Two Dollars a Head: Seattle's Labor Commissioner Takes On the Employment Agencies

The statements made by G. W. Crane and John Rae in an interview in last Wednesday's Post-Intelligencer in regard to the reported abuses in the management of employment agencies — to the effect that the free employment office of the city was being run by Labor Commissioner Lamb in the interest and at the dictation of the Western Central Labor Union — have called forth a vigorous rejoinder from that gentleman in the shape of a communication to the Post-Intelligencer. Mr. Lamb writes:

"To the Editor: I would not ask for space in your columns to answer the statements of Messrs. Crane and Rae printed in your issue of August 8 were it not for the fact that this is a public controversy in which thousands of people in Seattle feel a deep interest.

"The feeling against these employment agents is universal, bitter and just. They have been accorded the privilege of doing business by the city, and they have to a shocking extent abused this privilege. The investigation of these abuses, while perfectly proper as a basis of public action, is a needless formality as a means of establishing the fact of these abuses. The fact itself is notorious. Every one knows it, and it is a waste of time to try to establish a fact that every one knows already.

"To begin with, the statement of these gentlemen that the crusade against them emanated from the Western Central Labor Union is bosh. That organisation, as a matter of course, indorsed it, but the beginning of the matter was the successive lodgment of complaints at the free employment office by persons who claimed to have been imposed upon by the pay-offices. It is true that I was indorsed for the position of labor commissioner by the Western Central Labor Union, but from the day of that indorsement until the present that organisation has not interfered directly or indirectly with me or the office in any manner whatever. As a matter of fact, I am absolutely ignorant as to whether a single man whom I have sent out belongs to a labour organisation or not. No man but an idiot would attempt to run a public office in such a way. It would be ruined in two months. In sending out men I consider but two things — their character and competency; nor do I test their character and competency by the fact of their having or not having a $2 bill.

"As to the claim that it is 'ungenerous for the city to try to crowd them out of business,' I can only say that, considering the nature of their business, their plea is a painful mixture of tragedy and comedy which would certainly cause us to weep if it did not make us smile.

"As to the fine Italian hand which they claim to have discovered, it is sufficient to say that it is one of those morbid mental pictures that arise in the brains of hypochondriacs and others who 'have eaten of the insane root that takes the reason prisoner.' It has no foundation in fact, and a fact is always better to build upon than an apprehension without the fact. It is true that employers would not tolerate such work, and, without the patronage of employers, the office would soon be a failure.

"As to the written guarantee given by the agents to refund the fee in case work is not secured, it may truly be said that this so-called 'guarantee' is fearfully and wonderfully made. As a document intended for serious use it is a poser. It purports to sell 'information,' and, a few lines further on, disclaims responsibility if the information is not correct. Why not sell misinformation at once and be done with it? Of what value is information unless it be correct? Admitting that the agent has sold information and is willing to return the fee, why should he not also pay for the time and expenses of the man whom he has sent nosing about through the woods in search of Elysian logging camps which do not exist this side of Paradise?

"As these offices are at present conducted there is nothing to prevent them from running troops of men out to any deadbeat, either with or without a 'divvy,' at $2 a head, and when called to task set up the excuse that they are not supposed to know anything about the standing of the men who order help. It is notorious that they take advantage of this immunity to beat labourers under pretence of finding them jobs. The burden of proof devolves on the victim, and it is needless to say that penniless men cannot follow a case through the courts for a matter of $2 or $3.

"The restraint of public abuses must come from an active public conscience, or it will not come at all. A nation is doomed when the moral sense of its people has fallen so low that they are indifferent to the sufferings and wrongs of their fellows, however humble, however helpless. If because the victims of a system are poor and wretched their rights are ignored or forgotten in the absorbing struggles of the rich and powerful, then has that community begun to rot at the base, however gaudy may be its plumage at the top. Can not the moral and thinking people of Seattle pause for a moment to protect from imposition and wrong at the hands of sharpers the poor, the ignorant, the unfortunate and the helpless?

"JOHN LAMB."