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The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 3

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Los Angeles, California
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3
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3 tcfif 3ttfff If HimtH DEC. 3 PAUL COATES With the Poor in Beverly Hills Pressure Mounts in Grape Strike Campaign to Unionize All Farm Hands Seen in Heavy Picketing BY HARRY BERNSTEIN Tlmts Labor Editor Pressures continued to mount Tuesday in the pro 'i 1 i 1 I r-' v. I' i i- longed grape strike as pickets marched here and in the San Francisco Bay area in what union leaders say is GET A REINDEER! Nancy Ragan is oil dressed up with a car full of gifts but not getting anywhere. She was on her way to went flat on Hollywood Christmas party when tire Freeway at Vermont Ave. Times photo Judge's Elevation Laid to Political 'Pressure' Mexican-American Leader Says Jurist's Supporters Acted to Force Appointment BY CARL GREENBERG Timts Political Writer You noted, didn't you, that Beverly Hills recently fras handed $82,875 in federal poverty funds? According to news reports, they turned it down on the grounds that they could only find six needy families pj the whole town.

But that's just a ploy. Obviously, they're holding out for a better offer. J. The federal government's compassionate gesture merely confirms my suspicions that Beverly Hills is indeed a depressed area. And Monday, against the idvice of friends, I made a tour of it.

"If you don't live there," they warned me, "don't go there. It's not safe." "You don't know the mood those people are in," I Was told. "They see a stranger, they're liable to walk right up and snub him." The moment you cross the intersection of VVilshire Beverly Drive you are struck by the dismal atmosphere. Gaunt men and women patiently queued fip at the food counters of Jurgensen's Gourmet Shop, hoping in vain that the escargots won't run out before they get their turn. Young girls in mink stoles gazing with pitiful longing at a display of full length ermine eoats in Saks' windows.

Psychiatry for the Poor And yet some small effort is being made to help these people. There's a solid row of psychiatric clinics on Bedford Drive, where the impoverished can get low cost analysis for as little as $25 to $50 an hour. Later, I strolled into Rothschild's Barber Shop, a hangout for the aimless, unemployed men of the community. "We don't want your charity," a customer said, turning his right hand over to the manicurist. "We just want work." "Are you a skilled worker?" I asked.

"What'd you do, blow your tube out, bud?" he said, contemptuously. "You mean you didn't see my guest shot on 'Peyton Place'? I ran away with the whole show. J. "But," he added, with a sigh. "I haven't worked in Weks." "That's why I'm here," I explained.

"To help you people find jobs." "Yeah," he said, examining the polish on his nails. "Well, I'll tell you, I can't make any commitments. You'll have to talk to my agent." I walked over to a man whose face was wrapped in a towel. "What do you feel is the solution to Beverly Hills, sir?" Don't talk, the barber warned him. "Why shouldn't I talk," the customer's muffled cried through the towel.

"Let people out there know what's going on here. Warned Not to Talk "Dope," the barber said. "I mean don't talk while I'm giving a facial or you'll swallow yourself a mouthful of lemon oil." "Listen, mister," the man said, "if things don't change soon, I'm gonna do something desperate. I'm Already two months behind in my Playboy Club "dues." Suddenly his voice collapsed into a strangled moan. "Ah ha!" the barber cried triumphantly.

"See, dope? I 'told you not to talk. So swallow. Enjoy." Other customers began clustering around the chair. Tt looked like it might turn into an ugly incident, so I cut out. Wandering along Crescent Drive, I approached a small child and asked: "Sonny, who takes care of you while your mommy is at work "My mommy's not at work, sonny," he told me.

"She's at the Beverly-Hilton having cocktails with Cobina Wright." "Do you have a happy family life? Who would you say is the boss in your home? Your mommy or your daddy?" "My daddy is," the little chap replied. And, since it was getting late, I folded my note pad and silently vcrept away. It's very dangerous, they tell me, to get caught on the streets of Beverly Hills after dark. campaign to unionize all back in general plans to organize farm workers. And this is the reason for the unprecedented union ef-' forts.

