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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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unwise. I didn't want to be the center of a political disagreement between him and some leader. I was perfectly content to be what I had been - a Chairman of the Industrial Board. Anyhow it was clear in his mind. He did consult Al and Al thought it wasn't necessary. However, when it was announced that I was to be appointed, Al was very nice about it and said, “That's all right. I'm sure you'll do all right. I'm sure you'll handle the problems in the best way.”

That appointment offered certain personal problems about my personal life, because as a member of the Board I had a good deal of freedom of action. I didn't have to cope with everything the minute it rose up. I had a schedule. I had a program. The Board met on workmen's compensation hearings certain days of the week. There were scheduled hearings on appeals from labor law enforcement orders. There were scheduled meetings on industrial codes. If I was going to be upstate for four days, it was scheduled a month ahead. I could more or less plan my life and my family's life.

As an administrative officer I had to be on the jump on everything right away. I couldn't, I felt, control my time as well, which proved to be the case. I had to be more ready at a moment's notice to cope with something. I couldn't





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