Eastern Connecticut news., 1947-09-30

AAJ SGSAAS01 ANAASC ekAO0S SS~ @A~-S parts of the United States against the migratory workers often called "Oakies." Migratory workers are agricultural workers who move from one area to another looking for work, sometimes following the crops either for harvest or plant ing in different parts of the coun- try; sometimes merely moving, desperately looking for work.
 The dust storms and drought of the middle '30's combined with the economic depression which had preceded, brought into the group of migratory workers thousands of people who resided in the dust bowl areas and whose means of livelihood had been destroyed by the wind and climate, whose prop erty was useless and whose future was grim. Because these migra- tory workers added to the number of persons looking for work and because they were a new element, and many of them were obliged to seek relief and public assistance in the states through which they travelled, there arose minimizing prejudice against them. To be sure itwas alarming to small com munitieS to see truck load after truck load of strangers pour into the town and set up very rough camps on the outskirts of the town, looking for work. looking desperately for opportunity and friendship.
 Every investigation that was made of the migratory workers showed that they were fundament- ally good and industrious people. but the prejudice against them grew worse as they grew poorer and more unkempt and more des- perate. The Federal Government interposed with help and assist ance, and decent and respectable migratory camps were maintained with Federal leadership and state assistance. Gradually working conditions were improved, the op- portunities for work increased, but above all, housing and shelter were made decent, food supply and prep aration were established in sani- tary way, and gradually some ed ucational facilities were provided for the children.
 When the war came along in 40 and Al the "OakieS" and "Arkies" disappeared into the general American life. They took the first opportunities to go to work Tn plants which were receiving de- fense or war orders. They settled down, bought houses, and became part of the community. We don't hear of them any more.
 But the problem of migratory workers still remains. During the war, from Jamaica and from Mex ico, workers were brought into the United States by special treaty with their respective governments to work on farms under the gener- al supervision of the Department of Agriculture. By the terms of the treaties they were given ade- quate living quarters and their transportation back to their homes was agreed to and arranged by the United States and their own governments. That it became nec- essary during the war to bring in these people shows that industrial ized agriculture depends on a large supply of migratory workers. The treaties governing the importation specified that. these agricultural migratory workers would have to be guaranteed good living condi- tions, good health conditions, and good working conditions.
 The country has learned a great deal about this problem since 1885. Recently a report was issued by an inter-agency committee of the Federal government. It stresses first the need and wisdom of pro- tecting the human rights of these workers. It proposes legislation to improve the social conditions, re- cruiting, transporting and finding work for migratory workers. It sets up standards for education housing, health supervision, and welfare service. It urges partic- ularly that local communities and the local employers take respon-