Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-02
"Poor Mans Court" Gives
Labor Its Justice Free
lBv c. K. McClatehy, Jr.l

lawyer, Hiram w. johnson DeIore nc
became Governor had definite knowl-
edge of the evils and abuses to
which labor was subjected in this
State for the lack of simple and just
laws giving unto the laboring man
that justly his.
The laws relating to labor passed
during his term are the crystalization
Of the thought of the able Labor
leaders of California, tempered by the
Justice of Hiram W. johnson, but en-
acted through his insistent demand
that the workingmen of this State
should be given just protection.
Little Done Before.
Let any laboring man think what
laws there were before johnson be-
came Governor to enforce the collec-
ton OF his wages, to protect him from
accidents in buildings and to save him
from overwork in hazardous occupa-
tions. Like the woman who worked,
the laboring man of California had
never been thought worthy of legis-
lation until the crusade of Hiram w.
johnson placed humanity alongside
property as one of the interests Of
government.
Labor Bureau Inactive.
Nothing tells the story more elo-
ouently than the regeneration of the
State Bureau of Labor. Before 1911
that body was presided over by q
politician who confined his duties to
collection of statistics upon Labor,
which SO far as benefting the labor
ing man might as well have been
upon the health and number of rhi
noeeroses. That labor bureau never
lifted finger to enforce any of the
few laws nor did single thing to
solve the practical problems or help
the yorkingmen in any way.
Appointed Efficient Men.
Soon after assuming Office, Gov
evnor johnson appointed John p. Nc
Laughlin, Labor leader OF San Fran
cisco. as Labor Commissioner, with
INSTRUCTIONS 10 no ItdCliCdi WIN III
helping workingmen of the state
with their problems and difficulties.
That official took upon himself the
enforcement of the Labor lays of the
state and those subsequently passed.
Poor Mans Court"
The State Labor Bureau should be
known as '"The Poor Mans Court,
for there he finds justice without
cost. Dishonest employers endeavor-
ing 20 beat him of wages find their
schemes foiled; crooked employment
agencies are made to return exorbi-
tant fees; while for all the problems
of the poor and needy there are able
men ready and equipped to lend their
services.
Before this was done unscrupulous
employers persisted in holding out
wages and cutting them below the
agreed amount The only recourse was
the courts, with costly lawyers fees
ard long delays, during which the
laborer might live as best he could.
Agencies for collections of wages ecl-
listed in all the cities, which for a
twenty to thirty percentage endeav
cred to collect the workingman's
wages.
Wages Collected Free.
Today no workingman need pay a
cent Cor the collection of wages justly
due him. A simple complaint to any
Of the Labor offices in San Francisco,
Los k3geles. Sacramento or San
Diego instantly puts the machinery of
the State in motion. Hearing Is given
10th employer and employe by one of
the Deputy Labor Commissioners, and
the wages justly due the workingman
are rendered him, without cent be-
ing diverted into the parasitical peck
cts Of labor agents or lawyers.
Large Sums Collected.
Up TO December 30, 1913, 8,277 wage
complaints were filed with the Labor
Bureau. These ranged from sixty
cents to $500, and were filed by
workers unable to pay lawyers fees
and needing the money for their daily
necessities.
Since the first of January wider
publicity has made the workers con
versant with the work of the State,
and consequently collections have
greatly increased. During the month
OF June the Sacramento office alone
collected $9,339.94 out Of claims ag-
qregating St2,409.8s. Similar in
creases We're made in all the other
offices in the State.
Pay Check Graft Stopped.
Formerly the pay check graft was
81 operation throughout California.
Under it, a workingman was often
forced to wait a month OF even six
months to obtain his wages. If the