Church groups and others, including individuals such as Allen, have also joined in the dispute on grounds that farm workers make up tha bulk of the low-income families and need help. The strike was originally called by the National Farm Workers led by Cesar Chavez, and the AFL-CIO Agricultural Workers Orga- nizing Committee. The boycott started by the unions has the support of several civil rights organizations, including the Congress for Racial Equality. The boycott of wines is aimed primarily at Schenley Industries, which haa grape acreage in the Delano area. False Premise James E.

Woolsey, vice president of Schenley, said in San Francisco that the boycott was based on false premises because Schenley's grape pickers earn well above the $1.40 minimum demanded by the strikers, and that the workers are not interested in unionization. But the Jay Vee Liquors chain said after picketing started that its stores in the Bay Area will no longer sell Schenley products for the duration of the strike. The unions contend that while some workers may earn more than $1.40 an hour at times, there should be a fixed minumum wage for all workers engaged in harvesting and pruning. They selected Schenley because it is a nationwide operation. Failure of Boycott Predicted by Grower DELANO ffl Delano area -grape grower Bruno Dispoto denies that a strike exists in the area and predicted a national boycott of the area's grapes and grape products will fail.

Dispoto issued a statement on behalf of the growers which said, in part: "AWOC, The Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, and NFWA, the National Farm Workers do not represent our workers. Our workers have rejected them for what they are, perpetrators of hate and deceit in order to victimize in nocent Filipinos and Mexi can-American groups. Dispoto said Filipinos and Mexican-American workers have a "fine" labor-management relation and that growers hope these relations will continue "without outside harassment." He added that Delano growers had just harvested the largest grape crop in history, mostly with local the forerunner of a massive farm workers. Grapes and wines were removed from several stores as a result. An AFL-CIO spokesman said support for the strike is "growing constantly.

We haven't seen anything like the enthusiasm for the strikers and their cause since the 1930s." Actor Steve Allen, joined by 10 pickets, marched for about an hour in front of Alexander's Market, 17955 West Ventura Encino, protesting the sale of grapes harvested behind picket lines in the Delano area. Grapes Removed After a phone call to his home office, market manager John Simon agreed to remove the Delano grapes (one of several varieties in his store) from the counters and the market put up a sign saying, "We Do Not Handle De lano Grapes." Wines were removed from shelves in two liquor stores in Berkeley and two in El Cerrito because of picketing there. Simon said that his firm in Encino feels there is no reason to be involved in the dis pute, but if it is possible to tind tne same type grapes grown in Delano in some oth er areas, such as San Bernar dino, then we are willing to co-operate." The AFL-CIO leaders are clearly surprised by their success in getting food, cloth ing and money for the strikers. Numerous Offers This doesn't mean that the strike has cut significantly into the grape production, or even sales, but the union spokesman said: "We have more oners to help than in any labor dispute in my memory. "Trucks loaded with food, clothes and toys are coming in almost daily from all parts of California." On Monday, a large trailer loaded with 400 turkeys, pounds of rice, 1,000 packed Christmas stockings and other items were sent to Delano by the Los Angeles County Labor Federation in co-operation with the Team sters and AFL-CIO affiliated unions.

Collected at Plants The United Rubber Work ers Union Local 131 and others are making collections of money and food at plant gates of Goodyear. Similar collections by the United Au to Workers and other unions are also being made. The strike began in September, and growers insist that it not only has been ineffective, but that the only strikers are union organizers and their supporters, not bona fide workers. However, the length of the dispute has already con vinced some union leaders that if the grape strike col lapses, it will be a major set County Orders Flood Control Work Speedup Taking note of recent storms, the County Board of Supervisors Tuesday ordered flood control projects speeded up. Original plans called for $275 million in 1964 bond issue funds to be spent in eight years.

