CATHOLIC- I WORKER

Subscription: VOL.XXXIX No. 7 SEPTEMBER, 1973 25c Per Year Price le On Pilgrimage Farm Workers' Heroic Struggle By DOROTHY DAY By JAN ADAMS July 30. We left Kennedy Airport at Since April, farm workers on hundreds ing out of the fields. Local judges, af­ noon for San Francisco, Eileen Egan and of ranches in California's San Joaquin flicted by these outspoken workers with I. She was attending, as I too was sup­ Valley have gone on strike to defend the the same fear as their friends the grow­ posed to, the 50th Anniver sary of the union they have built, The United Farm ·ers, enjoined UFW picketing so fast that _War Resister's International. Joan Baez Workers Union. Over 3000 farm workers they sometimes could not even define the had invited me to be at her Institute for and supporters have been jailed in this properties covered by the restrictions. the Study of Non-Violence for the week strike campaign. The men and women of Hundreds of UFW members went to jail with some members of Cesar Chavez' the UFW have suffered much violence contesting these curbs on peaceful pick­ United Farm Workers' Union. When we despite the adherence of the vast ma­ eting. It was not until June 15 that the arrived in time for the Institute's Mon­ jority to the non-violent posture exemp­ injunctions were modified to permit day night pot luck supper in Palo lified by their leader, Cesar Chavez. strikers to speak to strikebreakers Alto, plans had changed because of the In late August, violence reached a new (scabs) over bullhorns. mass arrests of farm workers who were pitch with the deaths of two union mem­ Meanwhile the trucking union put in defying an injunction against mass pick­ bers within -a week. An Arab worker an appearance in Coachella, bringing in eting in Kern County. There was now a died while in the custody of the Delano, "guards," many of whom looked like strike in the vineyards as well as in California police. Union doctors charged beefy motorcycle gang members. The lettuce fields because the growers would that his injuries showed him to have strikers called them ''goons." UFW pick­ not renew their contracts with the farm been beaten. The second victim was a ets were beaten up, their cars run off the workers and were making new contracts Filipino worker shot while on a picket road and blown up, and a union family's with the Teamsters. The strike was line in the Arvin-Lamont area. Chavez trailer burned to the ground. Fr. John widespread and mass arrests were con-. responded to the deaths by calling for a Bank, on loan to the UFW from the Dio­ tinuing. Cesar Chavez' union of Farm three-day fast and halt to picketing. cese of Youngstown, Ohio, had his nose Workers has everything that belongs to As the summer ends, the UFW is being broken by a punch from a Teamster as a new social order, so my path was clear. forced to stop strike activity, except in he sat in a diner talking with a Wall I had come to picket where an injunction limited areas, because it has paid out all was prohibiting picketing, and I would Street Journal reporter. In mid-June the its own funds and those donated by the sheriff's department, usually an . ally to spend my weeks in California in jail, not national AFL-CIO in strike benefits·dur­ the growers, seconded the UFW's request at conferences. ing the valley-wide wave of work stop­ for a restraining order against Teamster This first evening was beautiful. Joan pages. Farm workers are now being re­ violence. While awaiting the order, Cha­ Baez sang all evening in the patio of one cruited to carry the message of their of the houses belonging to a group in­ vez briefly halted picketing to prevent struggle to the cities through the boycott serious injury from being done to any­ terested in land trusts, non-violence, and of. non-Jlnion ,grapes and. lettuce. What one. the farm strike. follows is a summary of the summer's Arvin-Lamont Joan lives up in the hills somewhere strike activity. near, has a "Christ room" where an old The fruit growing area around the ex-prisoner stays. Lee Swenson, who Coachella towns of Arvin and .Lamont, southeast of works with the Institute, drove us to one California growers' desperate effort to the city of Bakersfield and northeast of of the houses where we slept well. We destroy the UFW began in the Coachella Los Angeles, was the next area to which had arrived in California at 2:30 p.m. Valley, southeast of Los Angeles, not far the strike spread. Several growers who California time, 5:30 N.Y. time and by Rita Corbin from the Mexican border. In mid-April also owned land in Coachella and had N.Y. time were probably in bed well all but two of the companies which had signed with the Teamsters there were after midnight. It was a long day. had UFW table grape contracts since struck in April. Farm workers picketed July 31. A very hot drive down the 1970 refused to renegotiate, and signed the nectarine orchards as the grape har­ valley to Delano today, arriving as strike Pax f;hristi-IJSA with the Teamsters. UFW members pro­ vest had not yet begun. Again local meeting ended. Today many Jesuits were PAX CHRISTI-USA, the American tested these "contracts" which they had judges r.estricted their peaceful picketing; arrested. Also sisters who had been at­ branch of the International Catholic never seen with a union whose repre­ again strikers submitted to arrest in pro- tending a conference in San Francisco. Peace Movement, will hold Its Found­ sentatives they had never met by walk- <9ontinued on page 6) Mass in the evening at Bakersfield, end­ inr Assembly in Washington, D.C. the ed a tremendous demonstration, flag­ weekend of Oetober 5, 8, and 'J. carrying Mexicans - singing, chanting, ASSEMBLY Don't Celebrate-Organize: WRL's marching--and when the Mass began The theme of the Assembly, GOS­ there were so many people that it was PEL NONVIOLENCE: A CATHOLIC impassible to kneel, but there was utter IMPERATIVE; the sessions are di­ 50 Years of Non-Violent Resistance silence. rected to providing a network of re­ Aupst 1. Up at 2 a.m., picketed all By EILEEN EGAN day, covering many vineyards. Impres­ sources, workinr materials and pub­ sive lines of police, all armed-clubs and lications for educators, parish coun­ "Don't Celebrate-Organize," a slogan WRL members do not preach. They have guns. We talked to them, pleaded with cils, organizers, as well as the con­ suggested early in the plans for the 50th lived and suffered in "the propaganda of them to lay down their guns and clubs. cemed individual. Anniversary Conference of the· War Re­ the deed." One was black. His mouth twitched as he PEACE PACKET sisters League, provided the mood for Some of those deeds came to life at indicated that, No, he did not enjoy p AX CHRISTI is offerinr a PEACE the Conference held in Asilomar, Calif­ the opening sessions when Larry Gara being there. Two other police came and :PACKET at a special rate of $5. It In­ ornia, August 5 to 7, 1973. The echo of presented a dramatic recapitulation of walked away with him. I told the other cludes: 1) The Nonviolent Croa the advice given by Joe Hill before his the League's first 50 years through police I would come back next day and (James Dourlass) 2) Peace and Non­ execution, "Don't Mourn - Organize," slides and narration. The faces that we read the Sermon on the Mount to them. violence (edit. by Edward Guinan, was right for the League which since its saw on the screen were there among us. I was glad I had my folding chair-cane CSP) 3) Kill for Peace? (Richard Mc­ founding has regularly seen its members Evan Thomas, absolutist resister to so I could rest occasionally during pick­ sorley, S.J.) 4) Catholics, Consclence beaten, jailed and persecuted for resist­ every one of his country's wars in the eting, and sit there before the police to and the Draft (edit. by Eileen Epn). ance to war, conscription, racist ·oppres­ course of his ninety-one years, Jim Peck talk to them. I had seen a man that MEMBERSHIP sion and the denial of human rights. and Ralph DiGia, whose work strike as morning sitting at the entrance to work­ Yearly membership of $5 brinp one The presence of 500 participants frqm World War Il C.0.'s helped integrate 25 states proved that the peace mov~­ ers' shacks with a rifle across his knees. the THIRDLY Publication, a journal Danbury prison and eventually the US ment, as distinct from the anti-war (Within two weeks, Juan de la Cruz was of Justice/Peace reflections and ex­ prison system, Larry Gara, Roy Kepler shot in the chest by such a 'rifle.) movement, is far from dead. The League, and Igal Roodenko, World War Il resis­ periences of international and local a secular pacifist group committed to the Aupst Z. Slept at Sanger with nurses Catholic peacemakers, contemporary ters and workers for civil rights. All of from one of the farm workers' clinics. · resolution of inter-group and interna­ these were involved in WRL struggles statements from the Church, and re­ tional conflict by Gandhian, nonviolent Up at 4 a.m., was at the park at Parlier source information. PAX CHRISTI­ and saw its membership grow from 3,000 before dawn. Cesar came and spoke to us means, is more alive and larger than at in 1964 to 15,000 in 1973. USA members receive assistance from any time in its history. about the injunction and arrests (wonder the National Secretary In setting up Shining from the screen were also when he sleeps) and we set out in cars to local PAX CHRISTI groups. Propapnda of the Deed many faces of .dead peacemakers, Jessie picket the area where big and small All correspondence and information The generation gap does not afflict the Wallace Hughan (one of WRL's found­ growers had united to get the injunction. regardlnr the Assembly, the Peace League. More than half of the partici­ ing mothers), Martin Luther King, A. J. When three white police buses arrived Packet, or Membership, can be ad­ pants were under thirty years of age, Muste and Ammon Hennacy. It was Am­ some time later we were warned by the dressed to: REV. EDWARD GUINAN, and they addressed themselves with mon who first forged the link between police thru the bull horns that we were CSP, General Secretary, PAX vigor to the theme of the Conference, the Catholic Worker and the League to disperse, and when we refused, were "WRL: The Next Fifty Years." The ob­ when he suggested open, Gandhian re­ ushered into the buses and brought to CHRISTI-USA, 1335 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20005. vious lack of conflict between genera-· sistance to the 1955 nation-wide civil de- (Continued on page 2) tions stems from the fact that the older (Continued on page 8) Page T"'° THE . CATHOLIC WORKER September, 1973 • VoL XXXIX No. 7 September, 1973 Tivoli: a Farm With a View I By DEANE MARY MOWRER This morning the rains came. Cool and here. They enjoy this kind of healthy refreshing to us all-people, plants (veg­ outdoor work more than the dull routine CATHOLIC ~WORKER etable and wild, herbal and flowering), of office or assembly line. Some are col­ trees (orchard and forest), birds and all lege graduates and could hold "good" Published Monthly (Bi-monthly March-April,, July-August. the thirsty little creatures which have jobs, but do, this as a protest against October-November) survived the August heat wave and those what they regard as a corrupt system, ORGAN OF TIIE CAmOLIC WORKER MOVEMENT torrid days, which came like a pack of de-humanizing and life-negating. By do­ . PETER MAURIN, Founder August's worst dog days to make with ing this picking, these young people not DOROTHY DAY, Edltor and Publisher their hot panting breath a kind of smelt­ only earn money for their personal MARTIN J. CORBIN, Managing Editor ing furnace out of the 1st week of Sep­ needs, but also bring in fruit to be can­ tember. But now she is here, and the ned for use here at the farm. Associate Editors: rains have made all clean for her, our As a result of this picking and the JAN ADAMS, CHARLES BUTTERWORTH, JACK COOK, RITA CORBIN (Art), lady September. And she comes-with the harvesting of vegetables from our own