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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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try to speak about Al Smith and his attitude toward labor. He did so arrange it and we had a meeting which was in a union hall.

They had a reasonably good meeting. It was not very exciting. As a matter of fact, the social program of Smith and the labor legislation program of Smith was not too impressive to them, as it had not originally been to the labor movement in New York State, where the whole program was originally initiated and put through by the middle class reformer type of people. The labor movement came in later enthusiastically after they got the benefits. The same general attitude of apathy and good will prevailed in this labor meeting, although they were pleased at the degree which Al Smith, as Governor, had been in touch with the labor unions, the degree to which he liked their members and was on good terms with them.

I asked whether there were any women labor union members in K.C. and was told no, but I did recall the book-binders which did admit women and even had women as officers. They finally dug up some lady bookbinders who came to the meeting. So we had a kind of general meeting. It was very pleasant and agreeable. It took off the edge of this resentment against being left out.





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