The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-03-02
INJUSTICE TO STATE BUREAU OF LABOR.

INJUSTICE TO STATE BUREAU OF LABOR.
letter from an alleged correspondent published
in the editorial columns Of the Grand Rapids
(N[nn.) Examiner severely arraigns the State Blu
reau OF Labor and opnes that the department has
mighty little to do with it's funds when they let their
factory inspectors go to California to study labor
conditions in that state, leaving the problem Of the
conditions OF the people of it's state 60
solved
The letter further states that Miss Jean Poirier
had been sent to the Pacific coast to look into labor
conditions there that she absent three months
at considerable expense to the state, and that her
report was undoubtedly written for her before she
left Minnesota Considerable space is devoted to
labor conditions in Minnesota but all through the
article the writer severely scores the Bureau of
Labor.
He concludes by asking the working classes to
vote the Socialist ticket and asserts that relief
come through the old parties who would rather
investigate conditions away from home, than solve
them at home.''
The article in question is not only unfair to Miss
Polrler and the Bureau of Labor. but it makes a
number Of statements that known to be untrue
by most every reader Of Duluth daily newspaper.
In the very first paragraph of the letter untruth
stated and when this is proven every other allega
tion falls of it's weight.
The truth is that Miss Porier was not sent to
California by the State Bureau of Labor She did
not 80 there at the expense of the State, does
the Bureau expect any report of her findings there
She called to San Francisco because of the
serious illness Of her sister, Miss Lydia Poirier
formerly in charge of the city library She went at
her own expense Miss Jean Porier remained at the
bedside of her sister until assured she was on the
road to recovery.
During the time she was not at the hospital Miss
Poirier made study of labor conditions among
women workers in San Francisco She did this be-
of her great interest in the labor problem and
for the further purpose of getting help in her work
at home. Since her return she has been invited to
relate her observations to society of sympathizing
women in Duluth
The fact is the writer in the Examiner has been
barking up the wrong tree He is either grossly
misinformed or he has Willfully and maliciously
stated untruth and it up to him and the editor
Of the Examiner to admit the corn and thus set Miss
Poirer and the State Bureau of Labor right with his
readers.
Miss Poirier has been with the Bureau of Labor
for several years. She has been hard and earnest
worker in the department. During all of this time
she has taken vacation and if the state did pay
her salary while she was away it was no more than
she had coming
j If the writer of such slanderous article could
prove himself capable of performing for the work
ing classes just of the many good things done by
Miss PORTER during her career as state factory in
spector he might be justified in speaking for labor
but men like him do not do things they are content
to assail the people who really trying to make
life brighter and better for the working classes