On July 25, 1938, Archie Price, who had been on and off state relief rolls since 1933, ended his life in Balboa Park. He had previously informed the editor of a local newspaper that he would kill himself when his savings were depleted, because he was “too young to receive an old-age pension and too old to find work.” He also criticized the istration of relief funds by the State Relief istration (SRA) and federal Works Progress istration (WPA).
As noted by historian Richard W. Crawford, Price’s suicide became the focus of a public pension campaign. In November 1938, California voters narrowly defeated Proposition 25, known as the $30-Every Thursday measure, which was intended to provide a basic income for non-working Californians age 50 and older. The measure ed by a slight margin (51.2 percent) in San Diego county.
From The San Diego Union, Tuesday July 26, 1938:
RELIEF CLIENT ENDS LIFE IN PARK; NOTE HITS EXPLOITATION OF NEEDY’
Archie Price, 64, 7621 Eads ave, La Jolla, a relief client for more than four years, yesterday carried out a threat he had mad in a letter to a local newspaper several years ago and committed suicide by swallowing poison in Balboa park.
In his letter to the newspaper, not The San Diego Union or Evening Tribune, Price bitterly criticized the istration of relief funds and warned that when the money he then possessed was gone he would take his life. He wrote that the expected this would happen about the middle of July.
He was found lying in the Park near Seventh ave. and Juniper st yesterday afternoon by John W. Finch, park department employe. Price was still alive, but died before an ambulance arrived. In his possession, police said, were 2 cents and a long letter, which said in part:
‘EXPLOIT NEEDY’
“The reason for this act is the rotten political graft in SRA and WPA…the exploitation of the needy is the biggest graft we have ever had in this country.”
Others at Price’s rooming house last night described him as an itinerant worker who took all sorts of odd jobs before going on relief. They said he traveled about the state, usually returning to San Diego in the winter. He never mentioned his family, they show.
Welfare records show that Price first received county relief in 1933, Julius Rainwater, welfare department head, reported. Since then Price had been on the relief rolls. In 1936 he was transferred to SRA, later to WPA and finally back to SRA
GRAFT DENIED
Along with other single SRA male clients, Price had an opportunity to go to one of the mountain workcamps set up by the istration, Rainwater said.
The welfare director, denying there is graft in istration of relief, explained:
“These matters concern questions of eligibility. For every type of relief, there are laws stating qualifications which applicants must possess to receive that relief.
“Each case is investigated by a case worker, who determines, through study of employability, degree of necessity, age and other factors, under which relief classification the applicant falls. There is no discrimination in this. The rules are stated in laws which we must obey.
LAW RULES CASES
“Some persons think they are entitled to more than their legal share of the millions in relief dollars which are expended each month. They know only that they are hungry or in need and that the money is being spent. However, the laws are designed to give the largest amount of relief to the greatest number of nedey and personal viewpoints cannot enter into istration of aid funds.”
Dave Gershon, deputy coroner, ordered Price’s body sent to Cypress View mortuary. No inquest will be held.
