SINCLAIR
WOULD PLACE JOBLESS ON RANCHES
Socialism, communism or a solution to Californias problems?
These are
questions debated from one end of the state to the other today wherever
the EPIC plan is mentioned.
Behind the
plan is Upton Sinclair. It is in reality his platform in his race for the
Democratic nomination for governor. It is officially the End Poverty
in California program, and from the initials of these words comes
the EPIC.
The most
discussed part of the plan is Sinclairs idea of placing unemployed on
farms which are taken by the state for failure to pay taxes. In cities,
closed factories and shops would be opened and unemployed put at productive
labor. The laborers would produce the goods, the farmers the food, and
a system of exchange would be employed.
It would
be a great change in California government, but Sinclair has always advocated
change. Famous as an author, his books have always managed to cause the
same storm of discussion that his Epic plan now starts in politics.
It is only
recently that Sinclair has become a Democrat. He was originally a Socialist.
Sinclair
was born September 20, 1878, in Baltimore, Md. The Sinclair family lost
its fortune in the Civil War, and while Upton was still young, his parents
moved to New York City, where his father obtained a position as a traveling
salesmen.
Young Sinclair
was educated in East Side public schools in New York. At the age of 15
he started writing fiction and jokes for magazines and newspapers. Thus
he paid his way through City College, from which he received his A.B. in
1897. He took post graduate work at Columbia.
In 1900,
married Meta H. Fuller, and a son, David, was born to this union. In 1911,
divorced his first wife and in 1913 married Mary Craig Kimbrough.
From 1901
to 1906, turned out such novels as King Midas, Prince
Hagen, The Journal of Arthur Stirling, Manassas
and Captain of Industry. But he made only $1000 on the lot,
and nearly starved before he was discovered by the American
readers.
Finally
made $30,000 from The Jungle, but lost it all when he invested
in Helison Hall, a home colony, and it burned.
In 1906,
he was a candidate for Congress in New Jersey. In 1920, ran for Congress
on Socialist ticket in California. Ran for United States senator in 1923
and for governor of California 1926 on the Socialist platform.
Founded
the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, now the League of Industrial Democracy,
and founded the American Civil Liberties Union of California.
Has written
forty-three books, published in thirty-four countries, and innumerable
articles.
When he
finds time, plays tennis and has won several tournaments. But tennis has
to wait now, until after the primary election.
Call-Bulletin San Francisco
July 12, 1934
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