Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 731

interest and support. I remember speaking to them on one occasion about this whole problem of industrial diseases, their prevention and the necessity for compensation to cover them. They were very sober-minded about it. I didn't have any wild, “You can't oppress me” kind of reaction. They were not indifferent. They were startled and they were alarmed by what appeared to be the size of the coverage and the number of cases they might have under it, but they were the most intelligent, the most cooperative and the least indifferent group of manufacturers, merchants and business people that I met.

I met NAM people at Virgil Jordan's conferences. I wasn't always asked of course. I wasn't a member. But I was occasionally asked when it was a matter of special interest to me or to my department. I got a chance to air my mind. I think they were of some help to us in breaking down some of the resistance in New York State.

The Associated Industries, which was the local branch, started out being against everything. Some of the nicest men in the State of New York, some of the best kind of manufacturers, belonged to it. Smith and I talked about it. He'd say to me, “I know there must be some good fellows in the Associated Industries.” He was inclined to be awfully sore at them because as an organization they were inclined





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help