DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON

No. 16/290

April 26, 1915.

Hon. Locke Craig,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Sir:

Permit me to request your very particular attention to the contents of this communication dealing with a subject of great importance, of mutual interest to the Department of Labor and to State and Municipal organizations.

In organizing the Department of Labor Congress described its purpose as being “to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment.” (Act of March 4, 1913, 37 Stat., 736). This purpose, it will be observed, is such as to make the Department’s activities, through its various Bureaus and Divisions, quite similar to, indeed in some respects identical with, those of various State and Municipal organizations. Consequently it has been and is the policy and desire of the Department to cooperate with such organizations and authorities, in such a manner as to avoid duplication of work and waste of resources, by providing for efficient administration and uniformity of methods in accomplishing the aims of the Governments mutually concerned. To one of the ways in which it is believed this Department can be of special aid to State and Municipal organizations I wish to direct your notice at this time.

Recently, through the Division of Information of the Bureau of Immigration, distribution branches, or labor exchanges, were established throughout the country in order, on the one hand, “to foster, promote and develop” the welfare of wage earners, and, on the other hand, to afford to employers in all industries a method whereby they may make application for and secure, without expense, such help as they may need, either male or female, skilled or unskilled, from among the citizens and residents of the Republic. In the effort to relieve congestion in the industrial centers, the supply of labor for the farm and other rural occupations has been one of the specialties of the system. The Post Office Department, with officers in each town and city, and the Department of Agriculture, with representatives in every agricultural community, are extending to the movement great aid.

Consideration has been given to the subject of Federal control over private employment offices doing business in more than one State, with a view of recommending to Congress the enactment of suitable laws for their regulation.

The problem of unemployment in its various aspects, particularly in its effect upon the people and business interests, has likewise received attention.

As the authorities of the States and Municipalities come into closer contact with the people than is possible to Federal authorities, and as, under our form of government, the States local governments have a wider range of power of the kind needed completely to effectuate the objects in view, cooperation with States and Municipalities upon this subject of properly and beneficially distributing laborers is of paramount importance in efforts to approximate the maximum of success.

I have therefore concluded that a conference between the executive officers of the Department and representatives of the States and Municipalities engaged in like activities, is highly advisable; hence have decided to invite such representatives to meet those of this Department as aforesaid at the city of San Francisco on the second day of August next. Necessary arrangements for the meeting will be made by the Commissioner-General of Immigration, and notice thereof furnished you at an early date. The Expositions (Panama-Pacific International at San Francisco, and Panama-California at San Diego), afford good opportunity for securing transportation to the place of meeting at greatly reduced rates. I trust that the date will be agreeable to you and that you will be represented at the conference.

A full representation of all official organizations concerned in this matter is very much to be desired, and I trust you will kindly furnish the Department at your earliest convenience with the names and addresses of your delegates.

In anticipation of a favorable response, I have the honor to remain,

Respectfully yours,

W B Wilson
Secretary.