Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-01
Washington Bureau OF
! The OttumWa Courier,

Washington, d. c., July so.
There Is no excuse for idleness
on the part OF any man IN this ooun-
try who Is willing and able to work.
There is demand practically from
every state in the union for labor;
skilled and unskilled. The governors
of the states are calling on us to send
them men and women who are not
afraid to work, and they promise to
furnish for any number OF persons,
either in the factories and shops Of
the cities or on the farms. have
been amazed to learn of the oppor.
tunities that are open to labor
This statement was made today by
lT. v. Powderly. the head of the new
bureau of information which the gov
eminent has established In connection
with the bureau of immigration. This
Office has been In existence less than
three weeks but already 1t has had
requests from reliable sources for
thousands of men who want positions.
There is no doubt that the bureau will
turn out to be the biggest employment
Office In the world.
The first thing that Mr.. Powderly
/ did after assuming charge of the bur
eau of information was to draft a form
of note to the various governors,
In 1t he stated that the government
was looking for accurate information
about opportunities for employment
for newly arrived immigrants. Mr.
Powderly asked each governor If there
was any demand for labor in his state
land II so Of what character and for
how many persons He also wanted
to know something about wages. cost
Of land and other facts connected with
home making.
"send us Laborers" Cry the Governors
4 The replies of the governors are
coming in They are coming at suof
a rapid rate and with such insisten'
demands for armies of men who art
not afraid Of work that Mr., Powderl,
has been rather taken off his feet. !
what the governors say can be reliet
upon, and the statements IN each case
are to be carefully verified by thu
bureau of information. employers II
the large cities and In the agricrltul
! al districts from one end of the coun
lack of willing and anxious to pa.
good salaries for practically any nun
, Der of able bodied men not afflicted
with the hook worm.
The call for help Is not confined Il
any one area. 1--WE want laborer
, throughout the state. both for MANI
, featuring and for agricultural pu,
poses" writes the governor Of MassN
, chusetts "All classes of workmen
reports the commissioner Of labor {
Oregon" are needed some are wante
everywhere. There is no differenc
between the demand for married me
; and the demand for single men; the
are all wanted" i
II The same word comes from tn
: south. Maryland, Georgia and Loui
: lana are all on record as desirin
: about as many active hustlers as til
r bureau Of immigration can furnish.
: What New York State Officials Sa,
The most pessimistic report yet r,
!, ceived comes. curiously enough frol
New York. The state authorities hay
v not enthused greatly over the idea {
S an influx Of alien laborers Possibl
It they have enough of this class of labe
Q already from Ellis Island.
At any rate. the chief statistical
Of the department of labor at Alban
to whom Governor Hughes turne
= over the letter of Mr. Powderly,. SCI
d the doleful message that there al
s now 100000 building mechanics out {