FRANK DONOVAN, EILEEN EGAN, EDGAR FORAND, ROBERT GILLIAM, benison of the Blessed Virgin, bringing gardens-both John Filliger, our princi­ WILLIAM HORVATH, HELENE ISWOLSKY, KATHLEEN DE SUTTER JORDAN, harvest, and beauty, and ripeness. Ah, pal farmer since Maryfarm at Easton, PAT JORDAN, WALTEA KERELL, ARTl:IUR J. LACEY, KARL MEYER, CHRIS MONTESANO, DEANE MOWRER, PAT RUSK, KATHY SCHMIDT, ARTHUR September, "Ripeness is all." and the younger farmers-Andy, Tony, SHEEHAN, STANLEY VISHNEWSKI. Today after lunch, when Miriam Car­ Bill, Mike, etc. (all 'seem to have good roll and I went out to "take a sampling," crops)-much canning has been done Editorial communications, new subscriptions and change of address: as some of our scientists are so fond of in our kitchen even during the hottest 36 East First Street, New York, N. Y. 10003 Telephone 254-1640 saying, of the weather, we found the air weather. Sometimes these crews work still soft with rain-filled clouds. There through most of the night. Tony and Subscription United States, 2Sc Yearly. Canada and Foreign, 30c Yearly. Subscription rate were whitecaps on the river, Miriam Andy, our farm-worker priests, with Bill of one cent per copy plus poslj!.ge applies to bundles of one hundred or more copies each said. And the rain-washed greenery of Ragette, and Barbara Agler seem to be month for one year to be directed to one address. woods and gardens had a kind of Green on duty most often, though others help­ Mansiony luxuriance and mystery. (W. Marge Hughes, Chris Anders, Claudia Reentered as second cl~ matter August 10, 1939, at the Post Office of New York, N. Y., Under the Act of March 3, 11179. H. Hudson's Green Mansions seems to Beck, etc. me to possess something of that magical Meanwhile, during even the hottest mysteriousness which-though probably weather, cooking, dish-washing, etc., has more appreciated if read when one is had to go on. Considering that, what young-lingers with one long after one with our many visitors, we have aver­ has forgotten the details of the story.) aged over a hundred persons a day and ON PILGRJMAGE As for me, each of my pores, I think, for weekends more, these jobs have been said a small Deo Gratias for the soft (Continued from page 1) Some other women listed in the crim­ onerous indeed. The smallness of our coolness of the air. budget compared to the numbers of per­ this "industrial farm" (which they do inal complaint in my group of ten were Demetria Landavazo De Leon, Maria de Need Our Support sons has ·also added to the problem. With­ not like us to call a jail or prison though out the garden produce I don't think we we are under lock and key and our bar­ Jesus Ochoa, Efigenia Garcia de Rojas, I thought, too, of Dorothy Day, who Esperanza Alanis De Perales, etc. How I had picketed with Cesar Chavez and his could have managed. Nor without many racks surrounded by riot fencing topped volunteers who have helped with ,cook­ with barbed wire). Here we are, 99 wom­ wish I could list them all! farm workers and gone to jail with them The second charge . made against us during a period when weather reports ing, dishwashing, etc. Kathy St. Clair, en strikers including 30 sisters, 50 men who has taken on the job of coordinating strikers including two priests. This is a was "refusal to disperse and being as­ from that area spoke of temperatures sembled with two or more persons for over 100 degrees. Many of the priests kitchen activities, also deserves much 640-acre farm and can accommodate 300. credit. She is only nineteen but quiet, Now greatly overcrowded. Fr. John Cof-· the purpose of disturbing the peace and committing an unlawful act." capable, and of an equable temperament. field and Bill Butler were my'first visit­ Fortunately for us, she is just about the ors. Fr. Coffield is an old and dear friend Other visitors during our imprison­ ment, or "detainment," were Eugene opposite of the pepper-loving cook in in the Los Angeles diocese who has al­ Alice fn Wonderland. ways rejoiced in tribulation, his own and Nelson, I.W.W. editor of The lndutrlal that of others. Bill is with the Los An­ Worker who was refused admission be­ Housekeeping is one of the work cate­ geles House of Hospitality, the Ammon cause he came between visiting hours. gories often neglected among us, but-­ Hennacy House. Eileen is staying with Glenda, a "small grower's" wife (they according to Marge Hughes-since the Helen Perry, where I too stayed before have 40 acres) who said small people coming of Miriam Carroll that is no arrest. Helen is with the Grail. Had her were being crushed between the big longer true. Miriam-with several help­ with us in N.Y. and with Eileen in Viet­ growers and corporations. Another 20- ers-Bob Tavani and Gordon McCarthy nam. acre grower said he was just beginning are among the faithful-has renovated August 3. Maria Hernandez got ill in to make it when the strike came. Their and deaned and re-cleaned. Much paint­ the night. Taken to Fresno Hospital, car­ visits hurt of course, but they had no ~ . , \ ing has also been done. On the whole, dlograph taken and she was put in the ' sympathy for the strikers, and strong the place looks much better. There are Fresno jail. (She was returned to us still racist feelings. ·{·· ) still some Tobacco Road junk collections ill August 7. She worries about her chil­ During crucial meetings between Ce­ outside, but we hope some day soon they sar Chavez and Teamsters the sisters all J .v.. ! will be hauled away. Anyway, Gordon dren.) Lidia Salazar has 3 at home, 11, i 8 and 2. Her husband works at a trailer signed up for a night of prayer, taking McCarthy's front garden makes every­ camp. The 11-year old girl takes care of two-hour shifts all through the night, thing look better. "Beauty will save the house and children. I met them, as I'm and the Mexican women all knelt along world." · meeting many families, at visiting hours. the tables in the center and prayed the Committees, Changes and Journeys Kathleen and Pat Jordan, on a vacation rosary together. Barracks A, B, and E ~ were alive with prayer. Since Marge's resignation as manager, West, visited tod,ay. Another Mexican the young people here have worked out mother in our barracks has ten children Tonight, a young Mexican legal assist­ ant of the Union attempting to talk to us a system of committees to handle routine and there certainly was a crowd visiting Rita Corbin and special work and problems. After a her. Such happy, beautiful families-it was brutally and contemptuously ordered and nuns arrested with Dorothy carried out. He looked like an El Greco painting. preliminary period of chaos, the young reminded me of a tribute paid to the on a fast for most of their imprisonment. people seem to have things fairly well early Christians when they were impris­ There were only three incidents I could We were all much concerned about have complained of--one other rudeness, under control. With such over-sized oned and the hordes of their fellow Dorothy and her fellow-prisoners. They crowds and such a large floating popula­ Christians visited them and impressed and the attempt to search the bodies of were much in our prayers at Mass and the prisoners for food smuggled in. tion, any effort toward order is difficult. their guards. Compline and our private devotions. For my part, I have a strong distaste for I must copy down the charges _made Two of the youngest pickets perpetrat­ Some of us fasted several days to show both committees and meetings, and view against me. (We were listed in groups of ed a bit of mischief when a woman guard our solidarity and our concern over the the American fetish of "the majority is ten): "The said defendants, on or about attempted to search a striker. They farm workers who were murdered just always right" with -consider able skep­ August 2, were persons remaining pres­ dumped a paper bag of small frogs at the for appearing on the picket line. If we ticism. But then, compared to these ent at the place of a riot, rout, and un­ feet of the guard. They were getting cannot do anything else to help, let us young people, I am a kind of medieval­ lawful assembly, who did wilfully and even, they said, because she called them at least observe the boycott of lettuce ist. Of course St. Francis of Assisi and unlawfully fail, refuse and neglect after "dirty Mexicans." Today I had interest­ and grapes produced by growers-who Dante were too, and I don't mind taking the same had been lawfully warned to ing conversations with Jo von Gottfried, are really big businessmen- who will my stand with them. But-as Tennyson disperse." a teacher of rhetoric in Berkeley, a great not deal fairly with Chavez and his wrote--"the old order changeth," or to lover of St. Thomas and St. Augustine. I union. Chavez is a true non-violent, de­ use Bob Dylan's terser words-"the tried to understand what "rhetoric" vout Catholic leader and deserves our NEED CLOTHING, BLANKETS times they are a-changing." They are really means and she explained, but I full support. changing indeed, but whether for better With the cold of winter about to cannot now remember. Our good friend, Roger Lederer, has or worse, God only knows. descend, the men of the Bowery will August 8. Today Joan Baez, her moth­ shown his support of Chavez by picket­ . During the summer we often lose sight soon be coming to us again for winter er and Daniel Ellsberg visited us. She ing stores in New York City which han­ of the forest for the trees. Many people clothing. We will not be able to meet sang to us and the other prisoners in the dle products from anti-Chavez growers. come and go whom many of us never the need without many contributions. yard. There was a most poignant prison Earlier in the summer Geoffrey Ruddick meet. The ·additional noise and confusion Especially welcome are men's coats song. Her voice, her complete control of and Will Waes picketed our neighboring adds to the difficulty of attaining any and jackets, pants, socks, shoes and lt, is remarkable. It tore at your heart. A and P store in Red Hook for the same kind of peaceable kingdom. But-as underwear. A dramatic song. She was singing when reason. At this time of year, of course, usual-this summer brought us several We also need blankets, both at the other prisoners were being brought to most people are buying local products or visitors who have been connected with First Street Bouse and Tivoli Farm. the dining room, and she turned her back using things from their own gardens. But the Catholic Worker during earlier All summer our supply dwindles as to us and sang to all of them directly, as when and if you buy from the California years, and we were indeed glad to have people sleeping on the streets and in they stopped their line to listen. area, look for the black eagle of Chavez' them. They included-Dorothy Gauchat, parks come to us for blankets and bed ·Danie_l Ellsberg said Cesar Chavez, the Farm Workers' Union. Jack and Mary Thornton, Jane O'Don­ rolls. Now we need blankets for the thought of him, had given him courage Harvesting and Housecleaning nell and John McKeon from the earlier many people who will be staying the years; Bob Steed, Charles Butterworth, winter with us. Our. warm thanks! . ' during his two-year ordeal in the courts. Many of our own young people go out (Continued on page 6) picking in orchards and vineyards near (Continued on page 7) Page Three .September, 1973 THE CATHOLIC WORKER

