Vandiver Brown to M. F. Judd on Occupations Unsuitable for Minors (1934)

A one-page letter of October 1, 1934, from Vandiver Brown, Johns-Manville's attorney, to M. F. Judd, general manager of the Raybestos Division of Raybestos-Manhattan, copied to S. A. Williams. The Code Authority of the Asbestos Industry had asked its members for their opinions on "occupations unsuitable for minors under eighteen." Brown reports that Bryce Haines of the Code Authority understood the companies' "unwillingness to definitely label certain occupations as 'unsanitary' or 'hazardous'" and agreed to a form that would say only whether "a certain occupation was suitable or unsuitable for minors under eighteen, without committing ourselves to specific reasons one way or the other."

What it shows

Under the change, the words "UNSANITARY OR HAZARDOUS" on the Code Authority's form were replaced with "UNSUITABLE." Brown told Judd his objection to the original form was "well taken." The two companies were willing to call certain jobs unsuitable for workers under eighteen, but not to say in writing that the jobs were unsanitary or hazardous.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

Vandiver Brown letter to M.F. Judd of Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., dated 10/1/34, from Vandiver Brown who objects to the phrasing made by the Code Authority of the Asbestos Industry, rejecting the use of the phrase "UNSANITARY OR HAZARDOUS". He recommends the word "UNSUITABLE" for labeling occupations for miners under eighteen. Brown wishes to allow the industry the leeway to present an opinion as to the unsuitableness of an occupation, without committing themselves to a particular stance.

Editor's note: J-M's description speaks of occupations for "miners under eighteen"; the letter says "minors under eighteen."