Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16
DUTCH

immigration agent pretty well. and Is
daily extending that ACQUAINTANCE. 1heh
there are in many of the states factory
inspectors and labor commissioners. HIS
wears at the head of the Knights OF La
Dor brought him more less into con-
tact with them. as we'll as with the large
employers of labor all over the country
He has his own agents everywhere. hopes
soon, as already set forth, 10 nave tieiii
on the steamers.
Aside from these he is opening up all
sorts of local channels OF information.
| from governors of states and county au-
| thorities down to the most insignificant
| little fourth-class postma sters. and even
! rural free delivery carriers. On the other
| hand, every man who comes seeking IN
! formation is expected in his turn to fur
nish 1t concerning the locality In winch
he settles. Of one and all he asks: Does
your community need men? How many?
| What for? How will 1t treat them? What
will it pay them?
Glittering generalities don't go. When
California SAYS. We need a million men.
MIR. Powderly does not get excited over
she size of the order. nor does he set
Immediately about filling it. He asks
them just how many they need In each
county. how many i'm each town. what
wages. will be paid under what condi-
tions the men will live and work. Sat-
isfieu on all these points he will prob
ably find the men. even though the mil
lion really is wanted. For his source OF
supply is the entire country, and more
remotely. the entire world. But he is
insa table for detail, more detail. and yet
again. more detail.
F:mpha Ideally. however. the alien is no
preferred over the native born. 1t i!
taken forI granted that the American
workman will take advantage Of the op
portunity offered to get information as t
, supply and demand in his own line o.
work. When lie does the division of in
, formation is very much at his servic'
AMI takes good deal of trouble to hell
, him to better his condition. Then l
promotes a rather less intelligent man Il
the place he has vacated: and perhaps
S puts one of the. new arrivals into th'
second mans place. where he can learr
+ the ropes So it is promotion all alonl
the line and every one is happy.
The division regards both laboring mar
and employer as its clients. 1t tries Il
t keep in touch with both. keeps then
cataIogued and asks them to report oc
: casonally as TO progress and conditions
each thus becoming a fresh source o.
information and contributing his quota Il
the efficiency of the greatest employment
bureau in the world. Mr.. Powderly il
! in touch with the manufacturers all ovel
the country who are likely to need help
( He knows how much they will pay: how
| they treat their employees: If there ar,
any who are making the bid of better
wages or better treatment for a better
class of workman it's the divisions bust
| ness to know that For instance. a GER
. tain employer writes that he wants
certain number of hands. and invites al
investigation Of his factory. He claims
that he pays a little more than curren
: wages and considers the conditions o
work in his plant infinitely supe rior Il
most He even offers If conditions any
! where are better than in his factory. K