They'll Cut Off Your Project: A Mingo County Chronicle

Chapter 13

After the primary, the County Court intensified its efforts to replace the EOC as the antipoveny agency. Soon, deputy sheriffs, constables, and state and county employees were going through every community and lip every hollow and creek, getting people to sign ape· tition endorsing the take-over of the antipoverty agency by the County Court. In many instances, people signed, believing it wou ld mean a new road, a new gymnasium, a lunchroom for their school, and in some cases even jobs for the people. The petition carriers managed to get signatures f-rom other counties and even other states. Hundreds of people later became angered when they learned what they had signed, but the devious effon of the County Court resulted in a petition containing more than eight thousand names. The EOC countered the petition by submitting to the OEO in Washington affidavits explaining that people were being deceived into signing. In early June, I visited the OEO regional office to talk with Les Minkus, the legal counsel for the region, and Ed Cogen. "Is there anything at all we can do to save the agency?" I asked them. Minkus looked at Cogen, and Cogen looked at Minkus. Each was waiting for the other to answer. Finally, Minkus began explaining the OEO policy. "To be frank with you, Perry, we see very little hope. The fmal decision will naturally be made by the director of OEO in headquarters, and not by any of us in the regional office." "Does that mean we are fmished in Mingo?" "Well, not exactly, although I don't see much hope, I don't think you should roll over and play dead. You know, the County Court must hold a public hearing before July I . This would be a good place for the community people to voice their opposition." Cogen interrupted: "Perry, we would like to go with you, but you know what our biggest problem is, pressure from the Congress, and especially Edith Green. In fact, she has been making a daily inquiry as to the progress of her amendment. And your own delegation from ' '''est Virginia -certainly Kee and Byrd would both like to see the County Court with the agency." Why talk about Kee and Byrd? I thought. Everyone knows where they stand. After thirty minutes of such talk, I mentioned that Jerry Chafin had been appointed by the County Court to transact all business between the court and the OEO regarding the planned take·over. Both Minkus and Cogen grinned. Cogen opened his top desk drawer and handed me a copy of the letter he had received designating Chafin as the COLIrt's official representative. Minkus said, "There is one thing about Gerald Chafin . He is the most persistent fellow I have seen. He just doesn't give up." '77 "This move by the court has infuriated the community action people," ] said. "Those few who were neutral when he was ousted are certain now it was a good move." I con· tinued, "] hear he was up here last week." Again Minkus and Cogen glanced at each other as if they were surprised that I knew Chafin had been there. Little did they realize that, in a rural county, as the Mingo saying goes, everybody "knows what you have done two days be- (are you do it." Cogen finally answered. "Yes, he and a friend were here. We spent about an hour with him and explained to him the time schedule that has been established to transfer the community action agencies. Incidentally, the date is February I , 1969. He had been in a meeting with Frank T sutras and lim Kee before he came over here. You can figure that out for yourself." No mention of Chafin's visit would have been made if I had not brought the subject up myself, I was convinced. At this point in the meeting, I was also convinced that we could expect no help from the OEO. As usual, everyone with a grade level of C.S. 15 or above was running scared for his job as a result of pressure [rom some congressman . "There is a provision in the Green Amendment stating in general terms that the state and federal law must not conflict if a state has a law governing the establishment o[ antipoverty agencies," I told Minkus. " In West Virginia there is a state law that prevents a county...