The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-01-27
Cranberry Growers Meet

Cranberry growers of New Jersey made
spirited reply to charges of using child
labor in the harvesting of their annual
crop of 100000 bushels at the 44th an
nual session of the American Cranberry
Growers Association at the Hotel Ridg
way, Camden, on Saturday.
Practically all of the big growers in
the State were in attendance.
Aroused by what they branded as false
reports in magazines as to cruel treat
ment of the children and the improper
housing of the 5000 foreigners, 1900 of
them children, who annually come from
Philadelphia to New Jersey for two
months during the picking season, the
growers named a special committee to
investigate.
This committee, which is authorized
to take such action as it may see fit,
comprises Franklin Chambers, of New
monitor; C. d. Makepeace, Mays Land
ing; A. w. Durell, Woodbury., and A.
w. CLANCY, New York.
]. J. White, of New Lisbon, known as
the Cranberry King" of the State, and
well known for his philanthropies, con-
sidered the child labor issue at the after
noon session.
1.-The National Child Labor Committee
has been responsible for number OF
sensational articles in the magazines and
Sunday papers, prepared for the purpose
of creating sympathy for the children
on cranberry boys, and transmitting it
into cash contributions, he said: 1.-The
methods are open to criticism, because
its agents picture as typical the worst
conditions.
rallure to give all the facts or to note
any of the benefits derived from teach
ing children habits of industry make
the presentation of their case unfair and
often misleading. Nevertheless, they
are creating public opinion which may
.esult in legislation not only injurious
to the truckers and fruit growers of New
Jersey, but also the poor people whom it
is supposed to benefit.
"Children under 10 to II years of age
are an encumbrance to the fruit grower,
| out parents and older children are neces-
sary in gathering the crop, and the
Youngsters cannot be left behind.
"You are advised" concluded Mr..
White, ito be on the lookout for child
labor bills originated by faddists, and to
demand hearing before they are enacted
into law"
Mr.. White employed 450 adult pickers
and many children who accompanied
their parents on his Burlington county
boys last season. He said that several OF
the families took home $500 at the end
of the picking season.
Miss Elizabeth White, his daughter,
who assists in the operation of the ex-
tensive boys, took an active part in
Saturdays proceedings.
Growers will be financially rewarded
if it shall result in keeping the children
from the cranberry boys where they are
not wanted" said A. J. Rider, of Ham
monitor, secretary of the association, in
referring to the child labor topic in his
annual report.
''That there are abuses of children in
their employment for excessive hours
and under insanitary conditions, no per
son will deny; but cannot these abuses
be corrected as others are without de
Istroying the greatest maker of manhood
and manhoOd-industry?
IF insanitary conditions exist on the
cranberry boys, it is usually due to the
habits of those the growers employ
And it is the aim of every grower who
lemploys any considerable number to
IenfOrce regulations which tend to lead
these people to more cleanly habits and
more sanitary methods of living.
eff we had them with us for longer
period than four or five weeks the effects
would be noticeable"
Referring to the statement that many
children are annually poisoned by
scratching their hands and getting spray
ing material from vines in the wounds
while picking on the boys, secretary
Rider said: sit is rather hard on the
medical profession to have one of theil
number quoted as saying that soap anC
bluestone fused in spraying). usually
regarded as purifiers, are distributors o.
poison. And the mention of briars on
cranberry vines provokes SMILE"
Four-year-old cranberries that had
been kept in cold storage since 1909 were
inspected by the growers, who had them
cooked and sampled at their dinner.
William Coffin, district freight agent
told the growers how to pack their Der
ries to prevent damage in shipment. A
talk on Cranberry Soils and Fertilizers
was given by John Harding Voorhees,
of the New Jersey State Experiment
Station at New Brunswick.
Franklin r. Dye, secretary State Board
of Agriculture, assured the members that
the State Board was giving more and
more attention to cranberry culture.
The association reelected these officers
President, Rev. E. HI. Durell, Wood.
bury; first vice president, Charles d.
Makepeace, Mays Lanning; second vice
president, ]. ID. Holman, Whitesville
secretary and treasurer, A. j. Rider
Hammonton; executive committee, C,
+. Budd and Franklin S. Chambers
representatives to State Board of Agri
culture, Ezra Evans and j. ID. Holman
representative in State Federation Of
| Agricultu raj Societies, A. j, Rider,