Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-17
by James J. Davis.

me purpose or tho Department Of
Labor shall be TO foster. promote and
develop IN" welfare Of tho wage
carriers OF the United states. to i'm
Irove their working conditions. and
To advance their opportunities for
profitable employment"
With these words, Congress in tho
law which created the Department
Of Labor. In 1913. nXed III" high aims
which govern the activities ~ the
branch "f tn" government d".otcd
to tho service of tho working folk
, Of the nation. This ac; wrot" into
the statut" law practical recognition
OF the rights OF the body Of work
ers who max" up IN" great majority
OF our people. |, accepted tn" prin
"'plc that II happy. cour"ut"d. pro-
Rresslv" group Of working men and
women was fundamentals necessary
to the progress Of our country. II
demonstrated that popular govern
m"nt has finally and irrcvoca b =
committed itself to tn" doctrine for
which the working men and women
Of tho world hRv" struggled through
all tho centuries sine" II was LAID
down by tn" Carpenter az Nazareth
tho doctrine that the lahorcr IA
worthy OF his hire.
Pntriotism Lies In Home.
In the welfare az IN" wavc-earncr
| lies The futur" 81 III" republic. The
| basis al IN" best patriotism lies n
| the homes ~ tn" people. and the vast
! majority of tn" pcopi" Of America to-
! day ar. IN" war"-carnrrs. A con
| tented. satisfied Workman. happy IN
| his work. earning wage sufficient
/ To insur" comfort mud advancement,
| 20 his family is social economic
] IA a nj
/ and to his country. In tho direction
| NJ making every wagn-"arncr in the
| United states this Kind OF citizen
/ Hes the work uf tn" Department OF
/ Labor. II IL task that calls for tho
/ fun cooperation Of every American.
! II ~ movement for the hatttrtncnt
/ OF the individual and tho nation thai
calls for concerted effort by all Of
. the pcopl" Tn" government cannot
I accomplish IL by Legislative action.
cN"cutiv" courage. IN" people must
ala. 1t IS with the purpose Of Civ
/ 'ns the p"upl" clearer understand
| ING az tn" purposes and methods %.
/ IN" Department of Labor. and 81 IN
I listing the support of cnlight"ucn
/ public opinion that these articles az.
/ written. If thoy serve 10 acuunin,
/ any considerable fraction Of our poo
I ri" with IA" opportunities ANA scr.
! vices 'hh' ar" offered 10 them ihrOuc II
IA" Department of Labor they viii
have done their duty.
Safeguard Lnbor's Rights.
In It's pmrpos" To foster. promote
! and develop the welfare OF the ma
| tons wag"-e arn-rs. the Department:
/ OF Labor has no authority 10 foster
any special privileges for the wage
| Garner. The Safeguarding Of the
| rights Of labor. tho b.ttrrmcnt If
| "orkin conditions, the advancement
OF opportunities for profitable en-
/ ploymcnt ihcse are tn. objects OF
the department. In the rursui, o.
! these objects ~ covers wide field
Ind"r IN" bcncfcicnt Jurisdiction
| com" NOT alone work;nHmcn and
w"rkinIwomen but the children OF
rkincmcn and women. and the ~
f"rtunHt" iittl" ones who by press Of
economic circumstances have been
! '"rccd into tho stern path OF labor
| h"tor" their time. Its great care is
! humanity men. - women and chill
! drcn.
The present Department OF Labor.
/ Win its Wide field OF activity. WAS the
"utrrowth and development, Of an
agitation that began shortly after tho
!Fli war, when recognition In IN.
! Federal government for IN. grca;
was first sought. This agitation re-
! suited in the creation OF the Bureau
OF Labor in the Department OF the
| interior in 1854 The law creating
TINS bureau was approved by Prcsi-
ncnt Arthur. This bureau was later
enlarged and In 1855 was made an
Independent establishment Of the
government. with it's head reporting
uifr'''y I" the President. In 1903.
under the administration Of Prcsi.
dent Roosevelt. the department OF
| '"mm"r"" and Labor WAS created aud
the bureau OF Labor was transferred
TO The new Department.
continued and insIstcnt demand
mat the wage-carncr be accorded
representation in the Cabinet Of IN,
president resulted in the enactment
OF law. approved by President Taft
March !. 1919 creating the Depart
mcnt Of Labor. and transferring 10 !,
me hurcauhof Labor. now the bureau
OF Labor Statistics. the chiidrcn.s Hu.
r"au. ia" bureaus OF Immigration and
Standardization. The law also gave
the Secretary Of Labor authority tc
c"nciliate Industrial disputes sub.
matted TO him. Dupring the war the
activities OF the department, were
widely extended. and many wartime
bureaus were added to the orsaniza.
tioh. with the department, back or
a pence basis. the Woman's Hureau
ara the United States employmeni
service have been developed ms nor.
mai and necessary services, based
upon lhe skeleton organization lcft
from the war work. The United States