Private Employment Agents Fight Back Against the City's Free Labor Bureau

The private employment agents of the city, who were the subject of attack at the meeting of the city council on Monday evening, object to being condemned unheard and will resist the attempt to abolish their business. They not only defend themselves, but vigorously attack their critics, and invite a full investigation of their methods of doing business. George Crane and John Rae, who compose the firm of Crane & Rae, talked plainly and to the point to a Post-Intelligencer reporter yesterday, saying:

"The crusade against the employment agents of the city emanates, in our opinion, from the Western Central Labor Union. John Lamb, who is in charge of the city's free labor bureau, secured his position solely through the influence of the organized labor in this city, which is embodied in the Western Central Labor Union. Mr. Lamb, in our opinion, is the representative and mouthpiece of that body and in a large measure carries out its behests. It will be remembered that the labor leaders insisted on the institution of the free labor bureau. As it is their pet city institution they wish to give it larger scope, and in order to do this the private employment agencies must be crowded out of existence.

"We think it unfair for the city in the first place to enter into competition with us and think it most ungenerous to try to crowd us out of business.

"Lamb has lost no opportunity to abuse and berate the employment agents. At the time License Inspector Taylor was last around the employment agents ran ten days behind with their licenses and Commissioner Lamb caused them to be arrested and claimed incidentally that they were interfering with his jobs. It is our opinion that he encourages a lot of agitators to make trouble and to kick up a row. The result of this is that those who are seeking employment keep away from us and we are without cause brought into public disrepute.

"It is our opinion that the object of this agitation is to have the private employment agencies abolished so that the free employment bureau may have a monopoly. Here is where someone's fine Italian hand is shown. When a monopoly is secured, then all the fine jobs and positions will be given to the union men and those who are not members of some union will be given the refuse jobs. This is the scheme that they are trying to work.

"This would be a disadvantage, as employers would then be compelled to employ one class of men and this would be a great disadvantage to them, and they would fight such an arrangement. They want the benefit of a little competition. Seattle is the labor center of this section, but if any such a scheme as we have outlined is carried out they will go elsewhere after help. We have as customers the best mills, the biggest loggers, shingle makers and lumbermen, and we are able to keep them notwithstanding the free labor bureau. Mr. Lamb has found this out, and we think this is one of the many reasons for his attack on us.

"We invite the fullest investigation into our business. We cannot help it if we send men into the country and they are paid in time checks. We desire the mayor, city attorney or any other of the city officials to examine fully how we transact business, and when they get through they will find that we are all right.

"We claim that we are running a straight, fair, legitimate business, and we are under $1,000 bonds to conduct it fairly. Our business is just like any other. If it is conducted in a dishonest manner we soon lose our patrons and have to close up shop. If a man is swindled out of $2 by an employment agent he comes back to the city and howls about it so that he indicts $20 worth of damage on the dishonest agent. It does not pay to be dishonest in our business.

"We do not want the city to take a snap judgment in the matter, but we want the city officers to hear our side of the story before they take action. Why, we give a written guarantee to every one who accepts an offer for work, for which he pays us, to refund the money in case the place is not secured.

"We find that about all the trouble comes from agitators and jawsmiths who are looking for work and praying not to find it. You never hear any willing, hardworking men complaining about the employment men. On the contrary, they are our best friends, as we are theirs, for we can always find them work when they need it."

The committee of the city council appointed to investigate the charges against employment agents will meet at the city council chamber at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, when all persons who know of abuses practiced by the agents are requested to give their testimony.