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 Factories now locating in the eastern cities are
 mostly in localities where there has never been a
 hindbL--g factory, and where every :.orker is recruited
 from other industries, not even kindred. These manu-
 facturers equip their factories with every modern ma-
 chine that has been introduced in the industry during
 the past five years, and as a result, a great many of
 the operations formerly performed by skilled workersrs
 is now performed by new or.:ers workingg on a machine.

 The i:eeker Co., has been in business in Joplin, i.1io.
 for over 25 years. At one time, they had one of the
 largest businesses in the industry, and employed over
 400 oeoole. At the present time, they employ on the
 eve-age of 156 people in their handbag department, (see
 exhibit taken from the records) which is proof that
 the IMeeker Co, has built up a reserve supply of lcbor
 who they can call upon whenever necessary, since there
 are no competing factories in Joplin or vicinity. It
 is more than likely that these ,o:'kers are available to
 them at all times.

"We have appealed to the :L.A d'-iinistrators in Washington and to
the Code Authority for the L3diesl Hinlbb.,', Code, located in New
York, for the privilege of employinr- larne..-s at less than the
minimum :-.ge the Code carries, but have in ev.r.ry case been turned
down or our pleas entirely ignored, although the Code that is now
in effect provides that the Administrator maj, if he sees fit, pro-
vide for the -mployiaent of learners at less than the minimum w7age
for a short o-riod."

 The Meeker Go. coran.l ined that their op-oeals to the Code
 Authority for permission to employ le,-rners at less than
 the minimum wage has been turned do'n. Thi- fact is, their
 applications were accorded the sale consideration th'it were
 giyen to similar requests for learners by other members of
 the industry; in some cases these applications ca;ie from
 new factories located in towns where no hpnb.-. factory has
 ever existed, and they were not permitted to emplor learners
 at less than the minimum '.:ee. Te req-iLest of the Mleeker Co.
 for an e-:ception from the minimum wage rcte may not be in-
 tended for learners, but would be made to apply to former
 work's whom they seek to reemop.loy.

"The Code Authority being located in !Zuw York City, composed of a
Ne. York personnel, it is evident thpt they consider the hvndbc4
manufacturing business from a metropolitan, eastern, or ie-' York
standpoint only, end are not inclined to give any consideration to
our isolated position in the industry; yet we pay Code dues regu-
larly and abide by it in ever:, -:ay, getting nothing out of it ex-
cept this added e::pense and detrimental effects."


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