The board, by unanimous vote, set a five-year completion for the program. Supervisors asked the cooperation of all cities in the flood control program, including Los Angeles. Closer co-ordination between municipal engineers and flood control engineers has been established by a recent agreement, the board said. Heavy rains in November and December "have dramatically reinforced the urgent and emergency nature of flood control work," the board stated. Report by Hollinger "It is in the interest of the district and its electorate and in the best public interest that the program be accom plished as rapidly as possible consistent with the complex! ty of the program and the economics thereof." i ne ooard action was based on a report from L.

Hollinger, chief administrative officer, and Walter vvooa, district, cniel en gineer, pointing to a lag in completion of the proiects. In related action, the su pervisors voted to allocate $1.75 million in road right-of- way funds to clean and re pair county roads damaged by the recent storms. Of the total, $800,000 is to be spent on storm cleanup and $950,000 is for permanent repairs. The money, under the board's action, is to be replaced in the right-of- way fund during the next fiscal year. Waldie Denies He Will Seek Anderson's Job BY RAY ZEMAN Tlmti Sacrimtnto Buraau Chief SACRAMENTO Jerome R.

Waldie (D-Antioch), As sembly majority floor leader, Tuesday said he is flattered by rumors that he will seek Lt. Gov. Glenn M. Anderson's position next year, "but there isn't the slightest substance of truth in them." Waldie, at a news confer ence, also said he knows oi no potential Democratic can didate for the 1 i a governorship except Ander son. Waldie expressed con fidence in Anderson's work and said he saw no reason to criticize "any lack of haste in calling out guards against the citizens." This was in re ference to criticism of An derson's alleged delay in calling out the National Guard during the Watts area riots.

Supports Bee He also denied reports that he may run for Con gress, be appointed attorney date for speaker of the As sembly." Waldie is supporting As sembly Speaker Pro Tern Carlos Bee (D-Hayward) for the permanent speaker post if Assemblyman Jesse M. Unruh (D-Inglewood) va cates this post to run for the State Senate or some other office in 1966. 'Can't Afford It1 "I would like to be speaker but I can't afford it," Waldie said. "It's a full-time job and I have to practice law." Meanwhile, State Control ler Alan Cranston at another news conterence discounted other reports that the Demo cratic Party will Dush An derson off its 1966 ticket. "I don't think he will be dumped out," Cranston said.

There may be a contest in the primary, but I think Anderson will be the nominee." The letter said that more than 2 million Spanish-sur-named Californians "do not share in the policy-making boards and other positions of responsibility commensurate with our needs, numbers and qualifications." The letter said the week end conferees agreed to work for: Election of Mexican-Amer icans to political office; ap pointments to "top level" De mocratic and Republican policymaking committees; direct participation in all war on poverty" programs, and a policy-making voice on crime and law enforcement gencies. Also sought were esta blishment and participation on larm labor committees; participation in educational policy-making boards and commissions ana appoint ment of Mexican-Americans to local, state and federal boards and commissions. No More Blank Checks more personality contests," stated the letter. "From now on the Mexican-American citizens will only assist those responsible politicians who will provide the best government for all the people." Poblano said the "equity of representation" of Mexican-Americans is "very bad" that they have only one member of the Legislature, one in Congress and none in the Los Angeles City Council. 'Power Structure' The letter addressed itself to, among others, the "power structure" of both parties, as well as the clergy.

Poblano said the clergy "have a long way to go in involving them selves with the basic needs of the Mexican-American." Guerra said mere never has been a Mexican-American on the state Board of Education, on the board of trustees of the state college system or the UC Board of Regents. 2 Selection of a person "with proven administrative capabilities" to head the county health department. 3 The Los Angeles Coun ty Citizens Economy and Ef ficiency Committee be given the latitude required to per form its functions and that recommendations of the committee he given maxi mum consideration. 4 A continuing effort to bring about the consolidation of the Municipal Court districts in the county be cause "only by accomplish ing this can the taxpayers realize an economically and Municipal Judge Leopoldoi G. Sanchez was elevated to the Superior Court by Gov.

