Imperial Valley press., 1941-11-07
by Peter Edison =.
The Inside Track in Washington

WAsHINGTON. Nov 1t was
lust before Christmas in 1893. IhI
wife of a WPA worker named
Frank Duncan 81 spur. It. Wa
ab.ut 10 have = bah! Ms Dun
cans mex, of Kin Wa sister.
married to one Fred Edwards, a
ml.raut ugucaitGr2l worker III
California. When Ms. Edwards
heard of her sister, approaching
blessed event and tina, the expect
am father vas Oh rclet with none
too BRIGHT a future ahead, MIS-.
Edwards persuaded her husband to
drive back to Texas and brlng
the Duncans to California. She
believed the future n t-le Golden
State was s2meWha, roster.
Edwards mace the '.ln in hi
old car and picked up tie Dan
cans. They had $40 when theE
started back to California They had
81 "hen JrpN hij the -tate line.
When they reaehed their destinu-
ton. near Maryeyille. nobody h1G
any cash
Mrs. Duncan applied for Farm
Security Administrator for tran
sient assistance during her contlnc-
ment. 1t was given. and at fedora!
expense. the Duncan heir WaS born
into this strange new world after
New Years Day.
At this point the California
state law caught up with the Dgn-
cans and the EdWardses. None OF
them having been residents 10"
three years they we're 10. eligible
for state relief Edwards was aC-
cused Of bringing INTO California
2 migrant WORKER III violation Of
state laws passed originally to cur
the states terrific mounting relief
bur den. CoayictcG Edwards wa
sentenced to s!h months III tn|
state prison
Bu. here the federal government.
through Farm Security AdmmBtra-
ton, became interested in he case,
for 50 far no 3lajc reae. 1unc-
had been involved. The east was
carried TO the staJe supreme coUrJ
which upheld the Law anG .uial
that Edwards must sclye NJ scl-
tence
Little People Become Important;
The purpose Of thi, story !. u.'
to lnc.te Your pity for the D.n-
cans and the EdWardses OF 10 usr
them as text for any sermon or
postscript TO Grapes OF wrath.
All that Is unimportant What i
important is that the Duncane
and the EdWaVdses uaTe ecome
legal guinea PIGS ana their
troubles nave become !egal grist
for tho irsal saGsug" mills of me
Suprcnn court 4 the United STATE.
And TN lon alH Of the Law
|lth It cap!'a. L-u2s PIT it, i'm
ger on the hitnerto uconspicI0ua
and unknown Duncans and Ed
N'ardsca Just a. Il d!d to & .clloW
named DreG Scott back III pre- war
betWeen-thc-states day. 10 make
them famous. Lawyer aud !aT
schools VIII argue ABOUT migrant
Duncan and appellant Edwards 70.
year 70 cOmc-nOt because me;
were poor or because ol Their
troubles, bat because the make
lcgal precedent
How conc? It's all about th.
cast Of Fred F Edwards, appellant.
y. the PcOpl u me State OF
California winch Waa arpucd pc
fore III" Supreme Court ol tnr
United States III its beautiful biz
marble palace II WASHINGTON. p
c. the other da& L i, a perfect
tcs, caao 70 dafclmIuc Wncthc! q
'tate haa the right 10 define in
Glscnsy ana b, uuIlccj prohibition
prvcnt tn" nntr,. into any state ..
citizen =: lne Unucd State
Duncan -"AOsc Glli marx oi dis
tHcil1h pr.'H'Lt - the cast be-
fore tho court - that hr IS poor
Culo.a.% cHDg2h from the non
!"aa! pom u r!or tho law. ,.
".J a.s-DG tn. cast before Jur
r'Hi arr j" compieJc accord thar
the ultimate lesuc Is the cOnetrg-
UrHal right Of the migrant Dun
ca aAo not ,Aesc Of The deicMG-
alt Edwards.
Wacn the worthy Justices hand
down their decision in this cast II,
"lIi affect a lot more people than
the migrant Duncan On the appel
ant Edwards
Twenty-right statcs now haHr On
hcir statute books law beHnn
on restriction OF The free How Ul