|
|
||
|
The
Friendship Train in Arizona
by
Dorothy
R. Scheele
The Friendship Train, one of America’s greatest
contributions to mankind,
exploded into American life in November 1947. Leaving from Los
Angeles on November 7, the train reached New York 11 days later. Its
purpose: to collect food for the famished people of France and Italy.
All aspects of the Friendship Train were gratis, from the food itself, rail
transportation, unloading the cargo of the freight cars unto the ships,
trans-Atlantic shipping, and the myriad other jobs demanded by such a
colossal endeavor.
Arizona chose not to participate in donating to the Friendship Train. Gov. Preston Osborn stated that one reason for not participating in Friendship Train movement was that the state did not have sufficient time to launch a food and clothing drive. The Grand Canyon state had only four days to organize and collect the food and clothing and transport the donations to Ogden, Utah, the city where the commodities would be loaded on the Friendship Train which was at that time crossing the nation. Gov. Osborn also stated that the rail lines, the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, had not received any authorization to transport goods free of charge. The lack of authorization was another impediment to the state’s situation regarding participation.
Instead, the idea emerged to start a “Friendship Train” within the state intending to help the very destitute Navajos. Although US government officials had traveled to the Navajo reservation to evaluate the situation there and they reported what was needed, only a trickle of necessities arrived.
Supporting the idea of a Navajo train was the Indian Citizen League which sponsored a movement for emergency relief, deeming Indians the first Americans. The Navajo Relief Caravan which had headquarters in Hollywood also backed the movement. Tucson citizenry responded to the notion of a train for the Navajos with exploding enthusiasm.
C. W. Gardner, Justice of the Peace and chairman of the Navajo Aid committee spearheaded the movement. He asked 50 members of various Tucson organizations to a meeting, and from this meeting people were assigned to fill the many positions required to run such a movement. Mel Goodson was appointed chairman for the University of Arizona. Bill Chamberlain became publicity director for the Sunshine Climate Club and the Rotary Club. Others asked to serve in some capacity were Mrs. Richard Harvill for the YWCA, Forrest G. Priser for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ed Stonewell for the Boy Scouts, Dolly Young for Legions Auxiliary, Royal Irving for the Kawanis Club, Mrs. O. T. Norton for the Girl Scouts, Mrs. Mae Bake for the R & P. W. Club, and Nick Barrada for the Eagles. Others with undetermined responsibilities were Jack Stile, past state Legion commander, Ed Russell, adjutant for the Morgan McDermott Post, Mrs. R. R. Hinnant, and Col. O. G. Brown. The Morgan McDermott Post of the American Legion began organizing and collecting 30 hours after an appeal to help the Indians was made.
Tom Soleng of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce said that 85 Chinese businesses would put boxes in their stores for customers to place their donations and that he would use some of his advertising space to promote the train. Also offering advertising space were Tucson Gas, Electric Light and Power, Levy’s, Elmer Present and Monte.
The Southern Arizona Bank and Valley Nations Bank served to accept the cash donations. The Fraternal Order of Eagles, in a gesture to start the cash donations rolling, pledged $100.
Robert Brickman, owner of Tucson Laundry and Dry Cleaners, offered his fleet of trucks and his employees to collect food and clothing. Brickman said that he would encourage all other cleaning businesses to do the same. The drive would end December 15th. There could not be a train to the reservation because there were no rails leading to it, but every town Arizona could at a minimum send a truck full of food and clothing.
Van Valenbaugh, who had spent several years living with the Navajo, said that he thought distribution would be a problem, especially if there was heavy snow. He suggested that either the federal government or churches on the reservation take charge of the distribution.
The empathetic Arizonians responded to the Arizona Friendship train for the Navajos with hearts filled with caring, kindness, and generosity.
The author welcomes any corrections or additional information which would add to this state's history. Her email address is draetrain@gmail.com.
List of Works Consulted “Relief Train Misses State” Arizona Republic Nov. 6, 1947: 13. A Friendship Train For The Indians” Arizona Daily Sun Nov. 17, 1947: 2. “Launch Plans For ‘Friendship Train’ To Hungry Navajos” Arizona Republic Nov. 24, 1947: 1. “Caravan To The Navajo” Arizona Republic Nov. 25, 1947: 6.
“Emergency Help for Navajos Is Organized by Tucson Group” Arizona Daily Star [Tucson, AZ] Dec. 4, 1947: 22. |
|
