Labor 



In No Part of America Is the Wage- 

 Earner Better Paid or More Pros- 

 perous Than in Montana — Here the 

 Laws Are Framed for His Protec- 

 tion and Their Provisions Are 

 Rigidly Enforced. 



By W. J. SWINDLEHURST, 

 Commissioner of Labor and Industry. 





tr^i^^^ii*-' 



There is probably no department of the jMontana state governmient with 

 which the public is less familiar than with the newly created Department 

 of Labor and Industry. Tt would seem that very ilittle is known and under- 

 stood of the duties and functions of this office, and it is there- 

 Big and fore with a great deal of pleasure that I accept your very kind 

 Useful in Its invitation to furnish for your annual publication a brief article 

 Mission. on the industrial condition of the State, the origin and mission 



of this department, the duties of the commissioner and some- 

 thing of the work beino: done in the interest of labor and industry in this 

 State. 



The first state bureau of labor in the United States was created by the 

 Massachusetts legislature in 1869— 44 years ago. Congress of the United 

 States established a national bureau of labor in 1885. the same being still 

 in existence, having accomplished many practical and substantial results, 

 especially in the interest of the wage-working class. Wide-spread interest 

 followed this new depart\irc, and gradually bureaus of labor were created 

 in other states. Some fortv states now have labor bureaus and all are 



— A vacation in Montana will add years to your life. 



