Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-11-10
The Shirt Makers of New York

The Shirt Makers of New York. 81
There are now six thousand females in
the city Of New York, engaged in making
shirts, many of whom earn scarcely enough
to keep soul and body together. They have
recently formed sCo-operative Union. !"
for their mutual benefit, and have issued an
address to the public, from which we make
the following extract:
There is a general feeling of sympathy
and lively interest for the 5000 defence
less and deeply-wronged shirt makers Of our
city. Nobly are they striving TO earn, in
honesty and decent poverty, the bread that
poorly feeds and the humble raiment that
but poorly covers their wasted forms. They
are patient sufferers, toiling increasingly,
ever hopeful of brighter future. Very
many are widows, descended by reverses
to poverty; more OF them ale orphans,
ss-teo early thrown -s
On the cold world, unloved, alone" +
Others are compelled to aid IN the sup
port Of families aud widowed mothers, and
all have pressing claim on society. Too
long has this been lightly treated or totally
disregarded. Occasionally, as the benevo-
lent pass through our hospitals, their warm
est sympatbies are aroused for those who,
worn down with toll, weary of life, diseased
by sedentary habits, have come there to die
Not unoften the prison.door and the mad
house Of shame affords an asylum denied
to them by honest toll and life of virtue.
These are the everyday histories of the
seamstress. Of them enjoy the whole
some comforts Of life, and more suffer for
even the common necessaries. This should
not be, or need not, when society begins to
understand the duty Of elevating the condi
ton Of her weak and defenceless sisters. .
The initiatory step in this reform is the
associating together the most depressed
branches Of industry for mutual aid and
protection. One such organization, estab-
lished by your aid and patronage, would be
instrumental in accomplishing vast good to
other depressed branches of trade, by a sue
cessful example. The advantages to accrue
from change in the uncertain tenure under
which the needle-women now hold their
right to exist, not to say live, are appa-
rent to every refecting mind. All society
would feel and benn6t by the change, by
placing in position of comparative securi-
ty and independence a large class of opera
tives, whose dsfenceless condition is now
made to inure the profit by their ill-paid la
bor. The change would lessen the numbers
who at times are compelled to ask for char
ity. 1t would rob, the liuing charnat
houses Of vice, in which our city SO
abounds, of numberless victims. 1t would
gvie a stimulus to industry by placing
thousands in position to need and con-
sumo articles which their straitened circum-
stances row deprive them of. We will
not enlarge further on the manifold advan-
tages Of associating together, bslieveing the
fact apparent to all. We are anxious to
try the experiment. Upon our failure or
success depends the future comfort or mis-
e-y Of thousands in our city, who are even
now Sewing at once with double stitch, a
shroud as we'll as SHIFT" aF.a
The condition Of the shirt sewers Of our
city 81 lamentable,and calls for your kindest
and warmest sympathies. 1t is estimated
that their umbers at present exceed 5000.
Many of these are young and friendless or
phans, early left to struggle with poverty,
and solely dependant upon the precarious
pittance of wages doled out by employers.
Others are widows, depending upon the
needle for the support Of helpless children,
and with the pittance of some 50 or So 80
per week, trying to feed, clothe and pay
the rent of a family. We need not tell you
this cannot be done. They bear in silence,
suferings and trials that would chill the
sternest hearts to recount. The defencefess
girl often wrestles with poverty, hunger,
temptation, until dire necessity forces sad
and fearful alternatives upon her. Is this
christian? Is it human?
sob, meu, with sisters dear;
Oh, men with mothers and wives;
" 1t is not linen you're wearing out,
It's human creatures. lives"