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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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wasn't the purpose of the vast majority of employers. But Oersted sort of held that to himself--the typical Chamber of Commerce man, “I'm going to protect you.” And he thinks of bugabears that don't exist, you see, and then protects them from him.

When Harriman and Lewisohn and two or three other American employers--I think there were only four on that first trip, we were very modest--they were at once called on at their hotel by Mr. Oersted, and flattered. “Pleased to see you and so delighted,” and they were delighted too, and they were asked out to his house that evening to a large social meeting of the employers' delegates, and they met them. They were all very polite, and the next day they were asked to go into a caucus.

Mr. Harriman said, “Caucus? What is a caucus?”

“Well, we propose to have a caucus and decide just how the employers will vote on every item in the agenda.”

Mr. Harriman and Sam Lewisohn looked at each other. They wanted to be polite, and they wanted to do what was commonly done, and they tried to find out if it was always done and if the British did it, and went into caucus. Then finally Mr. Harriman, I think urged on by Sam, made them a little speech, and he said that he didn't believe it would be appropriate for Americans to go into such a caucus. As he saw it, he was appointed by the President, certainly to speak up





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