Chapter 21

Chapter twenty one is a cause and effect chapter of the families in California. It talks of how the trip caused panic in the west, which eventually caused fear, which led to violence, which effected the entire state of California in particular. First the machines in their own states caused their move. "And then suddenly the machines pushed them out and they swarmed on the highways." This move led to the panic of the people of the west. "In the West there was panic when the migrants multiplied on the highways. Men of property were terrified for their property." This panic and fear grew in the hearts of the Western people; it built up to the point of action. "And the men of the towns and of the soft suburban country gathered to defend themselves; and they reassured themselves that they were good and the invaders bad, as a man must do before he fights. They said, These...Okies are dirty and ignorant. They're degenerate, sexual maniacs. These...Okies are thieves. They'll steal anything. They've got no sense of property rights." Also along with violence came other methods of business for the store keepers and land owners. "When there was work for a man, ten men fought for it--fought with a low wage. And this was good, for wages went down and prices stayed up. The great owners were glad and they sent out more handbills to bring more people in. And wages went down and prices stayed up. And pretty soon now we'll have serfs again."

This section is also ironic in its actions. The business men who were accusing the migrants as thieves and vagrants were also thieves and vagrants themselves. However, they did not consider themselves vagrants or thieves; they considered themselves the good people of California. Yet they were not the good people they thought themselves to be. They sent out handbills to bring many men in when they only needed a few just to lower the wages. They called this "good business" when really they were stealing money from the men in a way. They were also stealing the men's dignity. The men would do anything in order to feed themselves and their families. "If that fella'll work for thirty cents, I'll work for twenty-five. If he'll take twenty-five, I'll do it for twenty. No, me, I'm hungry. I'll work for fifteen. I'll work for food. The kids. You ought to see them. Me. I'll work for a little piece of meat." And so the system continued. The moving of the people led to panic, which led to fear, which led to violence and thievery and tricks.