Brown "through pressures" and "threats" that the gov-! ernor otherwise wouldn't get third-term support, a Mexican American leader said Tuesday. The assertion came during an Ambassador press conference at which the plaints of the Mexican-American com munity were presented in what was described as a "statewide spontaneous movement." The intent apparently was not to criticize Brown, but to illustrate the power of political persuasion. Named by Engineer Judge Sanchez' name was injected by George R. Sotelo, an operating engineer and assistant national chairman of the GI Forum, who said: "These pressures were brought about by the judge's supporters not by the judge himself." Sotelo said he feels also the governor was satisfied that Judge Sanchez was well qualified for the higher post. Sanchez originally was elect ed to the East Los Angeles Municipal Court A governor's office spokes man denied there had been any "pressures" on Brown to appoint Sanchez or "threats" against the governor to withhold political backing for his expected re-election can didacy.

Santa Claus Letter A seven-point "Dear San ta" letter listing areas in which Mexican Americans are said to feel they should have greater voice was presented at the conference. Sotelo and two others, Dr. Manuel H. Guerra, an assist ant professor of Spanish at USC, and Ralph Poblano, of the state disaster office staff and former candidate for the city Board of Education, said the political "Christmas list" represented the collective feeling of participants from 21 organizations who met here last weekend. continuing efforts must he made to improve methods and procedures in the rehabilitation of narcotics users.

The report included recommendations dealing with welfare, the county health department, governmental efficiency, municipal court consolidation, capital improvements, the Marina del Rey, pornography, alcoholism, smog and the grand jury system itself. The grand jury recommended: 1 Vigorous action by the county to simplify and improve the efficiency of opera tions in the entire field of welfare administration. 'Moral Decay' Blamed on Carol Lane Ruling tive constitutional amend Grand Jury Blames Narcotics for Rise in Crime, Urges Stiff Terms A landmark court decision nthe Carol Lane case has caused "tremendous moral decay" in California, Supervisor Warren M. Dorn said Tuesday. The county official told a news conference the decision, which outlawed jocal resorting ordinances because the state has preempted the field with anti- prostitution laws, has resulted in a "shocking" increase In venereal disease in Los 'Angeles County.

Dorn said he had read that 'the disease rate has increased between 400 and 800 since the Carol Lane but said it applied to a national survey and he didn't any specific documentation for California or Los Angeles Comity. Nevertheless, the resorting ordinance should be re-enacted and it will be, Dorn predicted, if an initia ment which he is sponsoring gets on the "general election ballot next year and is ap proved by the voters. State law now outlaws prostitution. The Los An geles County resorting ordin ance, under which Miss Lane was prosecuted, per mitted peace officers tc make arrests in prostitution cases without proving that money actually changed hands. The problem of local op tion in regulating sexual ac U'vity is one of the maior rri.

ses facing California today, Dorn told Town Hall in a subsequent luncheon at the biltmore. He said he also wants the state and federal governments to do more to correct, growing problems of air and water pollution and to Der- mit a drastic reduction in the property tax. j-- ,4 i 1 if If 1 j1 i WI 1 'IL feii mini irr-'--ir i ihti- T-JMmi-rtiwafrinTi MMflAfWM BY RON EINSTOSS Tlmti Stiff Writtr Blaming most of the "spir-aling" crime rate in the county on the use of narcotics, the 1965 County Grand Jury "strongly recommends" in its final report that maximum sentences be handed out to persons convicted of trafficking in or selling narcotics and dangerous drugs The 23-member panel was discharged Tuesday after 11 months of service by Presid ing Superior Judge Kenneth N. Chantry and Superior Judge David W. Williams, who presides over the cri minal departments.

The grand jury also said JOINING PROTEST Actor Steve Allen talks to newsmen in front of an En-, cino market where he joined pickets in support of strike against grape Tims phots Please Turn to Fg. 2S, Col. 1.

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