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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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Percy and Harvey Ferris didn't know where the letter was or who had it naturally. They knew that Spargo had written a horrible letter and they knew something of what was in it.

I said to Mitchell, “You first tell them that you have to do this because these working people are so insulted. They are good human beings and are so insulted that they insist on apology. They insist on being treated like human beings and they insist on being allowed to negotiate with their employers. We are here to help them do that negotiating. After having explained that, tell them that you are going to read the letter.”

He had an awful time with himself. We adjourned for a few minutes while we went back and discussed it. Mr. Lyon thought it would be terrible. He said, “You can't read that letter. There are women present in this audience.”

I said, “It was written to women as well as to men. I'm here. After all I am an official and I have to stand it. I guess I can chaperone these girls by being here.”

Mr. Lyon was very disturbed. Mr. Mitchell hated to do it, but gradually we came to the point where we went back and there was a tacit agreement between us that it had to be done. We would give them one more chance. Mr. Mitchell gave them one more chance. Whether Mitchell did this deliberately,





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