Camden Courier-Post – June 16, 1933
Charges Agitators Seek to Destroy Faith in Future
Dr. Stone Invites Jobless Union Officials to Conference and Inspection
Promises Baker Inquiry
Wayland P. Cramer, director of the Camden County Emergency Relief Administration, yesterday ridiculed charges his bureau is allied with sweatshops, as publicly issued by the New Jersey Unemployed Union, at a mass meeting here.
At the same time Dr. Arthur L. Stone, city health officer and director of the city emergency relief board welcomed spokesmen of the unemployed to a conference. Dr. Stone announced he will accompany the committee today on a tour of inspection of the city relief bureau.
Director Cramer at first refused to “dignify with an answer” the charges of the unemployed. Later he issued a statement leveled at “insidious attacks of agitators endeavoring to break down the hope and faith in the future of our government, our home and our institutions.”
Promises Inquiry
Questioned as to his attitude on two affidavits obtained by the unemployed union, in which it is charged Mrs. Viola Baker, municipal relief director of Magnolia, had used her position to subsidize persons in need of aid, Director Cramer said:
“If those affidavits are turned in to me, I shall see that they are examined as to the facts and by the proper authorities.”
Cramer announced that John Colt, state relief director, would have a final decision to make concerning the request of the Courier-Post Newspapers for a list of salaries of employees of the Camden County Relief Administration.
Colt, through his deputy, Col. Joseph D. Sears, refused this week to permit publication of the salary lists in newspapers, declaring it would “impose a hardship and embarrass the little fellows on the payroll.” Colt is reported to be reconsidering his first decision.
“In spite of the insidious attacks of agitators endeavoring to break down the hope and faith in the future of our government, our homes, and our institutions, the vast majority of the people are ‘carrying on’ in a generously patriotic manner that is absolutely necessary to bring back the stable employment conditions which mean so much to all of us,” Cramer said.
Demands Co-operation
“Every man and woman must do everything in their power to maintain the internal security of this country. I am doing my part by giving the best of my ability to honestly and ably organize and expedite the functioning of Emergency Relief throughout Camden County.
“Unless adequate relief is given to each and every deserving person, there is a failure which we take very much to heart. At the same time, we must make certain that those who are not deserving receive punishment for taking away the portion due those who are.
“Qualified citizens will find the records open for examination; all suggestions for the improvement of our service will be welcomed and, as in the past, will be acknowledged.
“This is a public relief administration, and its success to the fullest extent is dependent upon the full and whole-hearted co-operation of every citizen of Camden County.”
Stone Sees Unemployed
Dr. Stone conferred with Frank J. Manning, president of the Unemployed Union of New Jersey; Clarence E. Moulette, executive secretary, and George Yost, state organizer of the Young Peoples’ Socialist Party.
The trio, Dr. Stone said, called on him to discuss their request for representation within the relief administration.
“I believe,” Dr. Stone said, “that it is only fair that these gentlemen and any others from representative organizations should have an opportunity to look into the inner workings of the relief administration. Of course, it is human to make mistakes, but I want to show these men that if mistakes were made they were made honestly.
“I shall open the office records for their inspection and shall do my utmost to explain all details of relief work to their satisfaction.
“If, after the tour of inspection, these men still insist on representation in my department of relief work, I shall take up that question for further consideration.”
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