 Among the books were biographies of the saint Francis of Assisi, the U.S. labour organizers John L. Lewis and Eugene V. Debs, and the Indian independence activist Mahatma Gandhi, introducing Chavez to the ideas of non-violent protest.In late 1953, Chavez was laid off by the General Box Company.Ross then secured funds so that the CSO could employ Chavez as an organizer, traveling around California setting up other chapters.