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Notable New     Yorkers
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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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of undisciplined women descended on us. They knew nothing, except to all talk at once and shout. As soon as they began I knew that they were the leftovers of people just like the Commies we had met in New York. They came in and demanded this and that. It was the same old story. They all talked at once, and didn't have a coherent story to tell. They asked questions of me - unanswerable question. “You tell us, Secretary, why do we have to suffer? Why is my husband laid off? Why do I have no money? You tell us, Secretary, why is my baby sick? Why do I have no doctor for my baby? Why do I have no place to go? Why does my little boy have no shoes to wear to school? Why does he have Nothing to eat all day.” They were asking questions that were quite unanswerable. “What is it that Roosevelt is going to do for us? Do you know that we are the poor people? We are the people that matter?”

It was almost impossible to keep order. They went on, “Do you believe in feeding children, or letting them starve?” Of course you said, “I don't believe in letting children starve. Now, can we get on to the main question? What is it you want me to do with your problem? What would you like?” It went on and on.





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