The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-08-07
JERSEY J0ADS
TELL STORIES
TO C0NGRESSMEN

NEW YORK.-(FP)- California is
mot the only state where Grapes of
Wrath conditions exist, it was shown
here by testimony before the house
committee investigating the situation
of migratory workers along the east
ern seaboard
Joe Lapolla, who came with his
family from Philadelphia to pick
beans in New Jersey, was asked about
housing. "You couldn't call that a
house, you'd call it shack" he said.
at has 10 people sleeping in it, it has
two windows as small as this Che
motioned with his hands, indicating
a square FOOT, and it is full of rats"
A question on toilet facilities
brought a laugh from Lapolla, who
said there were none. Failing to hear
the answer, another congressman
asked the same question a few min
utes later. We'll" Lapolla began,
READY to give detailed explanation,
you just go outside and" Here he
was cut Off while everyone in the
hearing room laughed
Lapolla said that he and the four
members of his family made only 5000
during the entire 4-month season, an
average of about $40 a month for
each.
One of the congressman asked
whether there had ever been any Ga
Dor trouble" in the New Jersey area
A New Jersey police official said there
had been only two strikes: one at
Seabrook Farms in 1884, and one last
spring by the CLIO at Mike Packs
farm.
He added that the farmers feared
the CLIO would organize the potato
pickers and they had already obtained
a ruling from Attorney General David
T. Wilentz of New Jersey that agricul-
tural workers, except those engaged
in processing, are not covered by the
Wagner act.
Rev. Joe Frank Hollander, a negro
Baptist minister who found employ
ment shocking oysters, said that even
conditions for oyster shuckers were
The union came in. Before the I'M
ion we only used to get 25c a pot;
Today we get 35c a pot" he said.
Living conditions are bad and most
Of the shacks leak"
Mrs. Naomi Hane, clothing work
sr, related that her family had hit the
Dad after the Fl. ID. Bob Co., the shirt
firm for which she worked, moved
south to get cheaper labor and, lower
axes. The shutdown threw $50 peo-
de out OF work, of whom only 20%
lad found employment locally, she
aid
1--WE set out in car and whenever
We saw a smokestack, we stopped to
six for a job" she said.
The H. d. Bob Co. ran away from
Pa, after refusing to renew
/ 3-year contract with the Amalga-
mated Clothing Workers (CIO), it was
by Federated Press. The
irm moved to Natchez and Picayune,
Hiss, and two months ago went out
# business completely
The committee will continue it's
earrings in Montgomery, Ala, and will
hen proceed to other sections of the
ountry. The chairman is Rep. John
T. Tolan ID, CALI, and other mem
ers are Rep Claude V. Parsons 3D.,
H., Rep. John j. Sparkman ID, Ala.),
.ep. Carl T. Curtis (R., Nebr.), and
.ep. Frank C. Osmers (R., N. -.
Although the committee heard a
.rge number of welfare officials, farm
wners and workers, no potato picker
sstified The committee failed to
isit the central New Jersey potato
rowing area in a tour of inspection
hitch preceded the hearings. Condi-
ons of the potato pickers are worse
IAN those of any other migratory
orkers in this area, the Workers De-
.nse League charges.