New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-05

THE SHIRT SEwERs.-A large and enthusiastic
meeting of these greatly oppressed female Indus
trials was held at the Carpenters Head Quarters,
l79 Wooster.st Mr.. E. w. PAUL, Esq, Score.
tary of the Carpenters Association, was called to
the chair, and Mr. A. c. Depew was appointed
Secretary.
The Chairman called on ]. D. Hennessy to
state the objects of the meeting and at whose In
stance it was called. Mr.. H. stated that himself,
Capt Turner, of the Sun Guards, and P E. Day,
were appointed Committee from the Industrial
Congress to inquire into the grievances of the
Shirt Sewers, and to aid them in organizing So.
cety for their mutual protection, and to save them
from the ruthless grasp of the sordid capitalists
who would require one dollar as a deposit from &
female operative for the due performance Of max
ing two shirts and If the worthless wretch was
not in good humor when the shirts were held up
for inspection be would pronounce them badly
made, not fit for sale, leaving the maker minus Ter
dollar and the loss Of time required to make the
shirt Mr.. Ii. went on atlength 10 demonstrate how
these operatives were treated and abused
Mr.. VIM Snyder (ExVice President Of the
Carpenters Association stated that on Thursday
evening last their worthy President appealed to the
Association for the use Of this TALL for the purpose
1t for which is now occupied. Himself, Mr. Paul,
and j. D. Hennessy, were appointed q COmmlttee
from the Association to carry out the objects OF
the Shirt Sewers Mr. S. said the Carpenters
were not the men to let any Female Operatives
fail in their praseworthy efforts for bis part be
would spend his last shilling to see them through;
he was confident be spoke the minds OF al the
Members of the Association, and the trade gener
ally. Mr.. 5. was delighted 70 see so many oil the
trade present. He could not forge. the kindness
shewn by the Officers and Members Of the Asso
citation of Straw and Palema Sewers. and the
Officers and Members Of the noble Pioneer Tenn
ME ~
ance on this evening.
Miss Roberts and Miss Gilmore replied on be-
half of the Straw and Pamela Sewers and said
their association would render all the aid they
could TO the Shirt Sewers, and tender their warm
est sympathies to them
Ben Price of the Second Ward Reformers,
lthe most numerous in the city, and Mr.. Smith,
replied or behalf of Pioneer Temple and teHdered
the sympathy of that body to the female opera
tors generally, and particularly to the Shirt Sew
ers whom they knew to be much oppressed.
II. Nj. Smith went on in a great length to show
the necessity Of general organization Of female
operatives comparatively so that the sterner sex
may have better opportunity OF Patronizing
them directly.
CaptTurner being loudly called for detailed the
miseries this class Of females were subjected to.
His remarks were so feeling and Of such a nature
as TO excite the sympathy Of all present.
Mr. Joshua Addison Heath president OF the
CoOpers Protective UnionD following at great
length in his usual eloquent manner as well as
Messrs Charles S. Castle, A. c. Depew, Edward
Boots Vice President Of the Carpenters Associa-
ton Lawrence, d. Hennessy, Coleman, Decres,
and the gentlemen whose names we did not
learn.
The Chairman calling on the ladies the suffer
ing Shirt Sewers) if they had any grievances to
rake known that they now had an opportunity
to do from the encouragement held out by
the ladies' Straw Sewers and gentlemen Of the
nd he thaf fem Ia In.
dustrials would throw off that timidity peculiar
70 their sex, and establish their rights, as the e-
male Straw and Pamela Sewers had SO DObly
done, whereupon
4 lady, whose appearance showed strong symp
tons OF poverty, stated that she had quit working
this morning when she heard Of the call for this
meeting as 1t was al ease to her long syGeriAgS
70 hear their case was taken up by the Industrial
Congress and the Carpenters Association. She
stated she made California Shirts Tor Mr. Wilson
Of Maidenlsne and William St, at Cd. and Cd.
piece per dozen they were 70 be well stitched
in every way and all she could make was two
dozen weekly and to work day and night. Shs
further stated that she had not eaten any kind OF
meat in three weeks but once, when she was
asked to dine by friend, Of whom she got q good
dinner. She bad TO pay g. per week for her lodg
ing, ard could Lot afford 10 have anything better
thar CRY bread and tea without milk she had %
find her own lights mad only the use Of her mis-
cradle bedroom 70 work in continually to keep
body and soul together.
At the instance Of Capt Turner. collection
was taken up for her and a snug sum realized
Other cases OF 4 similar nature were detailed
but the parties were not 80 poor, as they had
friends to aid them Were it not for that, their
case would be as hopeless
In accordance with a resolution offered By by j.
D. Heunessy, Messrs. w. Snyder, Benz Price
;SecoId Ward and J. d. Hennessy, were ap-
pointed Committee to draft Constitution and
By Laws for the Shirt Sewers Association, 20 be
presented on the next meeting night, Monday
February 10.
Messrs. J. A. Heath, J D. Hennessy, and II. 81.
Smith, were appointed a Committee to draft reso.
buttons for the next meeting.
From the facts, which were illustrated this
night Messrs- Boots, DepeW and Coleman, were
appointed Committee to cit on the Carpenters
Association on Thursday evening. TO return the