the O~klahomans might
say.
Mind you, say they might say. This is
purely a hypothetical item. And since I
know what they do say, I'm not putting it in
here. I'm only saying that they might well
say that. But when the reports are in,
California may have the last laugh.
Why?
I'll tell you.
Nobody Knows
Estimates here-and they are purely esti-
mates because nobody really knows the mi
grant situation-are that Oklahoma has lost
SO, 900 tenant farm families in the last few
years. Estimates again are that there are
about four persons to a family. That means, if
there is anything in estimates, that Oklahoma
has lost 10000 persons.
Oklahoma's population in 1880 was 1896, 900.
Its increase from 1920 was 36S, 900. It is def
nitely established that Oklahoma's rate of in
crease in population during the 193O.4o de-
cade was one of the largest in the country.
But eliminate 200, 900 persons lost by migration
and you have a comparatively static popula-
ton.
What happens then? While other states
gain or maintain their representatives in Con-
-rorr lari~ 80 N11-
homa may stand still or lose. While other
states get more money for highways from the
federal government, Oklahoma may have to
string along on what it has been getting.
While the states which have been the mecca
Of the 'Okies' and the Ankles get increases
in relief funds from Washington, Oklahoma
may have to sweat through with less than
it has been receiving. And the point is that
the problem there may be no different from
what it is today, or has been for many months.
49,
story's Many Sides
1 have chosen Oklahoma because the Stein.
beck story has made available estimates from
that state. AS a matter of fact, the Dakotas
probably would provide more sensational fig
ures if government agencies had carried
through their Investigations in those states.
There are, it is claimed, some $50, 900 migrant
families in the country (this is a conservative
es~timate-some investigators will bet a hat
that there are 1000, 000). And the national
average size of family will probably run one
half to one more person than in Oklahoma.
That means that only II to II per cent of
the migrants come from Oklahoma. So you
can see that this condition is not confined to
the state selected here for illustration.
The point is that somebody is going to
take it on the chin when the census is in
and a good many observers think that it will
be the very states that have been losing their
Joads.
This is only one facet of the many-sided
farm labor situation which the 1910 census
probably will uncover. Any time that any
citizen, be he green-grocer or insurance man,
banker or florist, gets to thinking that this
doesn't affect him, he should run around and
have a talk with some competent college pro-
fessor.
No matter whose figures you take on I'M
employment, there are about 1900 0G more
farm workers than there are permanent farm
jobs. Farm workers., out Of work, mean mi
grants-and migrants mean shifting popula-
tions-and shifting populations mean a terrific
upset in existing laws intended to distribute
equitably our Federal funds and the ayes-and-
nays that make up our Federal government.
Now you know why a slew of CAPABILITIES
are worrying about the census report on mi
grants. They want to be sure they are not
chewing on grapes Of wrath and calling it