New-York tribune., 1919-01-24
Employers Request
Smith to Withdraw
Perkins Nomination
Manufacturers and Mer-
chants Want Representa-
tive as Industrial Com
missioner to Aid HARMONY

ALBANY, Jan. 22.-Feelng that Miss
FRANCES Perkins does not represent the
interests of the employer, the Associ-
a'ed manufacturers and Mechanics of
New York State yesterday formally
petltloned Governor Smith to withdraw
her nomination for State Industrial
commissioner and substitute some per-
son representing the employers. The
letter OF the employers, signed by Mark
A. DAILY, general secretary of the as
sociation, says:
This petition is made in the inter-
ests of justice. Your excellencv's we'll
known familiarity with the labor and
compensation laws has given you the
knowledge that the labor laws were en-
acted for the purpose of safeguarding
the lives and health of employees. and
that the compensation law was enacted
to compensate employees injured in the
course Of their employment The re-
sponslblllty for putting into effect the
provisions OF these laws rests with the
Industrial Commission.
Have Gone Further Than Law
"The restrictions imposed by the
laws touch only employers. The bcnc-
fits derived from the laws accrue to
employees. The success or failure of
ire laws IS dependent upon the measure
OF compliance by employers and the
measure OF benefits to employees 1t is
true that compliance can be manda
to your eNcellency's attention the fact
that since the enactment of the laws
the majority of employers have not
only willingly accepted them, but many
employers have gone far beyond the
statutes in the attempt to better the
conditions Of employment. This has
been due to the fact that employers
and employees have been brought closer
together, have been able to understand
each others viewpo. mt, and for the last
three years have brought their prob
lens annually to common table. and
have mutually agreed to many things
upon which it was once thought they
never could agree.
"The Industrial Commission, as
equally representative Of employer and
omployc. was the medium through
which these annual conferences and
agreements we're brought about When
1t fails to be representative of one side
or the other we are inclined to believe
that it will not be the same effective
agency for promoting the present har-
monious relations between employers
and employees.
Has Checked Labor Trouble
"It may interest your excellency to
know that the results of these pleasant
relations are shown by the fact that
there has been less labor difficulty in
New York State, the largest industrial
state OF the Union, than in any other
industrial state, and that during the
period of the war, when business was
pressed to its utmost by demands for
added production, and consequently
worked at fcverish high speed, the &C
sident ratio in industry according to
The figures of the Industrial Commits
sion. shows a surprisingly remarkable
and gratifying decrease.
at IS for the purpose Of continuing
the pleasant relations between employ
crs and employees in this state that we
ask your excellency to withdraw the
nomination of Miss Perkins and sub
stitute the nomination Of a representa-
tive OF the employers of the state"