Culf Boycott By PAT BOACB The Gulf Boycott Coalition was formed on the 4th of July, 1971. Since that time it has grown into an international coali­ tion. It was formed as a result of the concern on the part of both religious and secular groups that Gulf Oil Corporation must be held accountable for its mone­ tary support of Portugal. Portugal is the last remaining colonial empire in the world. Faced with contin­ uous United Nations condemnation, she is waging a war on three fronts to main­ tain her colonies. Portugal is one of the poorest countries in the world. In 1972 Gulf Oil Corporation paid $45 million to the Portuguese for the oil it is extracting Vletlm's Vletory in Angola. Angola is a small colony on Drinnon guides us through the "great the west coast of Africa. Since 1961 An­ gap between Jefferson's words and his eola has been fighting for her indepen­ deed8," and we in turn reach the di8mal dence from Portugal. Angola's right to The Cullens: An Irish Blessing conclusion that the national character freedom is supported by the United Na­ has not really changed-the political tions as well as the United States. This Mike Cullen, Netty and their four children will sail for Ireland on September rhetoric is simply of a lower quality. war is a costly war in terms of Angolan 26. Fellow Catholic Workers, they are being deported by the government for their Jefferson could say grandly: "Humanity lives. Thousands of Angolans have died continued witness to peace and justice. enjoins us to teach them agriculture and in their fight for freedom and over 500,- By working to create a new society within the shell of the old, and by their the domestic arts" in his second Inaugu­ 000 have been forced to become refugees. long labor with the people of Casa Maria House of Hospitality in Milwaukee, ral Address, but in private papers, cor­ The war is expensive in terms of dol­ the Cullens have shown that in Christ there is neither the separation of national responding to his "removal policy," he lars also. Gulf's financial assistance en­ boundaries nor the false chasms erected by exalted states. wished to obtain from the "native pro­ ables the Portuguese to fight a costly war Their opposition to the Vietnam War led to a year's imprisonment for Mike and prietors the whole left bank of the Mis­ which includes spraying herbicides and an imposed separation from hiS family. But now more has been asked of the sissippi." As Drinnon states, Jefferson defoliants. The results are crops de­ Cullens, as S\lrely more should be asked of us all. After twelve years of service acquired "some one hundred million stroyed, cattle, wild life and fish poi­ on these shores, the Cullens must follow Mike into exile. acres in treaties shot through with fraud, soned, human suffering, starvation and We take heart in this. "Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. bribery, and intimidation. And when In­ death. We refuse to support a U.S. cor­ Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile dians interfered with national interest, poration which aids and abets such you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in as did the 'backward' tribes of the North­ action. that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so west in 1812, Jefferson's humanitarian­ We feel that Gulf has a moral respon­ their fathers did to the prophets." Luke 6:21-23. ism hardened: 'These will relapse into sibility to the people of Angola from It is with gratitude and joy that we thank Mike and Netty for their example. barbarism and misery, lose numbers by whom it reaps profits through its oil Their witness of accepting the consequences of their acts is inspiring. Their spirit war and want,' he grimly predicted to operations in Cabinda. Gulf refuses to of freedom gives strength to our hearts. We pray on them a blessing. And to John Adams, 'and we shall be obliged to accept this responsibility. Therefore, we their children we dedicate this passage from Tolstoy's "The Wisdom of Children": drive them, with the beasts of the forests believe that the people of the world must Karlchen (9 years old). Our Prussia won't let the Russians take land from us! into the Stony mountains.' " (page 157) show Gulf that they do not wish to sup­ Petya (10 years old). But we say that the land is _ours as we conquered it first. Again, concerning racism and Jeffer­ port a corporation which contributes to Masha (8 years old). Who are 'we'? son, Drinnon writes: the suppression of a people who desire Petya. You're only a baby and don't understand. 'We' means the people of "From the point of view of cltbens of their freedom. our country. You can help in this protest in several the United States, it had long been recog­ Karlchen: It's like that everywhere. Some men belong to one country some nized that blacks could expect no room ways: to another. · 1. Refuse to buy any Gulf Oil product. at the inn or anywhere else in what Masha: Whom do I belong to? would be a 'White Man's Country.' 2. Return your Gulf credit card with a Petya. To Russia, like all of us. letter of protest. Shortly after the turn of the century, Masha. But if I don't want to? . President Jefferson had written James 3. Help to educate groups you come Petya. Whether you want to or not you are still Russian. And every country in contact with. Monroe then Governor .of Virginia, his has its own tsai: or king. rhapsodical reflections on a destiny that 4. Check out your local government, Karlchen (interjecting). Or Parliament .•. university, etc. to see if the h'ave a con­ was manifestly white: Americans would Petya. Each has its own army and each collects taxes from Its own people. multiply and 'cover the whole northern tract with Gulf. ·Masha. But why are they so separated? 5. Start a boycott group in your area. if not southern continent, with a people Karlchen. Well, because every man loves his own fatherland. speaking the same language, governed in 6. If you have a mailing, include a Masha. I don't understand why they are separate. Wouldn't it be better to copy of one of our flyers. similar forms, and by similar laws; nor be all together? can we contemplate with satisfaction 7. Ask to be put on our mailing list. Petya. To play games it is better· to be together, but this is nofplay, it is an (Contributions welcome.) either blot or mixture on that surface.' " important matter. (page 169-170) For further information, suggested Masha. I don't understand. available reading materials, or specific Karlchen. You'll understand when you grow up. But revisionist history is not concerned questions, please let us know. primarily, as its detractors argue, with Masha. Then I don't want to grow up. debunking national figures. Drinnon did We hope to hear from you soon. Petya. You're little, but you're obstinate already, like all of them. Peace and Justice, not write a biography of Jefferson; he May the road rise up to meet you, dear friends, may the wind be ever at your wrote a biography of a dot. Of a leader Gulf Boycott Coalition back and may you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you're dead! Box 123, D.V. Station ' The Editors who was. not permittec;l to lead; of a man Dayton, Ohio 45406 · (Continued on page 7) Page Four THE CATHOLIC WORKER September, 1973 E T • • • me, such• as a concern •for ecology and• dinary, gave• us 'full faculties, even provide buildings and clothes and all Dialogue conservation, a return to living from the though we are Orthodox, to celebrate the other things . . . . let's all give it all in 81 Charles St. land or by the work- of one's hands, Sacraments and to l'reach. We took · ad­ union, in love, in thanksgiving, in hope, Annapolis, Md. 21401 seemed to belong to people who scorned vantage of those faculties, and at the in faith. any idea of chastity, or faithfulness in · Bishop's invitation, celebrated the parish "You have the power to save so many Dear Catholic Workers, marriage, and who regarded abortion as Liturgy (Our Eastern Orthodox Rite) from death, but you do not care to do so­ Your M~y issue was the first I re­ a right and contraception as-not a pos­ at Our Lady ·of Light, the Mexican­ and the price of the ring on your hand ceived on my subscription and I would sibly justifiable recourse for poor fam­ American parish, most of whose mem­ could save the lives of a multitude!" · ~ to tell you how happy it made me. ilies in distress (which any compassion­ bers are suffering strikers. We are also St. Ambrose. of my grandfathers belonged to the ate -person might be moved to feel even enclosing the latest resolutions of the In love, fellow pilgrims, J. WW; the other, a Catholic, was one of though ultimately this might not be the Middle Atlantic Catholic and Orthodox Fr. Raymond MeVey the founders of the Labour Party in most compassionate position)-but as· the Conference, regarding the Farah Strike: England-he left before it ever elected normal, to-be-taken-for-granted situa­ "Be it resolved that we abhor the a member of Parliament. These two men tion, and furthermore, who often re­ present situation in Texas and the embedded in me a somewhat vague but garded stealing from the government or Southwest which greatly violates human Hospitals nevertheless powerful socialism - or from companies as not really stealing dignity through the wilful and systema­ P.O. Box 42 maybe I can only call it anti-capitalism. because, after all, the government and tic exploitation of the rights of workers . Sangamon Ave. Rd. When we read Marx in seminar (at St. big companies "rip people off" all the at the Farah Manufacturing Co., an or­ Springfield, fil 62705 John's College, Annapolis) I not only felt time. (They do, I think, but that doesn't ganization which continues to use illegal Dear Dorothy Day: an extraordinary wave of sympathy and make stealing not stealing.) labor practices by its interference in In the Catholic Worker of March and approval, but I also was surprised at how So, the Catholic Worker makes me workers' rights to form and/or join a April, 1973, I read a letter from Mr. and much of the concrete contents of Kapital happy becau.se it seems genuinely Chris- union and to engage in contract negotia­ Mrs. John Hamilton of Springfield, Illin­ had been conveyed to me by my grand­ tions, through harassment, surveillance ois. The letter left me feeling a little sad father during the long walks I used to and discharge of employees for union~ because it revealed so much misinforma­ take with him and his dog. "The worker related activity or sympathy; said rights tion. makes ten coats without earning enough of workers being both divinely given and The writer stated that our Sisters no money to buy one coat for himself," he legally affirmed, thus making Farah's longer operate St. John's Hospital in told me once. violations all the more deplorable, thus Springfield, Illinois, and that the Sisters One (though by no means the only) "Be it further resolved that we ad­ have been dispossessed. The contrary .is of my mother's reasons for leaving the monish the Faithful of our respective true. Our Order, The Hospital Sisters of Church when she was in college was its Jurisdictions, as well as ethically-minded the Third Order of St. Francis, maintains position during the Spanish Civil War. persons, to forego purchase of Farah I was brought up believing that religion ownership and governing board control products until such time as the above­ of St. John's Hospital as well as the other was the opiate of the people, and that the mentioned conditions are corrected, and Catholic Church was a rich, greedy, op­ ten hospitals that our Order oWI1s and "Be it finally resolved that notice of operates. pressive, rightist institution. This- didn't our concern and intent be forwarded to bother me too much as long as I thought We feel strongly that the Church must heads of all sales outlets for Farah prod­ witness visibly through its institutions to Christianity was superstitious nonsense ucts and to the Management of the whch nobody intelligent could believe the healing mission of Christ, and our in­ Farah Manufacturing Co., El Paso, tent is to maintain our position against without deliberate self-deception. But Texas." abortion and all violence in life--and to after I became a Christian, and after I With our best wishes, prayers and became convinced that Christ had blessings, strive to deliver health services in keep­ founded a church with a visible as well Faithfully, ing with our respect for life and the ethi­ as an invisible unity and with authority cal directives of the Catholic Church. to teach in His name, and that if that Trevor Wyatt Moore, D.D. _It is true that with increasing govern- Orthodox. Catholic Archdiocese mental control, this