Correspondence: 1916, Apr 22 - 1917, June 30., 1916-1917

Intensive lobbying for health insurance continued as Andrews con-ducted a campaign to raise funds for its promotion with the slogan, "Health First." The Association supported legislative bills for health insurance in New York and Michigan. On the federal level, the AALL's most important piece of legislation was the Kern-McGillicuddy Bill. In May, John Andrews sent AALL staffer Irene Sylvester to Washington to act as the Association's lobbyist. Her informal letters to the New York office, reporting on the progress of the bill, give examples of how one congressman put pressure on another to insure his vote. In June, when she complained of discouragement, Andrews wrote to her, "Cheer Up! Morbid depression is an occupational disease among those who are obliged to be pleasant to Congressmen." (6/5/17) In late August, Andrews was able to inform the AALL members that the bill had passed the Senate and that "...we can now concentrate even greater effort on our campaign for universal health insurance." Paul H. Douglas advised Andrews that since war seemed inevitable, the Association should adopt a policy of guarding against exploitation of workers in time of war (4/1/17) .. John Andrews initiated a special series of bulletins, Labor Laws in War Time. Communication with the IALL offices in Europe became virtually impossible.