The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-08
THE AGENTS STORY.
They Repel Attacks on Private
Employment Offices.
The WORK OF LABOR UNIONS.
An Answer TO Attacks MADE ~ the
Council Msesisr-Isvsstixa-
tion IL Invited.

The private employment agents Of the
city; who we're the subject Of attack at III .
meeting OF the city council on Monday
evening. object to being condemned nm
heard and viii resist the attempt To abol-
ish their business They not only defend
themselves but vigorously attack their
SllScs' and invite full investigation of
sneir methods Of doing business. George
". crane and John Ras. who compose the
nsn OF Crane q Rae. talked plainly and to
me point TO Posr-IyTELLaeKscKn re-
porter yesterday. saying:
ihe crusade against the EMPLOYMENT
agents OF the city emznates, in our opin-
Tn IN rom the estern Central Labor Union.
sonh Lamb, who 10 ia charge OF the city's
Tree labor bureau, secured his position
MAINLY through the influence of the orxan-
iIsa labor IN this city. which IL embodied
IN the w estern Central Labor Union. Mr..
Lamo, IN our opinion, is the representa-
i've ana mouthpiece of that body and in
large measure carries out its behssts. It
VIII De remembered that the labor leaders
insisted on the institution Of the free labor
uureau- AS II is their pet city institution
Ihey VISA TO give il larger scope and in
oruer 10 do this the private employment
agencies must be crow dsd out Of existence.
think II unfair for the city in the
nrss place 70 enter into competition with
Us and think il most ungenerous 10 try To
crowd Us out of business.
Lamb has lost no opportunity to abuss
ana berate the employment agents. At
the time License Inspector Taylor WAS
last around the employment agents ran
ten days behind with their licenses and
Commissioner Lamb caused them to be
arrested and claimed incidentally that
they were interfering with his Jobs. Ii 10
n iNsx
agitators TO make trouble and 20 kick up
row. The result Of this is that those who
are seeking employment keep away from
US and we are without cause brought into
public disrepute.
1T is our opinion that the object of this
agitation Is TO have the private employ
ment agencies abolished so that the free
employment bureau may have a monopoly.
Here Is where someone's fine Italian hand
Is shown. When q monopoly is secured,
then all the nne Jobs and positions will be
given 10 the union men and those who are
not members of some union will be given
the refuse jobs. This is the scheme that
they are trying to work.
This would be disadvantage as en-
ployers would then be compelled to en-
ploy one class of men and this would be q
great disadvantage TO them, and they
would fight such an arrangement. They
want the benefit of little competition
Seattle Is the labor center of this section,
but If any such a scheme as we have out
lined is carried out they will go elsew here
after help. We have as customers the best
mills. the biggest loggers, shingis makers
and lumbermen, and We are able TO keep
them notwithstanding the free labor bu-
reau. Mr.. Lamb has found this OUT and
We think this Is one OF the many reasons
for his attack on Us.
I'VE invite the fullest investigation into
our business. We cannot help IL if we
send men into the country and they are
city attorney or any other of the city Of
ficers TO examine fully how We transact
business and when they get through they
will find that we are ali right
I'VE claim that We are running q
straight. fair, legitimate business, and We
are under 81, 900 bonds to conduct il fairly.
Our business is just like any other. Ii 10
is conducted in dishonest manner we
soon lose our patrons and have TO close up
shop. Ii a man is swindled out of 81 by an
employ ment agent he comes back TO the
city and howls about IL so that he infiiets
$50 worth of damage on the dishonest
agent. IL does not pay TO be dishonest In
our business.
I'VE do not want the city to take snap
judgment In the matter. but We want the
city officers to hear our side of the story
before they take action. Why, We give q
written guarantee to every one who ac-
cepts an offer for work. for which he pays
US, to refund the money in case the place
is not secured.
1--WE. find that about all the trouble
comes from agitators and iawsmiths who
are looking for work and praying not TO
find it. You never hear any willing, hard
working msn complaining about the en-
pioymsnt men. On the contrary, they are
our best friends, as we are theirs. for we
can always And them work when they
need it,"
The committee OF the city council ap-
pointed to investigate the charges against
employment agents viii meet at the city
council chamber at 2 O'clock tomorrow
afternoon, when ali persons who know of
abuses practicsd by the agents are re-
anestsd TO give their testimony.