Imperial Valley press., 1941-03-16
BY RALPH II. TAYLOR
Executive Secretary. Agricultural
Council of California

Don't hesitate TO strike; Uncle
will feed you!"
When the strike of lemon pickers
in the Ventura country citrus belt
was called Recently. that pledge OF
financial aid from Uncle Sam. con-
stantly reiterated by union leaders
and strike agitators, was one of the
most persuasive arguments used to
bring about a general walkout.
Organizers of the St1lke were most
explicit in their instructions. Work
ers were told to congregate in large
groups at the local offices of the
SRA. the County Welfare Depart
ment and the State Employment
CommiSsion-and not TO leave until
they were put on the relief rolls.
And a few days later. State Re-
lief Administrator Ralph J. Wake
field. teStifying before the joint
legislative committee investigating
abuses in relief administration, ad-
mitted that hundreds of the Ven
tura strikers already had been cer-
titled for relief. The strike leaders
had made good on their boast that
Uncle will feed your
The same legislative investgat-
ing committee heard farmers and
farm Representatives from Ventura
county denounce relief for the pur-
pose of encouraging and supporting
a strike condition. The farmers
bluntly (and correctly charged that
as taxpayers they are being forced
to finance strikes against them
selves-which. if successful. Woulo
put many of them out OF business
There can be no doubt OF the
credibility of the growers who pre-
sented the facts of the Ventura
county situation to the legislative
committee of inquiry. Among them
were Cecil Foster, chairman OF the
Ventura County Lemon Growers
committee: E. C. Kinball. grower
and packer and vice president OF
the State Farm Bureau Federation
and former Senator Walter Duval
Of Ventura. In fact. Relief Admin
istrator Wakefield sought to justify
the procedure. rather than to deny
it. saying that he was complying
with the policy laid down by state
relief commission, which he sum-
married. as follows:
Examine each individual case
on its merits, determine need and
eligibility. and if there is no record /
Of the applicant having refused |.
employment, give him
relief"
The state employment commits |.
sion. said Mr.. Wakefield, determined |.
or not relief applicants had .
refused suitable employment Fin |
ally, Mr. Wakefield testified. the
state employment commission would I.
not certify any applicant for work
on a ranch or in an industry where |
strike conditions prevailed.
The testimony was so startling
that Senator Jerrold Seawell OF
Roseville. one of the members OF
the investigating committee, finally I.
exclaimed: Let's abolish the en- |.
ployment servicel" And Mr.. Sea-
well, it should be noted, has been /
a member of organized labor for |
years and has long been its cham
oion in the halls Of the legislature.
Some 5000 picketS walked out in |
,he Ventura County lemon strike, /
.ying up not only picking but also
lalting work in the cooperative
packing plants. If all of the strik-
ers were certified for relief, the .
INVESTIGATING committee was tolo |
he cost to the taxpayers would |
De 100000 a month. And it was
also testified that this would likely /
become a permanent cost, as migrant .
workers, anxious for employment. .
we're willing to take the strikers /
Jobs. A great share of that cost, OF |
Most ponnlQ at B