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|Times Probes Complaint :|Prepared By Bahamians; Reveals Wages And Menusf1!s 1 te:IIe \r;ii!During lhe past week there have been rumors of discontent and unrest at Camp Sharpe, on the Battlefield, where some 122 Bahamians are quartered during their stay in Adams county where they are assisting farmers and growers during the harvesting of crops.The Gettysburg Times inquired through official channels and learned that the Bahamians had not filed an official protest.On Tuesday The Times received a communication, purporting to come from the Bahamians, protesting against what they termed living conditions which they said were “below the average/*A reporter for The Times started a second investigation. He failed to find a “J. W. Strachau” who was referred to in the letter of complaint. Official records oi the Bahamians do not contain any such name.Erwin C. Thompson, of the War Food Administration, office of labor, who is in charge of the administration of Camp Sharpe, opened his official records to the Times’ reporter. The steward at the camp also made data and records available.Below is the report of the findings of The Times’ reporter (in the first column) and the compiaint mailed to The Times (in the adjoining column).The letter of protest follows: “Dear Editor.“We would like every possible chance of having tills item published if it is legal. Any changes refer to J. W. Strachau.“Camp Sharpe “Gettysburg, Penna.“Thanks in anticipation •J. W. StrauchaiTTlie article follows:“We the Bahamian laborers which were imported by the American Government, from the British colony of Nassau in the Bahamas, would like to make a public complaint of thesituation...whirh. we are now living under by Government management here at Camp Sharpe, Gettysburg, Pa. r“We regret to say, that the situation here is below the average standard of a decent living. We believe that the American Government is capable of rendering better service to their imported employees. We do not ask for too much, only that which was promised to us, before we ventured on this journey to the United States of America.f“We have been employed in the U.S.A. as agricultural workers under Government supervision until now for the past three years, and got along fairly well; but Camp Sharpe has failed to measure up to the standard of Government agreement.“Your consideration please!“Thanks in anticipation.“Campers.“Camp Sharpe, “Gettysburg, Pa “£RODGERS HEADS GHS STUDENTSElections held at Gettysburg high school Friday resulted in the election of Fred Rodgers as president of the student body and Jay Her-shey as student member of the athletic board.Luther Sachs was elected president of the senior class. Galen Keeney was chosen president of the junior class; Bruce Westerdahl for the sophomore class, and Robert Sachs heads the freshman class.Other class officers elected were:Senior class: vice president. RutheThe crux of any recent discontent at Camp Sharpe might be summed up in these few words: “Too much fish.” That there was discontent at the camp was evident after talking with several of the 122 Bahamians which the United States government brought here through arrangements with the British government.Just what percentage of the num. ber of Bahamians here articulated discontent over what the management admits were monotonous menus, or what percentage accepted the explanations of the camp officials. is problematical. Not all the Bahamians could be questioned.But many of them voice dissatisfaction with the “too much fish diet they said they were being fed at the camp.Erwin c. Thompson, head of the War Food Administration office at 4S Chambersburg street, and Adam Cockman, camp manager, made office and camp records available to a Times reporter.The first of the Bahamian agricultural workers arrived in Gettysburg on July 16. Their presence here was at the request of Adams county farmers and fruit growers, who as far back as mid-winter feared loss of 1946 crops because of an anticipated farm labor shortage this summer and fall.These farmers and growers, through their representatives, learned that prisoner of war labor would not be available this year. Government agencies sent Bahamians here. They were quartered at Camp Sharpe, where the POWs had been housed prior to their removal early in the spring.Complaints, according to camp authorities were, until recently, few. They involved minor affairs which might arise among any large group A men, authorities say.The more recent “gripes” which apparently reached their high point on Monday of this week were based on the meals.Deny Fish ChargeThe Bahamians (or a percentage of them) said they did not like the meals that were being served them at me camp. Specifically, they said there was too much fish and not enough meat. Some, to whom this reporter talked, said they had not seen meat on the tables at camp for three weeks. Camp authorities deny this assertion.Menus for the two weeks ending (Continued on Page 2)
Newspaper Details
Gettysburg Star and Sentinel
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Oct 05, 1946
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 04 Jan 2019
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