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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1914)
5ft VV A The Commoner VOL. .14, iN0. 10 ft V I. 4! a ft, A V. I iw. The Work of the President's Cabinet DEPARTMENT OP IAI30R )'.9 ' LABOR REPRESENTED IN THE' ADMINIS f . TRATION ' ''By William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor. From tho "American Foderatlonlst," Sdptotriber, 10'i4.) Wllht do wo moan when we-spoak of the "labor movement?" To Bomo minds it convoys only tho idea of tho perpetual struggle for higher wages, fewer hours of labor, greater safoty, and hotter sanitary surroundings for tho workers. That is a narrow interpretation. Tho labor movoment is as broad as humanity itself. It roadhos out into all of tho ramififcations of hu man activity. It is tho motivo powor that is moving forward to that higher civilization which Wlll'iiltimately cause the "man with tho hoe" to stand erect beforo his Maker and all tho world, tho -peer of every other man not only in his rights which wo know theoretically concede, but lil his physical and mental opportunities and en dowments. Tho Individual who puts forth his efforts to advance tho Wolfaro of mankind is, maybo unconsciously, a part of tho movement. The societies which are organized to provent tho exploitation of children, to protect womanho'dd against industrial wrongs, promote more comfort and bettor sanitation in tho homes of the work ers, to dovolop and to direct into proper chan nels ' necessary educational facilities, to create sdfo and sanitary conditions in the mines, mills, and workshops, to arouse public sentiment In favor of collectlvo bargaining between employers and employes are all parts of the great labor Movement. Tho trade union embracing, as it does, tho work of all thoso, and all tho phases of human uplift which those do not embrace, is one of tho groat motors of modern times moving tho world forward to its highest conception of human rights, human liberty, and human welfare. If wo take as our definition of labor "any niental or physical activity engaged in nbt solely for pleasure," wo are led inevitably to the con clusion that the movoment that deals with labor must give its attention toward every word, deed, ox condition which injuriously affects humanity in order that a remedy may be found, and the public mind so informed that it will accept and apply it. It is from this standpoint that wo have approached the organization and the administra tion of the department of labor. The organic act declares: "The purpose of the department of labor shall be to foster, promote, and develop the wolfaro of the wage-earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions and to ad vance their opportunities for profitable employ ment." What a tremendous Held this maps out for us! Tho department has been in existence for more than a year. It is in its formative state. The utmost care must be exercised that no false stop shall be made. It is more important that it shall movo right than that it shall move fast. In the period of its existence it has not startled the world by the complete solution of the labor problem. It is not likely to do so in the near future. But tho help it has given in solving con crete problems aB they have arisen haB justified its existence. It has been heard in the inner councils of the administration. Its advice has bben sought and given to congress on matters affecting tlie workers. It has gathered and given publicity to important facts concerning tho con ditions of thoso who toil. It has put forth effec tive efforts to protect the women and children of our country. It has enforced the immigration laws while protecting the immigrant. It has sought to impress upon the alien seeking nat uralization the true spirit of our institutions. It has found employment for thousands who would otherwise have been unemployed. It has brought omployers and employes together in scores of trade disputes, enabling them to work out their problems to their mutual advantage without in dustrial warfare. It has been consulted by em ployers and employes, by trade unionists and non-unionists, by sociologists and scientists has freely exchanged advice in an effort to accom plish the purposes for which it was created, and in many other ways has utilized its influence for tho common weal. This may not be much for a department of the government having such a wide field to work in, but too touch should not bo expected from a de partment newly organized and not yet in com plete 6peration, Enough has been accomplished .however, to demonstrate its usefulness. The Workers have long looked forward to the estab lishment of this department. May they have just grounds for hopo in its accomplishments, faith in its future, and charity for its mistakes, is' tho wish of its present chief. BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION For several years tho bureau of immigration has maintained a branch office in New York City which has been engaged in directing men to op portunities for securing employment and set tling on tho land. With a view to giving- tho entire country a similar service, at least so far as farm labor and other kindred pursuits are concerned. The department has recently estab lished eighteen (18) distribution zones covering the entire United States (as indicated by the attached table). You will observe that one oGlco in each zone is designated as ''headquart ers," and that in many of tho zones there aro branch offices in addition. As tho division of information Is a part of the immigration service, officers of that service, already stationed in the several cities which have been designated as dis tribution offices, will be selected to attend to the work of distribution, in addition to their other duties. Therefore, for tho time being, no new positions will be created, tho entire work being handled by officers connected with the immigra tion stations in those cities. A plan of co-operation has been effected with the post office department, whereby all post offices in the. United States will keep on hand blanks of the division of information and fur nish them to applicants during office hours. No tices to the effect that blanks may be had are to bo displayed on bulletin boards In all post offices. When the blanks are received by tho division of information, the facts they contain are to be compiled and transmitted in the form of bulletins to the appropriate distribution office or offices for attention. ZONES FOR DISTRIBUTION OFFICES 1 Headquarters, Boston, Mass.; territory, Mass., R. I., and Maine; sub-branches, Provi dence, Portland. 