The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-07
Female Indig nation Meeting In Phiia
deiPhta.
ARBITRARY ORDER OF COLONEL cRossMAS.


From the Philadelphia Ledger, August 81
Inst evening about two hundred of tho female EN-.
ployes a the Schuykill Arsenal held meeting 81 Je0er
son Hail. corner Of Sixth and Christian streets In reference
20 an order recently issued by Coon Crossman direct
ing the discharge Of all .the female employees who
not near relatives OF soldiers. Mrs Elizabeth Stein
meyer presided and after stating the object the meet
Ing made address complaining Of the Of Colonel
Cssman In issuing the order calling on those present
TO mako every endeavor 10 retain their positions the
arsenal, which In most were the sole support oS
themselves and families. preamble and resolutions
adopted % the eject that Whereas by the order OF
Colonel Gresham the female operatives At the schy
kill Arsenal wcrc being deprived NJ the employ
means Of earning honest and respectable living al
though there plenty OF work required ~ the arsenal
the conduct OF the Colonel was oppressive and preudca
70 the working women. While tho female employees who
had relatives In the army were fully entitled 70 at
tho arsenal tho claims Of other poor sewing were
more urgent the former received the pay bounes
OF the soldiers while the latter had depend on a small
pttancs earnod from week to week. The order Issued
also charsCerzcd by inconsistency and tyranny
numbers of the men employed At the arsenal among
whom some high officials had neither relatives nor
friends In the army. u considered that Colonel
the aboring classes OF Philadelphia and that his post on
should be declared vacant, and be filled by one who
I'm, nov ,s,s 'hs nces.,,ies ~ ne , wouu yet
also that II Colonel Crossman would contract loss with
favoritc parties, thus compelling the sewing women 70
work FOR starving wages. there would be ample employ.
mcnt the schuykl Arsenal Confidence was expressed
that tho Secretary OF War would Justly 10 the mater
aud determined TO transmit 10 him copy Of the
Remarks made by several OF the sowing woman
present one lady dressed In black stated that she was
the widow OF soldier killed In this war, and had two
brothers In the army yet she considered that other "a
ing women should receive employment at The aryenal
Mary OF the latter had husbands relatives 10 com
tribute TO their support by joining the army.
Another said that, although she had relatives en-
gagged 10 the present war her immediate ancestors had
fought this country and patriotism Of kindred was
TO be made the test Of requirement for position In the
arsenal she would not be deprived Of her employment
while she could raise hand against such proceedpy
Miss Maggie - made an address, calling on the sev
ing 70 make their resolutions Of practical eaert
by persevering In the course they hal adopted she
hoped they would all enjoy their right 10 employment !.
the arsenal In spite OF all the Crcssmans, Keleys ana
Campbells.
one sewing woman stated that she had been FOR ton
m uths the widow Of soldier killed In this war ana b.d
not yet received cent OF her husbands pay or bounty
Yet she did think employ ment the arsenal sfo,,a
be restricted 10 the relatives Of soldiers After soms
(urtAss snsr from those pressni tina meeting