Correspondence: 1914, Jan 22 - June 18., 1914

The Association sponsored the "Kern Bill" introduced in Congress by its sponsor, Congressman John Kern, providing workmen's compensation for federal employees in the District of Columbia. Royal Meeker and I. M. Rubinow were in partial disagreement as to certain sections of the bill and frequently wrote to Andrews about it. Throughout January and February, plans were made for the National Conference on Unemployment that was to be held in New York City (2/27/28). In addition, the growing problem of unemployment sparked many surveys and reports. The meetings of the Sickness Insurance Committee continued. Andrews defended the AALL's impartiality on "unionism" to James Emery (2/26/14) and disclaimed any interest in labor-management disputes beyond the questions of health and safety. Mid-March saw John and Irene Andrews working together on a survey of free employment bureaus, and for the passage of a free employment agency bill in the New York State Legislature. In June, Andrews began to prepare for the European Congresses of the IALL by writing reports on United States labor legislation, unemployment, social insurance and industrial disease.