Teaching the Article
Exercise 3

Big growers and Resettlement Administration/Farm Security Administration camps

The government had to find land on which to build camps for farm workers, and most of the land was owned by the big growers who were the farm workers’ employers. These documents come from negotiations with the Di Giorgio growing and packing concern. Harry Drobish, at that time employed by the California State Emergency Relief Administration but later to work for the ra/fsa, had asked his Kern County representative to scout out possible sites for camps.

Questions

• What was Di Giorgio’s agenda?
• On what principles did Drobish try to craft an agreement?
• What were Paul Taylor’s concerns?
• According to the April 1938 memorandum about policy, what was the ultimate resolution of the disagreement?