The Saint Paul globe., 1902-03-30
ST.PAUL MAY LAND IT
COMMISSIONER O'DONNELL GOING
AFTER 1903 CONVENTION OF La
ROR BUREAU ASSOCIATION
WILL MEET IN NEW ORLEANS
Great Gathering of Industrial Lead
ers to Discuss Far-Reaching
Problems of the La
bOr World.

State Labor Commissioner John O'Don-
nell left last night for New Orleans,
where he goes to attend the eighteenth
annual convention Of the Association Of
Officials of Bureau of Labor Statistics Of
America which convenes in that city to-
morrow.
Mr. O'Donnell was honored at the last
convention by being placed on the eX-
ecutive committee. Carroll d. Wright,
United States commissioner of labor, is
president of the association Mr.. O'Don-
nell goes prepared to make noble fight
to secure the next convention of the as
sociation for st. Paul. He stands high
in the councils of the association and
his influence will prove a powerful factor
in locating the next convention The only
thing that will operate against ST. Paul in
this matter is the fact that the associa-
ton believes that it should make an eff
fort to spread its influence in the South
ern states, where labor conditions are
least favorable. The convention of 1893
was held in Minneapolis.
There are thirty-four bureaus of labor
in this association, including the depart
ment of labor of the Dominion of Canada,
and the bureau of labor of Ontario.
The objects of the association are TO
hold annual meetings for the discussion
of methods of work pertaining to bureaus
of labor or industrial statistics, to foster
ties Of friendship interchange ideas, and
to promote the welfare of the bureaus in
all the states of the country.
Questions of vast public Importance and
far reaching effect come before the asso-
citation for discussion and decision. Ques-
tions of labor conditions, wages, oppor-
tunities, laws of protection for workmen,
manual training and trade schools home
study and self-improvement of working
men, labor legislation, strikes, methods of
safeguarding hazardous labor, hours Of
labor trade unions, child labor, convict
labor, and statistics of many divisions Of
labor and industry. Men who have
studied these questions earnestly and
thoroughly discuss them together with
benefit to themselves and to the entire
country.
Work on the Association.
The general association work exerts a
great influence upon the work in each
state and it tends to increase in the mind
of the public the realization Of the great
Importance and necessity of the work be-
ing done by labor bureaus in the states.
In Massachusetts, and New York the ap-
preparations for the labor bureaus are
among the highest in the state. New
York has almost 100000 for the labor
bureau work. AS other states understand
the nature of the work done they sup
port these bureaus Of labor more gen.
orally, as they deserve.
The Massachusetts bureau of labor se-
cured the abolition of the tenement house
outrages In Boston, Bureaus in other
states have accomplished work just as
vital and important.
The work of the Minnesota bureau was
outlined in T G some time ago.
The bureau in Colorado does a line of
work done in no other state to any
great extent and it does it voluntarily and
without any requirement of law. 1t col
lects small labor debts that are owed to
people unable to properly protect them
selves. During the last two years that
department has received 500 applications
of this kind from laborers, involving a
total amount of over $1,000, in accounts
running from 30 cents to $3.50. The claim
ants in most cases were not so situated
as to be able to afford the expense of GO
ing to law.
There was no authority in law for the
department doing this, but the impress
sion prevailed that there was and work.
ingmen sent in their claims. and the de-