becomes more diffi­ church existed anywhere, the Roman of Philadelphia Catholic Church must be it, the idea I cult to. do. However, the Catholic Hospi­ had that the Church was everywhere tal Association has, · and is, exerting allied with the interests of the rich and strong leadership to all Catholic Hospi­ powerful, began to disturb me very Ade Bethune Great Famine tals so that a united effort can be made much. I wasn't sure how true that image Unity Acres on legislators and all segments of society was, but it was easy enough to observe tian and Catholic, and genuinely con­ tha~ effect health care delivery. Orwell, N.Y. 13426 that many Catholics equated "pinko's" cerned both for the immediate needs of The Catholic Church through its Cath­ and "atheists," and made a "my-country­ the poor and with building a truly just. Dear Friends, As I write this letter every bed at olic Hospitals maintains approximately right-or wrong" kind of patriotism part society. I don't honestly know if I agree one-third of the hospital beds in this of their religion. I knew enough to be with every CatholU: Worker position-I . Unity Acres is taken-it is the hottest month of the year and we are full. It is country, and we've experienced a strong able to disassociate in theory the Uni­ haven't been able to come to any con­ commitment through the leadership of versal Church "extending through all clusion about whether there is such a hard for the men to survive in our cities these days. Violence is around every the Catholic Hospital Association to not space and time and rooted in eternity" thing as a just war, or a just reason for only sustain but to strengthen the health from the opinions of particular Catholics · an individual to fight in one, and I don't corner, and survival in our cities is quite impossible it seems. So many men come care apostolate. in the United States in the ·1970's but think my own experience gives me any Sincerely yours, still, it was depressing. It was even ~ore way of coming to a firm conclusion about back bearing the scars of our violent depressing and confusing to notice that this now-but those positions with which way of life. This is an important reason Sr. Lorraine Biebel, O.S.F. those Catholic writers and periodicals · I might not agree do not offend me as do for our crowded conditions. which were always talking about social the secularisms of the "social justice" In talking on the phone the other day, justice often seemed to have no regard liberal Christians or the callousness and .someone said, "What are we, you and I Montana Mining for the magisterium of the Church, arid sometimes hatred of the so-called ortho­ going to do about the 6 to 8 millio~ Route 2 even to be drifting from genuine Chris­ dox. (Jacques Maritain called these two Africans who '!"ill die by this fall (Right Detroit Lakes, Minn. tianity-to be victims of what C. S. groups the Sheep of Panurge and the now!) from lack of water and food?" Lewis calls "Christianity and," that is, Ruminators of the Holy Alliance.) There is next to nothing being done on a Dear Dorothy, I greet you from the Big Sky Country one starts out being for X because it is I hope that someday I will be in New national scale because these people are Christian, and winds up regarding Chris­ York and be able to meet some of you. hidden,, black, poor and speechless, and of Montana. My Ammon Hennacy style tianity as good because (and only insofar I also hope that someday I will be able to it is not politically rewarding. So our of wandering and subsistence living has as) it supp9rts X. On the. other hand, those contribute more actively to your work · brothers and sisters will die alone. brought me out here recently from my We are going to explain their plight permanent home in Minnesota. The issue writers and periodicals which claimed to than by sending you boxes of old clothes. speak for orthodoxy, and sometimes ex­ (My entire 18' x 35' backyard is a flour­ to the men and encourage a response, no of strip-mining coal is gaining much heat pressed my own opinions, would the next ishing, organic vegetable garden and I matter how small. We ask you to find in Montana. The thieves and crooks that week be worrying about "Reds" in the give away lots of vegetables, if that out as much as you can about our starv­ have done such a thorough rip-off on ing fellow pilgrims and respond by hud­ Appalachia are now moving out here schools, or complaining that U. S. crops counts.) Meanwhile, thank you for your ·are being sold to communist countries. · encouraging (and prodding and remind­ dling close to them in death. A sheep their greed and ambitious arroganc~ does this by his nature, a precious human completely unchanged. It is much like It further disturbed me that many cur­ ing and reawakening) paper, and please person do~s this by grace. an invasion by the enemy. rent movements which seemed good to tell me . what kind of old clothes you would like. All donations that come to Unity Acres They are attempting to buy hundreds Yours in Christ, and Unity Kitchen during August will be of thousands of acres of ranch and cattle Susan F. Peterson sent directly to our African brothers land. Their tactics in many cases for ob­ CHRISTMAS CARDS and sisters, and we will let the bills slide taining titles can best be described as Designed and Printed by no matter how impossible this seems. strongarm bullying. The ranch family We will pay what we can from what we I'm staying with has been threatened have on hand and ask our creditors to and hassled and bullied. But they have RITA CORBIN Farah Strike share by at least waiting a bit. stood fast; no deal yet with any coal $2.50 a dozen 430 W. Bringhurst St. How precious a gift is life dominated company. These people homesteaded this (Postage Included) Philadelphia, Pa. 19144 by. love-it speaks of pilgrimage, of land in 1916. It is not for sale at any Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, umon, of suffering, of death. Let's give price for any purpose. We are much concerned with the Farah of our want, not of our surplus, espe­ Yet the coal companies have succeeded I 1974 PEACE CALENDAR h strike - Mexican-American exploited cially during this month of August. -Per­ in dividing up this community, have set $2.00each •• workers in El Paso, Texas. haps you planned a donation for our neighbor against neighbor, and have (Postage Included) We have just returned from several proposed new building. Do hot hesitate succeeded in making many ranchers· sell Write: RfTA CORBIN days in Texas as the guest of the ·strikers, to give it in union, in love towards the out. They have · bought enough land al­ Box 33, Tivoli, N.Y. 125-3 and the Roman Catholic Diocese of El immediate survival of our starving ready to sign contracts to sell coal to Paso, where Bishop Metzger, the Or- brothers and sisters. Our Father will midwestern electrical power companies September, 1973 THE CATHOLIC WORKER Page FiH T E R s • • • • • • and have begun construction of a 75 house without a loan from ·a bank and any like-minded people .interested in tions within the content of a rather mo­ cubic yard dragline shovel that will soon the resulting interest. I know this letter these areas. Our neighbor's help and gui­ dern capitalistic system. A consumer or begin tearing up the land. We are fight­ will go to many of my friends who are dance is so necessary when we experi­ producer co-op can do that also, as in ing in the Montana state legislature and totally unable to lend such an amount, ence those times of weakness and lazi­ Britain and Scandinavia. This . signifies have fought in the courts and probably let alone give it away. But I hope they ness and,, vice versa, we can offer help that the worst speculation is prevented will some more. might know of someone else who could as well as receive it. So I would like to and people can somehow manage on The opposition is mdeed formidable. help us out. see this a joint effort in "give and take" nominal income. The people in Appalachia will tell you · I cannot offer much in return. Re-pay­ to establish deeper and more meaningful How do we take some sections of the the strip miners are totally undesireable ments of loans can be worked out on an relationships. Would you by any chance economy, like housing, and the selling have any leads on anyone in this area people. Yet Montana (as I guess is true individual basis. Aside from that all I of goods and services, out of speculat­ who might be interested in beginning a of any state or county) has its quota of can promise is · that you will be kept ing upon the people? I have a friend who communal farm? greedy people who will eat up the up-to-date on the developments of ·the helped set up an egg co-op in the Chi­ rhetoric and promises of economic house and its activities and will have a At fifty-eight, I'm beginning to cago area. Customers got eggs retail for wealth and prestige that the strip miners part in the spiritual life of our family as glimpse those sunset years; still I'm in what others were paying f.or the whole­ bring along. Thus the strip miners are it grows. fair health and am looking forward to at sale price. Then there is the Direct Let me just say in closing that I hope welcomed into Montana, as if they had least a few years of productivity-and Charge co-op or the Ottawa plan in somehow had a miraculous change of this request does not seem forward or what better way to spend .them than in Canada that has an entirely new sys­ heart on their way out here. presumptuous. It really was hard for, me the attempt to make or build a more It all boils down to another sad com­ to send out this letter-but it was the meaningful existence in the simplified tem of co-op selling. It charges whole­ mentary on human nature; greed and only way I could think of to raise such life style of the farming commune? sale prices to its members, and mem­ arrogance and power shall prevail; the an amount of money. I hope it will be bers pay a weekly dues lo cover the Sincerely, operating cost. rest of us get crushed. For all the crying read in the spirit in which it was writ­ Henry Kuoppala and the struggling in our nation to stop ten and that it was written well enough Sincerely, tearing up and abusing our land and our so that you could understand what my William Horvath resources . . . for all the weary struggle hopes for the house are.. of it . . . are we destined in the end ·to Take care. I wish you much peace and On Housing be crushed? joy-and a beautiful Fall! ·P.O. Box 322 Iowa I guess, however, we define life, or With love, Rochester, Mich. 48063 find it defined for us. May you touch on Angie O'Gorman · 728 W. Washington Dear Miss Day: Macomb, Ill. 61455 what you seek, Miss Day. And thanks for We have 400 townhouses up, and about Dear Dorothy, your prayers. They had better be doing 200 families living in this cooperative better before the Lord than my prayers I just wanted to keep you posted on Prison Chaplains community. I have learned ·much about the progress of the Hospitality House in are apparently doing. this aspect of construction. In the eve­ I wish you Shalom. Davenport, Iowa. Our staff has expanded 218 East 12th Street ning, I took some courses at Oakland Donald Tobkin Los Angeles, Calif. 