New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-07
The Shirt-Sewers' Union.


In an article in The Tribune of the | It'll
inst, one of your correspondents eelingy and justly
regrets the probable failure Of the Shirt Sewers
Union he asks why such failure is possible and pro-
pounds the causes, which all true and are serious
elements OF nOn-success III all cooperative asSoca-
tons
But there is another cause, stIll more powerful
and more difficult to DE overcome, which has passed
unnoticed. affecting those who live by ordinary or
unskIed needIework. That cause Is the compc-
titlon of women who do not depend on their own
labor for their maintenance, who being kept by that
of their husbands merely take IN needieWork a. a
source OF pin-money, or az an addition TO the family
income and consequently are wiling TO DO II al any
price. The inhabitants OF the country also occupy
much leisure time in the same manner, ana II lhey
can earn as much by needlework rs VIII purchase
the cloth they could SPIN and weave III the same
time, they of course do 50. and the more readily as
It saves the encumDrance and outlay OF looms, &C,
and Is more readily executed and 50 long as inns
kind of labor available 10 the s.opselIers all the
capital enplOye ell IN establishing sucn an ASSOCIATION,
so far a. competing with them l. concerned, VIII De
expended uSeleSsly
By a sufficient capital and the most talented man
agement, an establishment might be formed which
would be a house of refuge tor poor ana deserving
needle women, but Il could never pay alr wages Tor
the wo-k done, unless the interest Of IT. capital were
sutfr eut To cover the unavoidable loss. | say una
yodable because It Is useless to count upon feel
ing OF generosity justice IN the pubic. which exist
oniy IN the ideas or wishes of PhlianthrOpsts who
see IN case, what ought to be instead OF what IS
Tho public TiU buy ~ the cheapest marnet.
II Is probable that such capital mght Oe fuT'
nI,hed and no money could be employed for a pnr-
pose more truly bcneGcent your correspondent has
done well 70 suggest testamentary requests as one
means OF accomplishing so desirable and necessary
an object for, although ! have not any faith IN the
humanity ofthe public a, large, have great conn
dence IN the enlightened Christian love OF great
minority.
But the gIeatdesideratum and difiicultys 10 make
beginning for appears PROBABLE 10 me that many
persons may be deferred by the idea OF their unaided
efforts beng thrown away Ten or twenty per
sons who, If united, might lay the foundation
OF an Institution unsurpassed IN usefulness, N nom
or 20 themselves and IN glory 70 theI country
may be and probably are IN tins city and YET they 90
not follow the aspirations Of their own hearts, mere
" because each feels his individual mSuihclency II
those ladies' and gentlemen who are WILING 70 eh!lsl
IN this goodly company. would appoint rendezvous
through your columns, am that tney would
find themse sufficiently numerous ana OF snciehL
IMPORTANCE 70 form committee able to make me de-
sired commencement, which beng efficiently done,
Others would have the confidence requisite 10 induce
them 10 further the good WORK subscriptions ~oald
be sent IN egacles would De left ladies' would send
their unpaid fancy needlewerA 10 the store TOR SALE
and those who could Go no.more "oaio become Gus
toner
skilled seasiresses can struggle against the tngnttui
oCCs opposed 10 them.
! woman VINO j fastened 70 a neecle ana thrown
uoon the turbulent ocean OF a competitive society
when call itself Christian and civilized must neyi-
taDy sDk III is troubled waters her physical destIuc'
ton is certain. her moral rum IS pEooaDie, therefore
i II peculaIly the duty OF women who are rlcn 10
ard their poor sisters. DO not mean by their money
only but oy their active labor the organization Of
this Institution | could wish that they would 90 ~
without any other assistance from men than neil
contributions no one can dispute tner nsh. " .nc
initiative An this WORK, and their using TINS ttel.I
would be the most graceful means OF proving thriI
power as well their viii 70 interfere useiui' III
pubic affairs ,.o,,,,,,tee
II should be one duty Of the proposed Comini'see'
aSalso that OF The ministers OF allreAglous uenoi-
tons 10 avert from our poor seamsnesses 'he ooin
petition have alluded 10. Those women nno .le
not necessitared 70 gain their living BY neeuie
have no right 4 there be any force or HlIn AZ s
law Of dong as YOU would be done BY 70
who are les Fortunate by working Tor aI
will not give the means of obtaining an
hood and thereby reducing them BY .s w
and cruel connections 10 mlsery and sAIS s.lon ~
%, sunrose maj ali the evils Of shopselhs ~oula
be avoided by doing away with ss aimed Iu'
| A''o" 'i'A' =" {. SVLLY.