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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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became acquainted with Walsh. Then he went and got acquainted with Healey and two or three others. So I think Wyzanski suggested to Healey that this might be a very good idea.

Well, Healey was frightfully anxious to introduce some such bill that would be good for the workingman. So whatever we drafted and agreed on Healey would introduce. That was quite clear. That was good progress. David Walsh, of course, for the same reasons would take it to the Senate, but Walsh was also the Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, and so it was appropriate on that account. Wyzanski, I guess, had sold it to him too.

This was all before the bill was really drafted. It startled us to see how quickly, and without any particular persuasion, the members of Congress jumped for this and were very glad to endorse it.

Anyhow, the labor people were keen on having the wording of this bill as nearly like the prevailing rate of wages bill as possible. They got some lawyer to draft it. We had a meeting over this. I remember Wyzanski saying, “But this isn't going to work, Miss Perkins. There are too many loopholes in this. We'll get caught up by the courts on the procedures if the Secretary of Labor is just to announce whimsically, as somebody will plead, what the prevailing minimum rate of wages is in the cotton





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