90015 to five people now- Fr. ¥arvin Mottel University on various ways to develop Dear Dorothy, from the Social Action Dept., Nancy land. Fr. Alan McCoy wants to reform our Hillmer who lived at Omega House in approach to the jail chaplaincy here in My company tries to build houses that Rock Island, Pat Logan who had lived Kansas City Los Angeles. He asked me to write you are better in quality and cost less by at Omega prior to his C.O. work, Sue 912 East 31st Street, for your recommendations in this matter. doing away with some of the speculation Wallinger a student, and myself-all will Kansas City, Mo. 64109 We have had three older friars who in this kind of development. It ain't easy. be working except myself. I will be the Dear Friends, have done good work-but in the more Lumber prices almost added 50 '/(J more chief cook, etc. We will be serving pri­ In December, the house next door to superficial way. I understand that the marily alcoholics and old persons, pro­ us will be up for sale for $10,000. It is Trinitarian fathers have explored some SUN viding food, clothing, housing. my hope to buy the house and open a new ways of ministering to the impri­ This week we're finalizing plans with Catholic Worker House of Hospitality. soned. Do you have any contacts along ~LOWER the diocese about· a duplex house-its The house will be called Holy Family this line? location is perfect for us. House. There will not be a pre-deter­ I would appreciate hearing from you. Hopefully, with any hick at all, we'll mined pro~am1 althouBh there are some We have a four-man committee that will be in full swing by September 15th. plans which will definitely be included. try to put together a new program for Well, that's where we stand. Keep us in Not knowing everything about the com­ the county jail system, beginning in your prayers and thoughts. I'll keep in munity, I am not sure in what ways the September. touch, and as soon as we finalize the house can serve best---0r what the peo­ · Sincerely yours in Christ, lease, etc., I'll send a letter with the ad­ ple will want from such a house. There Mark Day, O.F.M. dress so you can send friends our way. will be a small newsletter printed Yours in the struggle, monthly to explain the house to the Margaret Quigley community, to speak of its goals and the values under which it operates and also New Mexico to offer the people the ideals and ideas P.O. Box 4723 of the Catholic Worker Movement. There Las Cruces, N.M. 88003 Erie, Pa. will be weekly round-table discussions, Dear People, 17 W. 26th St. to help people develop what.Peter Mau­ Enclosed find a small personal check. Erie, Pa. 16508 rin called "clarification of thought." It is really little enough in terms of the Dear Dorothy, There will be some days of the week insight and inspiration I have gained I was down at the House of Prayer when we will have a play. group for chil­ from The Catholic Worker--especially the other' night and Sister Peter Claver dren. And, ·since we are lucky enough from the May issue which led me to remarked that you had lost my address . . to have a front yard, we will use it to reading Mounier's Personalism and be­ Herc in Erie it is': Maria House II. I am grow our own vegetables and incorpor­ coming acquainted with Kropotkin. managing the house for Fr. James ate one more part of the Worker's phil­ Also, I very much enjoyed the fine let­ Peterson. osophy: that of giving people a chance ters in that issue. Am looking forward to We are having our first discussion to get back to the land. reading Dorothy Day's books which I Ade Bethune around Peter Maurin's book this evening. The name, Holy Family, was chosen have ordered, especially On Pilgrimage. It will be at an ecumenical center called for a reason: to show the meaning of Having spent all my life in manual to their cost in some parts of the country VANGUARD, which is also just getting family and how that can extend out­ labor, as a youth on a South Dakota farm within the last eight months. I think the started. I am supposed to be writing my wards to the community. Because of this, or ranch, and the largest share of it as labor cost in construction (labor on site) life story. I'm calling it Don Quixote we hope to bring every age group into an underground miner in different parts is exaggerated. It may average only 30'/(J Rides Again at this point. Brother Louie the house and into contact with each of the western U.S., I am not exactly a of the cost at most. The higher land cost, at Madonna House put it on me when I other. stranger to work, and it is your work the interest in building loans, then on was up there this winter. He says it I should also mention that there is a theory which rings a bell with me. Not would tie in the under-thirty, disoriented possibility that a project which both Bob the mortgage, is the really additional, the "sold my soul to the company store" and high cost for building houses. A radicals with the living Christian Tradi­ Calvert and I are working on, the Non­ variety, but the back to the earth kind tion they know nothing about. Violent Studies Institute, may also work community co-op or a Municipal ar­ of Peter Maurin's which was so aptly rangement could have purchased this Sincerely in Jesus and Mary, out of this house. The Institute is an edu­ described in your May issue, and in cational program to develop and spread land years ago, and today the savings Jon Thornton which a person can begin to realize his would be available, and enormous. the theories and practice of non-violence. individual potential. After reading Thor­ I am overwhelmed by the work and eau's observation "most of the ways in On top of all this trouble with income THE COUNTY JAIL: A HANDBOOK responsibility involved in beginning and which man earns a living are degrad­ and costs, the propaganda of commerce FOR CITIZEN ACTION maintaining a house such as this. This ing," I had no choice but to agree with is extremely individualistic, and it wa­ Prepared by the Friends Suburban letter is the final stage in the initiation him and come to the conclusion that till­ ters down the ideas, the ideals of · co­ Project. this manual is designed to of the work, and, as far as I am con­ ing the soil is the activity for the soul. operation and mutuality, of working as plan and carry out change in county cerned, the hardest. As I said, the house Not till I began receiving The Catholic a group to somehow .solve these prob­ jails. It includes means of gathering will be available in December and will Worker, though, did I have any or much lems. But I say nothing new. information about a county jail, de­ cost $10,000. The main reason for the low of an inkling of which way to turn. Now In Japan the larger factories, espe­ veloping a strategy for change, and price is that it is very hard to sell in this though, I am thinking very seriously of cially the ship yards, are said to have rallying community support to effect area. This is the reason I am writing to a small farming commune in the Cruces very well-managed and modern stores this change. . The Handbook is avail­ you-and to many other people--in fact area. The growing season is long, the to sell food and goods at almost cost 100 people. I am asking each of you to able from the Friends Suburban Proj­ land a fertile land, You name it-what­ price, and good housing in the same ect, Box $1, Media, Pa. 19063 for $1.H loan or grant me $100. If 100 people can ever it is, it can be grown here. My only way. This permits the wage to purchase · a copy. · do this, I will be able to pay for the problem is that I have not encountered sufficiently. It stabilizes industrial rela- Page Su THE CATHOLIC WORKER September, 1973 UFW's Heroic Struggle ·ON PILGRJMAGE (Continued from page 1) union. The pickers walked out of the company's fields around Livingston on test: As the grape harvest spread north, June 26. Franzia Winery also tried to (Continued from page 2) the park in front of the courthouse, cele­ other growers signed with the Teamsters bring in the Teamsters and was struck August 9. I'm all mixed up in my dates. brated Mass. Jan, Chris and Joan were waiting to and the strike became general. on July 14. Dr. Evan Thomas came today, 91 and When the Teamster "goons" had been tall, lean, strong looking. God bless him . greet me from the St. Martin de Porres .put under restraining order in Coachella, In mid-July in the Firebaugh-Mendota And Father Don Hessler whom we've House which is in -San Francisco. Cesar they moved nortb to Arvi.Il-Lamont. On area of western Fresno County, melon known since he was a seminarian at Chavez welcomed us all and Helen Cha­ June -23 as an exploding firecracker gave pickers who had never yet been under Maryknoll. He suffered years of impris­ vez and three of her daughters, young the signal, 40 charged from a field owned unioil contract struck for recognition of onment under the Japanese in WW II. and beautiful all of them, were there. A by J. J. Kovacevitch to attack UFW pick- the UFW as their bargaining agent. Be­ After years in Yucatan and Mexico, he meeting of strikers is scheduled for Fri­ ets. Nine were injured as ranch foremen ginning with a walkout of 100 workers now is working in San Antonio with day, so I have time to visit the San Fran­ and Kern County sheriffs stood by. Mon- at Perez Company, by the end of the Bishop Flores. He brought with him 4 cisco House for two days. (As I am copy­ signor George Higgins of the U.S. Bish- month cantalope production was at a sisters who belong to Las Hermanas, the ing these notes from my diary here in ops Committee on Farm Labor speculated • near standstill for lack of labor. Although national organization of Spanish-speak­ the Los Angeles' Ammon Hennacy House that this calculated Teamster violence as much as 75% of their crop had to be ing sisters. Gerry Sherry of the San some one comes in bringing a newspaper, was an effort by California trucking un- plowed under, growers· preferred to suf­ Francisco Monitor came for an inter­ the Times, carrying gigantic headlines, ion leaders to sabotage talks beginning fer the loss rather than agree with the view. The Catholic Worker has known Teamsters Give Up.) between Teamster International Presi- UFW, hoping that the union's other ene­ him many years, in Atlanta, Fresno and Strike Continues dent Frank Fitzsimmons and AFL-CIO mies would have destroyed it by the next · San Francisco. It is August 21 as I write and my entry leader George Meany seeking to end the harvest. August 11. Good talks with Sister Fe­ in my diary of August 12 is this same strife. Shortly afterward the "goons" news the L.A. Times presents on August Eastern Fresno County licia and with Sister Timothy of Barracks were withdrawn. B who are good spokeswomen for our 21, the feast of Pope Pius X. The fact Throughout the summer, the UFW Eastern Fresno County is the area of groups. Two blacks representing News­ remains that there is still no contract charged Kern County sheriffs with "act­ the San Joaquin Valley which has had week called. They were interested in "the signed by grape growers and Cesar Cha­ ing like a private army for the growers." irrigation the longest and hence has a religious slant" of the strike. Greg How­ vez' union. There have been instead two Pickets were often arrested arbitrarily. greater number of smaller orchards and ard, photographer, was from Princeton, deaths since, that of Naji Daifullah, an Several were charged with violating re­ vineyards than other areas characterized Thurman White from Stanford. Arab striker from Yemen, Arabia, and of straining 6rders which had been rescind­ by more modern corporate farming. But August lZ. Union lawyers visiting us Juan de la Cruz of Delano. We attended ed by the courts which issued them. And for farm workers who pick the fruit, the say we'll be free tomorrow. A peaceful the funeral service of Naji at Forty sheriff's deputies displayed patronizing conditions are no better and sometimes Sunday. Mass in the evening. Today the Acres. A mile-long parade of marchers attitudes: one approached Lamont Field even worse. Many of the small growers Mexican girls-were singing and clapping walked the 4 miles in a broiling sun from Office Director Pablo Espinoza saying, in this area sought to avoid having a and teaching the sisters some Mexican Delano with black flags, black arm bands "Hey, Pablo, you are looking a little contract with any union, hoping the dancing. They reminded me of St. Teresa and ribbons, and stood through the . long sleepy. Too much cerveza (beer), eh?" Teamsters and the UFW would be so em-. of Avila with her castanets at recrea­ service in the broiling sun where psalms broiled elsewhere as to forget them. The sheriff's department's hostility con­ UFW tion. from the office of the dead were heard tributed to making· Arvin-Lamont one of members struck recalcitrant growers All our