How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Well, you try to root a few out. We need them. I swear to God the only people in this country with any guts seem to be Negroes. Mind you," he said, "I don't want to keep Negroes out of the hero business, but I'm damned if I want them to corner the market. You dig me up ten white, able-bodied Americans who aren't afraid to have a conviction, an idea, or an opinion in an unpopular field, and I'll have the major part of a standing army." (3.7.8)
Ah, now we start to understand what Steinbeck's journalist friend means by "guts": the ability and willingness to express a strong opinion, even when it's "unpopular." Of course, he realizes that those fighting for civil rights (many of whom are African American) are doing just that, but apparently that's not enough—he wants white men to reclaim that manliness for themselves. Well, alrighty then.
Quote #8
His obvious worry in this matter impressed me, so I did listen and look along the way. And it is true I didn't hear many convictions. I saw only two real-man fights, with bare fists and enthusiastic inaccuracy, and both of those were over women. (3.7.9)
Steinbeck listened to his friend and decided to take him up on the challenge to find a real man... and struck out. Apparently, he only saw a couple of "real-man" fights—and, even then, they were over women, rather than a "conviction," which is really what the journalist friend was looking for.
Quote #9
I drank Charley's health in straight whisky as he ate and licked up the syrup. And then we both felt better. But there was the Narváez party—eight years. There were men in those days. (3.13.26)
Steinbeck is comparing himself and his journey to that of the explorers in the Narváez group, who spent eight long years on their expedition. You get the feeling that Steinbeck doesn't think slurping up whisky and syrup really compares to that kind of long-haul journey.