2. Headquarters, New York City, distribution branch (and Ellis Island, N. Y.) ; territory, N. Y., N. J., N. H., Vt., Conn.; sub-branches, Buffalo. 3 Headquarters, Philadelphia, Pa.; territory, Pa., Del., W. V.; sub-branch, Pittsburgh. 4 Headquarters, Baltimore, Md.; territory, Maryland. 5 Headquarters, Norfolk, Va.; territory, Va., N. C. 6 Headquarters, Jacksonville, Fla.; territory, Fla Ga., Ala., S. C; sub-branches, Savannah, Mobile, Birmingham, Charleston. 7 Headquarters, New Orleans, La.; territory, La., Miss., Ark., Tenn.; sub-branches, Gulfport, Miss., Memphis, Tenn. 8. Headquarters, Galveston, Tex.; territory, Texas, N. M.; sub-branch, Albuquerque. 9 Headquarters, Cleveland, Ohio; territory, Ohio, Ky.; Bub-branch, Cincinnati. 10 Headquarters, Chicago, 111.; territory, 111., Ind Mich., Wis.; sub-branches, Milwaukee, Detroit. 11 Headquarters, Minneapolis, Minn.; terri tory, Minn., N. D S. D. 12 Headquarters, St. Louis, Mo.; territory, Mo., Kans., Okla., la.; sub-branches Kansas City, Mo., Des Moines, la. 13- Headquarters, Denver, Colo; territory, Colo., Wyo., Nebr., Utah; sub-branch, Salt Lake City, Utah. 14 Headquarters, Helena, Mont.; territory Mont., Idaho; sub-branch, Moscow, Idaho. ' 15--Headquarters, Seattle, Wash.; territory. Washington. ' 16 Headquarters, Portland, Ore., territory, Oregon. J 17 Headquarters, San Francisco, Cal.; terri tory, Northern -California, Nev.; sub-branches Fresno, Sacramento. ' 18 Headquarters, Los Angeles, Gal., terri tory, Southern California, Ariz.; sub-branches, San Diego; Tucson, Ariz. , ' Tho foregoing zones for the purpose of facili tating tho distribution of farm labor in the United States are hereby established. Approved: (Signed) W. B. WILSON, Secretary. (Signed) A. CAMINETTI, Com. Gen. DEPAIVHMENT OF, AGRICULTURE THE FALL APPLE CROP , The office of markets has announced that the commercial applo crop of the United States is probably much larger this year than last; but-less than that of 1912 by several million barrels. Howeyer, it is estimated -in. the current number of tho Agricultural Outlookof the department that tho 'problem of distribution will prove to bq more complex than two years', ago, owing" to cer tain conditions'1 resulting from 'the European war. ' Attention is called to the small quantity of American apples rarely as much as 2,000,000 barrels taken by Europe in normal times. Both the growers and dealers ure urged to view the situation with optimism and to preparo for the disposal of Europe's usual portion in other ways. It is suggested that with judicious handling the demand at home may be increased and the com mercial crop marketed with relatively fair suc cess to. all. UPWARD TENDENCY OF PRIdES FOR CRIM SON CLOVER' ' -' Prices for imported crimson clpver and hairy vetch seed have recently shown 'such a marked upward tendency (hat specialists of the' depart ment" feai' that the cost of these seed, of which. Europe is the chief '"source, "will interfere with the increasing ilse of these leguminous cover crops. In fact, it is feared that the prices of the seed of these legumed may go so high as to make it inadvisable to plant them this year.' Before the present European conditions arose, crimson clover seed was selling at frpm $4 to $5 per bushel. Up to 'August 16 there was a scarc ity 6f this seed In the Unite.CStates, owing to the fact that the .receipts from. Europe were smaller than usual. The prices then advanced to from $7.50 to $9 per bushel". Since that date, importations have continued to arrive, until there is now more imported weed available for fall seeding than there was In this country a year ago at this time. This seed, according to the depart ment's information, was all imported at approx imately the same price as that soid for $4 to $4.50 per bushel in the early part of the season. The present high price, therefore, is regarded by the department as unwarranted from the stand point of the supply and tlie import price of the -seed. Some dealers are continuing to sell at the former- price, but these are 'exceptions ' " ' If the present high price fs mafntataefl ' the specialises ure doubtful whether crimson clover can be profitably used as a green manure crop for seeding in corn or on vacant ground, or under other conditions where the catch is not reasonably certain. Under suoh conditions they point out that it will be better practice to sow rye this fall and use the difference in price In adding nitrogen to the soil In the form of nitrate of soda, or some her highly nitrogenous fertil izer. The rye will afford a winter cover prevent ing washing and leaching, and can be plowed under in the spring to add humus to the soil. When crimson clover is being used regularly aa a winter cover crop in orchard culture, or where experience indicates that a good catch and a good crop are' practically certain, payment of a higher price for the seed will no doubt be justi fied. A somewhat similar condition exists with ref erence to hairy vetch seed. There has been ap proximately six-sevenths as much seed imported since November 1, 1913, as in the year previous. This shortage, however, is partly counterbal anced by the increasing domestic production of hairy vetch seed. Wherever the price of hairy vetch seed is found to be exorbitant, the same change in farm practice is recommended as that suggested in the case of crimson clover. QUARANTINE RAISED ON MEXICAN BEEF CATTLE Hereafter, cattle from quarantined districts in Mexico which are intended for immediate slaugh ter in tho United States can be snipped direct to slaughtering centers in this country without the sixty-day detention on the border to which they have hitherto been subjected. An amendment to the regulations governing the shipment of cattle from tick-infested regions, providing for this, has been signed by the secre taries of agriculture and the treasury, and goes into effect immediately. This amendment is known as Amendment No. 1 to Bureau of Ani mal Industry Order No. 209, Under the former regulations, cattle shipped from tick-infested areas in Mexico were kept within the quarantined area of Texas for sixty days as a precautionary measure against the spread of the pest in the rest of the United States. The' new amendment applies only' to such cattlo as aro destined for immediate slaughter. Under certain restrictions these can now bo ( sA P '."!