praying seemed to bring about clearly over loud speakers and the words the most tense strike areas. here by July. Local judges responded some results. Mr. Fitzsimmons, president from the book of Wisdom: "In the sight with restrictive injunctions even more of the unwise they seemed to die but Strawberries. and Lettuce of Teamsters, cancelled or disavowed the severe than in Coachella and Arvin-La­ contracts signed by another Teamster they are at peace." There were Moslem The Coachella Teamster signings en­ mont, limiting pickets to one every 50 chants, a liturgy with which I am un­ couraged other growers to try to break leader in Delano. He demoted or took feet and forbidding amplified sound some action on the leader who signe4 familiar-but it was Arab music. (500 the UFW by bringing in the trucking equipment. While peacefully trying to them. We really know little. We do know Arabs recently came here from Yemen, union. In Santa Maria, a coastal growing picket effectively, hundreds of strikers Arabia-this land of opportunity-and area north of Santa Barbara, strawberry the power of prayer, however. were arrested. After many local workers August 13. We packed our bags last one has met with death at the hands of workers at Security Farms went on strike had been arrested 3 and 4 times, the a deputy wielding a heavy fiashlight on May 28 when Teamsters appeared in night and a first bus load, me too, left union enlisted the help of religious our farm labor camp this morning, which fractured his skull.) the fields trying to get them to sign au­ groups to bring pressure on local author­ The Mass for Juan de la Cruz wu of­ thorization cards with threats and abuse. reached the jail and were turned back! ities to establish the right to _picket. In Then we spent hours in the "rec" hall fered by Bishop Arzube of Los Angeles, In Salinas, south of San Francisco on the first week of August over 60 religious where a team of "public defenders" Spanish-speaking, from Equador. Two the coast, lettuce growers have had con­ and other outsiders, .along with 350 farm whom we were supposed to have seen men have shed their blood, there are no tracts with ~e Teamsters for two years, workers, were jailed for breaking the in­ Sunday, sat around (perhaps I saw one contracts signed as yet, there has been although 7000 workers showed their al­ junctions. When the courts threatened to working) while Sister Felicia interview­ a three-day fast requested by Cesar Cha­ discriminate against some farm workers legiance to the UFW by going on strike ed all the women in our barracki for the vez, and a renewed zeal in boycotting let­ in 1970. On June 5, a crew of workers in granting release on their own recogni­ rest of the day and filled out forms tuce and grapes. There is no money left under such a Teamster contract at Bruce zance, all stayed in jail for two weeks which the judge required. in the treasury of the union, especially rather than take bail. A campaign of Church Farms decided to test wb,at pro­ In the evening we finally all were after death benefits have been paid to telegrams and letters to the Fresno judg- tection it offered them. Ordered to pick again loaded in vans and brought to the families of the dead strikers. One of in a field which had been harvested once ( Continued on page 8) Fresno where we, with a great crowd in the Mexican girls in jail told me proudly and would yield them only $1.00 an hour that their $3.50 dues (comparing them on the piece rate system, they asked with the Teamster dues of $7.50) paid trucking union officials to take up their benefits for lives born and lives lost. And grievance. When the Teamsters tried to Statement of Clergy Jailed in Fresno there were all the clinics operating at send them back to work without any Calexico, Delano, Sanger and other concession from the grower, they walked August 9, 1913 places. The Farm Workers' Union is a out, demanding a UFW contract. Jud&'e Blaine Pettitt, Superior Court of Fresno County, Department 1, has arbi­ community to be proud of, and would In early June, Mel Finnerman Com­ trarily denied our Farmworker Brothers and Sisters their constitutional ri&'ht peace­ that all our unions might become a "com­ pany Inc., one of the few lettuce com­ fully to assemble and to exercise the ri&'ht of free speech. Jud&'e Pettitt has strin&'ent­ munity of communities" such as Martin panies with a UFW contract, stalled re­ ly restricted the number of pickets and the use of bull horns. Dorin&' the past weeks, Buber wrote of in his Paths in Utopia. newal negotiations with such impossible the Farmworkers have challen&'ed this unjust curtailment of their constitutional (Sister Katherine, who was a fellow demands as the right to replace -farm rights, and for this, they have been arrested, jailed and treated a.s common criminals. prisoner in Barracks B, is working five workers with machinery at any time. On Tuesday, July 31, we priests, sisters, brothers, seminarians and other con­ days a week - and what long hours! - When it became clear that Finnerman cerned people joined our brothers and sisters In their coura&'eous challen&'e of the here at the Ammon Hennacy House, and was trying to use the UFW's trouble in clearly unjust court order. We joined them In the picket line and with them were the soup kitchen and clothing room in the grapes to get away without any un­ arrested and jailed, and with them we have spent thus far 10 days in jail. Skid Row, and she is so like the sisters io:Q, workers struck on June 15. By mid­ The conditions of the various places of incarceration have differed. For 250 of us who have come to help us in her peace summer the strike was successfully slow­ detention has been in the near-medieval conditions of the Fresno County Jail. In this and joy and diligence that I feel marvel­ ing the company's lettuce harvest in Cen­ short statement, we can not mention every detail, but we consider it sufficient to say ously at home. She has typed out this ter, Colorado. now that, since our booking into jail, we have been confined in P'OUJIS of 22 to 31, in column for me.) tanks of no more than ZO by 30 feet, for M-hours a day, except for ZO minutes for Prayer Wine Grapes and Melons brealda.st and 20 minutes for dinner. We have never been allowed to see the li&'ht of I must mention a prayer I wrote in the When the UFW's contract with Gallo day or to &'et any exercise. All prisoners, some of whom are here for months, experi­ front of my New Testament, and hope Wines came up for renegoti.ation, the ence this curtailment of physical freedom as brutal punishment. The question we ask our readers, while they read, say this company first admitted that the union is, ''For what alleged crime, if any, are we subjected to this extreme punishment?" for the strikers: represented its workers; then vacillated, We are being treated as criminals and we have not been convicted. And, even if we Dear Pope John-please, yourself a and finally called in Teamsters who were convicted of the alle&'ed misdemeanor, we certainly would not have been sub­ campesino, watch over the United Farm threatened workers with the loss of their jected to a punishment so intense or prolonged. We are also convinced that we will Workers. Raise up more and more leader­ jobs if they would not join the trucking not be convicted because the order under which we were arrested could never sur- servants throughout the country to stand -vive a constitutional challenge. with Cesar Chavez in this non-violent It is objected that we could be released on bail. Many of us can not afford bail. struggle with Mammon, in all the rural WEEKENDS IN PERSONBOOD ·It is our contention that all of us, farmworkers and religious persons alike, are en­ districts of North, and South, in the cot­ AND COMMUNITY titled to release from jail on our own recognizance (OR). But the arbitrary criteria ton fields, beet fields, potato fields, in September 29 and October ZO for OR established by local courts have denied all but a few of us this rig-ht. OR is our orchards and vineyards, our orange These weekend workshops are an for the poor what bail is for the rich. All of us intend to stand together until this rig-ht groves-wherever men, women and chil­ opportunity to explore psychodrama­ is acknowledged for all. dren work on the land. Help make a new tically the personal and interpersonal The justice of our cause, we believe, is attested by the joyful and hopeful spirit order wherein justice flourishes, and, as dynamics of community living. For that has persisted among us. We are daily sustained by our prayer and fastin&'. The Peter Maurin, himself a peasant, said so information and registration, write to: Mass, celebrated in circumstances reminiscent of the early Christian era, is a constant simply, "where it is easier to be good." Claire Danielsson source of strength for all of us. Please help, Pope John, these rural Theatre of Reconciliation In conclusion, it is quite obvious that our imprisonment is not required or justi• workers to repossess the land in co-ops, Catholic Worker Farm fied by the judicial process, but is another clear case of the judiciary and police­ land trusts, with credit unions, clinics - Box 33, Tivoli, N.Y. 1258! power being used by the local political establishment to suppress protest and, there­ a proliferation of "the little way" of St. by, to try to break the strike of the United Farm Workers. Therese. Help us, Pope John. Amen. September, 1973 THE CATHOLIC WORKER Page Snen Victim and Measure 3 6 East F·irst (Continued from page 3) much more like ourselves than they are BY ANNE MARIE FRASER of stature who was not permitted to unlike,' he revealed an ongoing process New York summers are hot and humid as we go to press. Last issue we included stand; of a victim whose victory was real of redefinition which only his death cut and especially difficult for the poor. an obituary for Larry Pritchard. With -in the spiritual sphere at least. Per­ short-his last words were said to have There are few air conditioners in tene­ sadness this column also carries the news haps it is in that sphere alone that Amer­ been 'moose' and 'Indian.' Thoreau· was ment flats, so people take to the streets of death. On July 25 Jack Riley and Lau­ ica has met its challenges. We needn't redefining civilization and savagery, for relief. The front steps of the build­ rie Torgan were in a fatal car accident. posit the advanced, liberated consciences terms badly in need of redefinition then ings on First Street have been filled with Jack and Laurie shared their energies of our day and say some at least have and so desperately needed today ... To men and women drinking cold drinks with the Catholic Worker and the Cath­ come to grips with the American night­ say that wild men were fundamentally and listening to music while their chil­ olic Peace Fellowship in the constant mare. At its very origins this country like ourselves was to announce a radical dren play under gushing fire hydrants, struggle for peace in our ravaged world. produced men of vision (Hunter was one, break from the consensus of Cass and their play interrupted by each passing Ironically, the last time I saw Laurie she George Catlin another) who had solved most white Americans. Like other former car. Popular Spanish songs blare from was walking Larry Pritchard to the hos­ the problems of uniting the variegated colonials, the people of the United States the two storefront clubs until early pital to keep a much-needed appoint­ tensions-white, black, and red-that had established a society in which non­ morning hours. The sidewalk in front of ment. May Larry, Jack and Laurie rest in wrap like bandages around our body Europeans were nonpeople. Everywhere Saint Joseph House is lined with chairs God's peace. politic. But these men were not permitted the native was subjugated or slaughter­ from noon till night as we sit out the With all the activity and heat, the to live and work in peace. ed, or he was culturally castrated and many hot spells. summer can be an especially trying time The Reality Underneath