Evening journal., 1915-03-26
Miss EmiIyP BisseLI Resigns
AS Member of Two Commissions

Miss Emily P. Bissell, one of the
foremost social welfare workers in
Delaware, sent to Governor Charles
r. Miller today her resignation as a
member of the State tuberculosis
Commission and as chairman Of the
Commission to Decorate the State
House. While the Child Labor Com
mission law repeater was under con-
sideration in Dover recently. Miss
Bissell wrote to Governor Miller and
informed him that If such legislation
were passed she would feel forced to
resign from the tuberculosis Com
mission and the State House DecOra-
ton Commission. The legislation
against which she and others protest.
ed was enacted, and her action of to-
day is in line with her previously an
nounced purpose.
The text OF the letter of today is as
follows:
Dear sir-In pursuance of the let
ter sent you February /, 1 hereby ten
der my resignation as a member Of
the State tuberculosis Commission.
and as chairman of the Commission
to Decorate the State House. l have
waited until the meetings of these two
commissions we're held, this week, so
that ] could finish up whatever busi-
ness had been entrusted TO me in
them. Now that this has been done.
desire my resignation from each body
to take effect at once.
"My former letter was, understand,
unacceptable in being addressed to
you as q personal friend. AS it has
never been acknowledged or answer
ed, suppose this must be true.
realize that it was mistaken way TO
write, and I apologize for the error.
I am endeavoring to write the present
letter as from one State servant TO
another, on matters of State concern
only, and requiring no reply.
Il am sure that you win agree with
me on one pOint-that the Executive
OF Delaware should be the protector
of all public workers who are trying
to do their duty. The State Child La
Dor Commission, of which / was a
member, did its plain duty, under the
law which created it. in dismissing an
| incompetent subordinate. If it had
not done this, it would still be in un-
disturbed existence. Because its in
competent subordinate was political
ward worker, the commission was
abolished for doing its duty in remov-
ing him under the law. These facts
suffered all things, / cannot feel that
it is possible for me TO serve further
on any State commission under your
administration. Those who have not
suffered such an experience may criti-
cize me. But any woman who has
been through public insult and attack
once. shrinks unspeagably from the
peril of a second ordeal
"The women on the Child Labor Com
mission did not seek to rule. They
sought only 10 serve. They trusted
Delaware to protect them during their
service. But instead, they were
publicly discreditei. as far as this
administration could do il. They were
entitled to courtesy and justice; they
received neither. Being vOteless citi
zens, they had a peculiar claim to thu
protection of the Executive. Yet when
for this reason, as woman com
missioner under attack, endeavoret
TO see you, first before / sent yol
any letter, and then after you hat
received mine and not replied to il
was totally unable to gain hear
ing. A date was at last set. and thel
postponed. with the assurance that
would not lose by waiting. I an
still waiting. Yet / cannot but fec
that 7 did not lose by not getting a
interview. I realize now that tn
destruction Of tho commission was al
are known to everyone. Our CON