There had been, of course, opportunities to see Colonel Roosevelt during his presidency. In 1905 a committee composed largely of Settlement people, with Mary McDowell from the University of Chicago Settlement as Chairman, with Lillian D. Wald of New York, Mrs. Raymond Robins and myself, had a very satisfactory interview concerning the need of a thorough knowledge of the industrial situation and woman’s part in it. It was, as I recall, not long after the entire country had been much concerned over the labor disturbances in Los Angeles and the unsatisfactory trial which followed. At the end of the interview, President Roosevelt assured us of his backing, but warned us that Congress would not appropriate the necessary funds unless there was a widespread public opinion back of the demand, and suggested that as woman’s volubility was very useful in creating public opinion that we get the women’s clubs behind the measure as well as the organized working women. After much effort in that direction, as well as in many others, Congress finally authorized the investigation by the Bureau of Labor and finally appropriated $300,000 for it.
The investigation occupied four years and filled nineteen volumes, a wonderful source book for the years to come.
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