herded onto 'reservations. The pattern in Nor is revisionist history concerned the United States had its own configura­ But summer is an especially hectic with "if this had happened" or "if he had tions, however, based mainly on the dis­ time inside Saint Joseph House. Summer lived." It is not visionary. It is concerned tance between its doctrines of univer­ leisure and all the recent publicity given wi~h alternative courses of action in the sal Christian brotherhood and of Enli&"ht­ to the Worker have brought many visi­ present, based on alternative interpreta­ enment natural rights, on the one hand, tors to First Street. Some stayed for the tions of events and people in the past. It and its practice of Indian removal or ex­ day, others for days or weeks to learn is a living history. It does not attempt termination, on the other.'' (pa&"e 250) about the CW and to lend a hand in the to substitute one set of myths for an­ Again: work. Sisters Dorothy, Betty, Therese, other: it does attempt to see through "Thoreau may easily have seen in and Della, Regina Kirwan, Sue Grain­ various myths to the reality underneath. Hunter, with his hauntingly allegorical ger}, Gai Smith, Suzanne Desutter, Rich, If entire verses and chapters of Amer­ name, a symbol of the meaning of Amer­ Tom Anderson, Ray Surean, Joe Good­ ican history read more like a Mickey ica. Out of the encounter of the Old ing, Jerry and Steve, Brothers William, Spillane novel (as Drinnon will argue) World with the New, white with red, was Bart and Robert (and I'm sure I've for­ than the liturgical text Bloy posited born a new man who sought a new gotten others) have all spent many hours revisionist history teaches us that: heaven and a new earth where e:der­ serving soup, washing dishes, cooking, throughout this period, there were those mmation was not one of the standing cleaning the clothing room, folding pa­ who lived and died-and not simply orders of providence. A new man no pers, helping out the Farmworkers, etc. rhetorically or patently historically-for longer at war with the nature in himself Their energy and enthusiasm were a noble causes. Victims, if you will. The or engaged in a frenzy of conquest of the great advantage to the house; we hope dots and iotas. They have in common nature without.'' (page 252) St. Joseph House was a good place for anonymity. Some, infamy. Such as John As Drinnon states, it was sad beyond our visitors to learn about personalism Brown. But the dots are connected. words that Thoreau did not live to write and human suffering. We thank them Another such man, whose name is fa­ his masterpiece on the Indians. But it is deeply for sharing some of their time mous but whose wisdom is officially in­ a joy that Drinnon has done what Thor­ with us. famous, is Henry David Thoreau. Tho­ eau's death left undone. The immense A Wedding reau read Hunter's book and Cass's at­ liturgical text has been significantly il­ Mid-summer saw a mammoth clean-up tacks on him; he copied some thirty­ luminated. Illuminated by one for whom, effort for a joyous occasion. Micki Tim­ seven pages in all of Hunter's narrative as Emerson said of Thoreau, "Every fact mins and Mike DeGregory were married in his Indian Notebooks, and, as Drinnon lay in the glory in his mind." at a simple and beautiful Liturgy at Na­ states, he "must have winced while *WHITE SAVAGE: THE CASE OF tivity Church on July 25th. Frank Dono­ copying out Cass's assertion that the nar­ JOHN DUNN HUNTER. By Richard . van was everywhere at once scrubbing, rative was 'a useless publication.' " Drinnon. Schocken, New York, 282 pp., shopping and serving the many guests. "When Thoreau wrote of 'wild men, so $1%.50. For days Arthur Sullivan and Susie Ger­ rard baked bread and cakes for the re­ ception. Randy Netley and Steve Nowl­ Tivoli: a Farm With a View ing returned for the wedding, and Steve (Continued from page 2) prayers for John. John was a young man baked a delicious wedding cake. Ellen Peter Lumsden, and John Sullivan from when he came to the Catholic Worker, Moore, Micki, and Sister Betty spent in­ more recent years. And as always, there which was also young. Now they have tricate hours sewing and embroidering were many newcomers with whom we both attained considerable maturity. He Micki's bridal gown. The results were enjoyed talking and hope they will has worked hard, still works hard, and beautiful. The DeGregory family, friends return. with many others whom I cannot name, from Tivoli, and neighborhood friends has done much to help keep the Catholic joined us for a happy and exciting eve­ This summer has also seen many de­ ning. partures as well as arrivals. Bill Tully, Worker going. We thank them all. Mary Wagener, and their families and Although it is hard to think of blank­ Summer is also a time of change at Mike Kreyche--one of our most depend­ ets after the long hot spell we have just Saint Joseph House. People leave and able workers-took off for Canada to experienced, Marge Hughes tells me that new people come. Some of us take the start a community of their own. Dennis we really need more for fall and winter. opportunity to travel and work outside the house. Dorothy and Pat and Kathleen ~lock left for Canada to take a teaching . Many of the younger people live in Job. Geoffrey Ruddick is leaving shortly buildings without central heating and so joined the striking California Farmwork­ for Oregon, where he, too, has a job. really need blankets to keep warm. ers. Pat Murray worked in a hospital in Ramon of the beautiful voice returned Blanket donations will certainly be much North Carolina for several weeks; and to Florida to visit his parents and resume appreciated. Please do not address them Mike and Micki joined the demonstrators his education. Mike Bayles left for Red­ to me. Send such packages to Marge praying at the White House. They face wood College, where he will continue his Hughes, Alice Lawrence, or Miriam Car­ trial in late September. Andre has · re­ studies. Florent went back to Canada. roll, here at th~ Catholic Worker Farm, turned to France after several months Others have come and gone. Dorothy Tivoli, New York 12583. Since I am with us. Susie Gerrard has returned to Day, Clare Danielsson, and Sally Corbin totally blind it is difficult for me to han­ St. Louis to attend nursing school. Since should be back from their pilgrimages dle packages and make proper acknowl­ November she has been a personification and travels soon. As for little Coretta edgements. If I have failed to do so in of gentleness and calm at St. Joseph Corbin, she too has started a new phase the past, I say a warm thank you here, House (and we especially miss her de­ in her life. Each morning, she goes down and may God bless you for your licious carrot cake and whole wheat Robert Hodgell the road to catch the bus to take her to kindness. bread). Danny O'Shea has resumed sem­ for all of us. Confusion seems to reign kindergarten in Red Hook. She will be As I have said before, we are im­ inary studies at St. Bernard's in Roches­ much of the time; tempers grow short five this month and is, I am told, a beauti­ perfect instruments, and have not estab­ ter. His warmth and sense of humor and flare; some of our older members de­ ful child. Meanwhile, her mother, Rita, lished anything approaching Utopia. eased many tense situations at the house. cry . the transitoriness of the young; has started working on a new series of Nevertheless, in spite of our chaos, much But the Lord provides. In August Tom Worker positions and traditions are in Christmas cards, note cards, and peace good is accomplished. We ask for your Hart arrived from San Francisco after a constant need of clarification. More than calendars, which have been so popular prayers and continued support. brief stay at the Catholic Work~r Farm any other time summer has accentuated in West Virginia. He immediately plung­ with those who have bought them during On this September night katydids still for me our human failings and limita­ past years. ed into the hard work of the house and tions. We so need to be patient and for­ speak of frost. Crickets sing sweetly, has become a fond part of our CW fami­ John Filliger's Birthday knowing perhaps their time for singing giving with each other, and attentive to Sunday evening, the second of Sep­ ly. And Pam Mumby and Dan Corley the will of God to live and grow in our is not long. In St. Francis' garden­ have just arrived to work with us for a t~ber, we celebrated John Filliger's which Elizabeth Marshall did so much community at 36 East ;First Street. At the sixty-seventh birthday with a picnic sup­ while. We welcome Mark Samara back Worker, each day is another opportunity to make beautiful-mint and nicotiana from several months in California. He per on the lawn. Later, at the seven perfume the air. We move toward Octo-· to start fresh. We welcome the cool clear o'clock Mass, Fr. Andy offered special has traded L.A. smog for New York days of Autumn. ber and the great Feast of St. Francis. grime. Pray for us, St. Francis, that we may The future and the young; they are learn true reverence for all of God's Each Day an Opportunity It is through love and within love one. No, I have no fear for the future. creation, that we are akin not only to the Sadly some from our family have been that we most look for the deepenin&" of A sprin&"time of the Church awaits us. sun and stars and winds and seas, but ill this summer. We ask your prayers for our, deepest self, for the llfegiving com­ SooD it will warm us with its fire. also to every common flower and weed Millie who is recovering from surgery; ing .together of humankind. Roger Schutz, Abbot of Taize and tree. Deo Gratias. for Gus; and for Hiram who faces surgery · Teilhard de Chardin Page Eight THE CATHOLIC · WORKER September, 1973 WRL'S FIFTY YEARS OF RESISTANCE (Continued from page 1) peats these words of Peter Maurin: Study of Nonviolence in Palo Alto, urged ers and sympathizers jailed in the coun­ the emulation of Gandhi's life and style. ty. If we joined it, we would have to fe~se alert. Dorothy Day, a member of "The future will be different if we make the present different." Gandhi, Swenson pointed out, did not miss the final session of the Conference. the Initiating Committee for the Anni­ This dilemma did not face other groups versary Conference, appeared more than allow his movement to be burdened with Building the New Society negativism, with mere opposition to planning direct action. One was to take once on the screen. Igal Roodenko, until recently WRL place before· the French Consulate in Asked to say a few words for Dorothy what was wrong.