Evening star., 1937-06-06
Immigrant Reforms U. S.
Continued From First PapeN

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In the public schools. the Wagner
family decided that Robert should 70
to college-despite the fact that this
would be q serious strain on the
family finances
The decision once made it was
promptly executed and Robert entered
the College of the City OF New York
which had no tuition charge. Even
during his college years, Wagner con-
tinued to work, hopping bells" at the
New York Athletic Club and tutoring
backward students He was so sue
cessful In the role of tutor that he
almost made up his mind to become
teacher, but his friends persuaded
him to study law instead He entered
the New York Law School and was
admitted to the bar just IS years
sfter landing in this country.
At this point he began to visualize
the road that was to lead him to the
highest elective Office his adopted
land could offer. With jeremiah T.
Mahoney, later justice of the New
York Supreme Court, he opened a
tiny law office at 265 Broadway. Two
other lawyers were already established
there and the quarters were so small
that when client came in one Of the
hopeful young attorneys had to get
out.
Joins With Tammany.
In the meantime, his family had
moved to the Yorkville district and
it was there that young Wagner's
interest In politics began.
He joined the Tammany organiza-
ton and was elected to the Legis-
lature in 1905. Wagner has always
kept up his Tammany membership,
but he has represented the best
aspects Of that none too-savory organi-
Zation.
Upon his arrival at Albany, Wagner
met Alfred E. Smith, also a member
of the assembly, for the first time
This was the first Of series OF con-
facts Wagner was to make with per-
sons whose names later were to be
recorded prominently in the annals
Of American politics.
Under the tutelage OF AL Smith. the
new assemblyman soon learned the
ropes" and in 1907 he took his first
step in behalf OF the masses. He
drafted and introduced bill to re-
duce the fare to Coney Island to S
cents The old Tamnany leaders
shook their heads and predicted that
young Wagner was committing politi-
cal suicide. but the bill passed, only
to be vetoed by the Governor. who.
curiously enough, was Charles Evans
Hughes, destined 80 years later to
lend his approval to more significant
laws drafted by the same legislator.
Uses Bill to Step Upward.
Gov. Hughes was defeated for re-
election but the scent fare bill sent
Wagner to the State Senate, where he
soon became Democratic leader. In
that capacity he first met Franklin
D. Roosevelt, an energetic youngster
who had caused something of =
furore in staid Dutchess County by
QclcALIlB Illc NNpuOllC0A SdAAoAo0tc
for the State Senate.
Senator Roosevelt listened to the
counsel Of the Democratic leader and
worked with him in drafting the
e-day- ay-of-rest-in-seven" of bill. one
Of the earliest measures submitted by
the Dutchess County legislator. Thus
was formed another friendship that
Wagner has kept alive throughout
the years.
The Triangle factory fire Of 1911,
In which $50 women were burned to
death, gave Wagner his first real
opportunity to drive through the
Legislature New York's model set OF
laws to improve the working con-
ditions OF factory employees. Incl
dentally, while conducting An In
vestigation into the fire, he gave .
young woman named Frances Perkins
her first Job, an assignment as an In
vestigator. Today she u the first