New-York tribune., 1919-01-16
Frances Perkins
Opposed as State
Industrial Official
Senate Gets Many Protests
Against Confirmation of
". Z. Woman: Governor
Not to Withdraw Name
StdT Coy7.esoocde,.rc

stdT Correspondence
ALBANY, Jan. 15.--protests from ali
parts Of the state are pouring in on
The Senate Finance Committee against
the confirmation Of Miss Fra..ces Perk-
ms, Of New York, as member of the
State Industrial Commission. The pro
tests have come from labor organiza-
tions, from associations OF manufact-
urers snG business men, and from in
dividuals.
Miss Perkins. who in private life is
Mrs. Paul Wilson. the wife oe the
executive secretary OF the late Mayor
Mitchell Of New York City, is d described
by hsr opponents as a radical who
represents neither capital nor labor
"My Candidate" smitl, Says
The Associated Manufacturers and
Merchants. which includes nearly 1000
of the leading employers Of labor in
the state. has fled a formal protes.
with j. Henry Walters. president pro
teM OF the Senate, against the confir-
aaton Of Miss Perkins.
Governor Smith to-day vas told
there was considerable speculation as
to whose candidate she vas. He said:
Miss Perkins is ny candidate"
'In View OF these protests. viii you
withdraw her name" the Governor
wa asked.
"Mo." he replied. 81 appointed har
because she was a member Of the Wag-
ncr Factory Investigating Committee
and, as such. helped prepare the pres
ent labor code"
"Whom does she represent. Th,
them and labor says she is not It's can
d;late."
'Snc represents the millions Of we~;.
ing girls Of the state. I determined on
her when I felt that woman shouin
be named on the commission. ! do not
know what her politics eve and don;
see why the representative OF any na-.
ticular interest should he appointed to
this or any other position.
Abran !. Eilus. VINO vas counsci 10
the Wagrer fsctaly investiea:inc COM
mite" and who is one Of Goyornor
SMITHS advisers, is credited ,-itli hav.
Ing pc15uaded the Governor to namc
Miss Perkins.
Manufacturers Ask Fair Deal
Tho protest Of the Associated Ii4Y
Ufacturcrs and Merchants: is cor,ni-
dabic document. 1t points out that its
members represent tangible assets o.
more than $3.50 0oo, 600 and ca,plo.
more than oo0,or0 mon ard " Owen.
Inc rarutscturers rccite the follow
ing four points as q, just co7ap am;
against INC continuation of tac ap
pointmcn, Of Miss Perkins':
First That the employers of tho
state arc entitled, IS matter OF
right, 10 at least crle representative
on the industrial commission. which
y so closely touches them and their in
terosts.
Second That no employers voice
III shc adm inistration Of the compen.
sation law actually is 'taxat;on with
out approximation and violates a
principlc our forefathcrs fought to
maintain.
Third That the appointment Of
Miss Perklns, If confirmed, would be
an obvious discrimination against
one section of the state in favor of
another. without the consent or ap-
Qroval OF those Disseminated aCainst.
Fourth That Miss Perkins rop-
resents neither employer nor en-
pioye, and, SO far as VIC know, never
had any practical experience in
factory, either as an employer or An
cmployc."
it is problen,atical what the Senate
will do. Leaders said they would hosi-
tate to decline to confirm Miss Perkins
because it might be said that their ac-
'i'on was inspired by the fact that
woman had been named TO an S8 900
job.