· Chairman, welcomed the participants on San Francisco on August 9, Nag~aki at the opening meeting, I explained that Ira Sandperl, who inspired Joan Baez the first evening with remarks that cen­ to form the Institute for the Study of Day, to protest French nuclear testing Dorothy had flown to San Francisco tered on love. "We are all lovers," said in the Pacific. The other demonstration fully intending to be present at Asilo­ Nonviolence, warned against fear, the Rood.enko. "Even Nixon in his distorted · moral, intellectual and spiritual fear of would take place the same day at Liver­ mar. She was instead sitting in a Fresno way is a lover who sees himself as pro­ openly expounding love and truth. He more, a nuclear military establishment. jail for civil disobedience. The charge tecting something good against some­ By midnight we knew that one-fifth was "unlawful assembly"-a charge lev­ explained that people, fearful of alienat­ thing bad." His r emarks made it clear ing others, become like the Watergate of the Conference participants would elled against United Farmworker pickets that his understanding of ahimsa, non­ leave before the end of the Conference who disobeyed the injunction about people who acted as they did because, violence, was the Gandhian one, not they explained, "We were part of a to join the farmworkers. standing 100 feet apart from each other. merely non-injury to other creatureJ but Direct Action Dorothy had refused to pay bail and had team." positive love of -them. To those who The afternoon and evening of August Led by Joan Baez and Daniel Ellsberg, made it clear that she would remain in might feel that good ends might be hur­ a caravan of sixteen cars and buses left jail until all striking farmworkers were 6 offered an embarrassment of riches in ried up by violent or questionable means, the choice of workshops and special in­ Asilomar the next morning for Fresno. freed. She had asked me to bring her he gave the Gandhian caution, "All we terest groups. Subjects included the Just before we started, we saw Evan love to all at the Conference. I reminded have in our hands are the means. We are Thomas ease his thin, six-foot-five frame them of a saying of Peter Maurin's United Farmworkers, the Future of responsible for the rightness and purity WRL, Democratic Socialist Economics, into a minibus. From some of the car which was very apt for a meeting con­ of those means. We cannot control the windows flags fluttered, the flaming red cerned with making things better during and the Catholic Worker Movement. ends, what comes after our action is Joan Baez and Giannetta Sagan led a UFW flag with the black thunderbird. the next fifty years. Dorothy often re- completed. Every means is in fact an workshop on Amnesty International, a On the way, Daniel Ellsberg remin­ end in itself." "To debate," said Rooden­ voluntary organization concerned with isced about the War Resisters Interna­ ko, "whether change in society comes tional Conference that we had both at­ before change :'.n the individual, or tended in 1969. That Conference had also Farm Workers change in the individual before change been interrupted for direct action. We (Continued from page 6) in society,_ is like asking a healthy had set up a silent vigil around the human being whether eating or sleeping es and continued picketing by other out­ Philadelphia Federal Building in soli­ is more important." The two transforma­ darity with Robert Eaton who was sen­ siders (demonstrating how arbitrarily tions must proceed together, just as all the law is used against the UFW) finally tenced to three years imprisonment for human organisms move forward by eat­ draft refusal. We had later listened as brought release of those held. (See "On ing and sleeping. Pilgrimage" in this issue.) Randy Kehler, young leader of the San Mandy Carter of WRL/West, who had Francisco WRL, explained to us that he Delano had heavy responsibility for the Confer­ was getting ready to go to prison for Delano, in the ·very center of the San ence, spoke last. She told of how she was refusing to take part in the Vietnam war. Joaquin Valley, is the richest table grape drawn to the League where she found "When I heard Randy," Ellsberg told growing area of all, and the place where something she had not found in other us, "I thought to myself that he was the the UFW's organizing effort began. Five movements, compassion. At the word best we had. I realized that this was ranches there were part of the Coachella compassion, her voice broke and there what the best young people in America Teamster signings and others also came were long seconds of utter silence. Joan were doing. They were ready to make under later Teamster contracts so that Baez, with an exquisite sense of timing, sacrifices of their youth and freedom to 600 workers were receiving strike bene­ ·began a song from the back of the hall. oppose the war. Something screamed in­ fits in early July, a month before the "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound." side my head. I rushed out of the hall harvest was to begin. On July 29 the The achingly pure voice pierced us all. and went into the men's room where I "Prisoners of Conscience" ~ound the . major group of Delano growers broke off Hiroshima Day Peace Mar.athon burst into tears. The tears kept coming. negotiations for contract renewal with world. Two hundred persons attended The second day of the Conference was Daniel Ellsberg's workshop on "The I couldn't stop. It was from then that I the UFW. Although Meany, Fitzsimmons, Hiroshima Day. It seemed right to mark knew that I had to do something, that and Chavez were meeting to try to end Morals of Torture," a moving session on Hiroshima by a marathon for peace and the background of the Pentagon Papers I had to share the r isks. Later I found the Teamster incursion into the fields, nonviolence. The entire morning was publication. . what it w~ with the Pentagon Papel'J." Teamsters shortly announced they had given to the key session of the Confer­ As we drove into the blazing sun of signed with these growers at the UFW's I attended an early evening workshop ence, a panel on "WRL: The Next Fifty on "Gandhi's Truth" led by Ira Sandperl, the San Joaquin valley, I mentioned that home base. Chavez left the meetings, Years." Under the chairmanship of Irma a man of relaxed but palpable charisma. the same War Resisters International charging the Teamster presid~nt with Zigas, four speakers, David McReynolds, He made the point that "Gandhi gave his had been decisive for me. We had all bad faith. Beverly Woodward, Lee Swenson and signed a petition requesting that the These Delano Teamster signings in­ life each day. His life was up for grabs Ira Sandperl, explored th.e main currents every day of his career. In a pragmatic United Nations ·recognize conscientious creased the tension which had been build­ of pacifist thought and action. objection to military service as a human ing throughout the summer. While the way, he had no life to lose." "We are living in the belly of the beast Ira spoke of Gandhi's emphasis on the right. A few months later, I was able Teamster President claimed that the De­ in the U.S.," said McReynolds. "Our pri­ to bring up the question to the UN lano signings had occurred without his need for silence and meditation. So we mary work is changing our own country. stopped everything and lapsed into si­ Human Rights Commission. Eventually, knowledge · and rescinded the contracts, What an effect there would be on the a special UN study of legislation and bad feeling remained very strong. Sev­ lence and meditation then and there. whole world if the United States were We talked again of the destructiveness practices regarding conscientious objec­ eral times pickets in the Delano area disarmed, for instance." tors was completed and the matter is were · shot at from the fields and local of fear, of how it blocks compassion. McReynolds stated that the future pro·­ Gandhi overcame the fear of being re­ still on the agenda of the Human Rights police made no arrests. The two deaths gram of WRL was already_ clear. He Commission. of union members occurred in this atmos­ jected and we must learn how to do it. listed as prime concerns: the nuclear Sandperl felt that the biggest illusion We arrived in the Fresno Park front­ phere. Since union funds are so depleted, arms race; amnesty, unconditional and ing the Courthouse and Jail just in time strike activity will continue in Delano, the nonviOlent person can have is that universal, for many thousands of young of being alone. "We are a large minority for the vigil and rally. In the next twen­ but probably not for long. men; attention to the war danger aris­ ty-four hours we fell in with UFW plans Though nowhere that growers sought on this earth," he reminded us, "the com­ ing from the Middle East situation; work munity of loving people." for a dizzying round of picketing, rallies to buck their workers' demand for their on behalf of the ruined lives left behind and jail visiting in Fresno and Kern own union did they remain unchallenged, by our ten-year involvement with the Celebration of Commitment counties. When Daniel Ellsberg stood strikes alone cannot win the struggle for Indochina war; the obtaining of justice We became very aware of not being before our last rally in Lamont, Kem justice. Strikers' families must eat, but for our own underclass, the Chicanos alone, of being part of a large minority County, .he spoke with conviction and a the union cannot afford more strike bene­ and blacks; the wresting of our economy on the earth, when we returned to Mer­ certain restrained eloquence. "I am here fits. Meanwhile growers continue to find from the military-industrial complex; rill Hall to hear the singing of Joan Baez to support you in your rights. There is hungry and uninformed scal!s, often and the opening of the nonviolent move­ and her sister, Mimi Farina. Again the no more important part of the First Mexican illegals brought in with the si­ ment to the broad middle and under sound of "Amazing Grace" filled the Amendment right than that of peaceful lent consent of the Border Patrol For all classes, too many of whom feel power­ hall We · linked arms, all swaying to­ picketing and free expression of views. the time which so many thousands spent less to affect any change whatsoever. gether in time to the old tune. It is a cause very close to my heart." on the picket lines this summer, La "I will tell you something," McRey­ It was a moment when we felt bound After Ellsberg's speech, Joan Baez Causa depends again on that non-violent nolds asserted. "Powerlessness corrupts to one another, when we felt the exist­ sang Spanish songs, including ''De Co­ weapon,- the boycott. DON'T BUY and absolute powerlessness corrupts ab­ ence of the "beloved community." We lores." The climax of the rally came GRAPES OR LETl'UCE! solutely. Nonviolence that cannot relate were young, middle-aged and aged, when a UFW organizer called out, "Cap­ to -the powerless of our soci~ty is not a Marxists and non-Marxists, anarchists tains, raise your hands." The right hand In every major city across the country, serious nonviolent movement." and personalists, unbelievers who of every man and woman shot into the United Farm Worker boycott centers Beverly Woodward, UN Representa­ termed themselves humanists or agnos­ air. From that moment, every striker, need volunteen and support.. The boy­ tive of War Resisters International, tics, believers from many traditions, every picketer, was a captain, and sher­ cott is the key in assuring farm workers stressed the international aspect. ''With­ Jewish, Catholic and Protestant, vege­ iffs could ·not make distinctions. . . . and their families their just recompense. out a transnational peace movement,'! tarians and meat-eaters, all searching to And what of the final session of the Please contact the boycott center in your she said, "to oppose the system we have, exorcise the violence in ourselves and WRL Conference which we had not at­ area to aid this vital stru&"Cle. there can be no change.... Our failures linked in the search for a nonviolent fu­ tended? We learned that Mandy Carter In New York the Farm Workers need to cooperate are bought with the lives ture. It was a celebration of commitm~nt said to those who remained behind, re­ people to leaflet stores. An hour a week of Vietnamese and others. The rest of to each other and to all other human ferring to the one-fifth of the Confer­ would be a great boost. For leaflets and the world cannot afford our ignorance." creatures, especially those most threat­ ence which had takeD off to join forces store information call 799-5800. The Boy­ She cited as a guide for action George ened by cruelty and violence. with the United Farmworkers, "This is cott also needs housing for workers, Lakey's five steps towards a transna­ But celebration had to give way to the perfect example of what the War sheets and bedding, and whatever food tional, nonviolent revolution, culled organization. There was to be a silent Resisters League is all about. We dis­ can be donated. Contact the· United Farm from his Strategy for a Living Revolu- vigil in front of the Fresno County cussed .nonviolent theory, but instead of Workers, 331 W. 84th St., New York, tion. . Courthouse and Jail at 1:30 p.m. the passing a resolution, we took direct ac­ N. Y. 10024. Lee Swenson, of the Institute for the next day on behalf of the 450 farmwork- tion."