The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-05

| ing Women's Protective Union" was organ
lied IN this city in the month Of August
1885, In which . deal Of interest was taker
BY the various trades unions. At the for
nation Of its constitution the writer of thil
article urged the adoption of section limit
ing its membership to persons under 45 year,
Of age. Other counsels prevailed, and thos;
too advanced in years TO earn q living BY
sewing in any establishment were admitted
into a society the objects Of which they
were disqualified to comprehend. The re
suit might easily be predicted. No sooner
was little money placed IN tbs treasury
through the exertions Of the younger mem
bers, than those who had been an incubus
on the society since It's organization were
anxious to know whether such funds wer'
not te be used for the benefit Of the mem
bers-that is appropriated for their especia
use. So long AZ he meetings we're well at
tended these designs were invst iably frus
trated, bat eventually the interest Jagged
and taking advantage Of That fact, thirteen
msleontents met on Friday evening, April
27th, and by . formal vote removed both
President and Snperinter dent, which fact
was published with AT evident gusto ir sorne
Of our city papers. Although We were per
fectly satisfied % await developments, at the
earnest request Of several friends we sent
the following communication TO the Tribune
and AepEblida, who kindly published it,
and as a statement Of the whole affair ia
given at length, we cannot do better than
transfer It to our own columns
My attention having been called to a state
ment in Friday morning ssae IN regard TO
the reported action of the Sewing NOmen's
Union, which is incorrect IN every respect,
| hope yoa will give publicity to the follow
ing facts, which can be corroborated by in
disputable testimony. At the organization
OF The Association, it was designed to make
il simply what it name implied-a protective
union that is, by uniting the sewing
women, aid them in obtaining more thar
the scanty pittaDce too often allowed in our
large manufacturing establishments. Al
though the auspices under which it WAS or
ganized were All that could be desired, il
was not long Dsfore a nal influence deyel-
oped itself, some members Affecting 10 be-
lieve that BY simply paying an initiation fee
OF fifty GEMS, the Society was compelled to
furnish the IA sDp oyment, or support them.
One Superintendent was required, and q
dozen aspirants were anxious for the posi-
tion, many Of whom, | have been eredibly
Informed, were incompetent to fill even the
duties of a common seamstress. The selee-
ton, with which | had nothingrto do, was
made by the Executive Committee, among
whC N were Mrs. Bradwell, Mrs. Sutton, Mrs.
Loomis, and Mrs. Keller, ladies well and IA
yorably lnown to the philanthropic public
of Chicago. No sooner was this person in
stalled than several charges were brought
against her. Desiring u sift the matter
thoroughly, 4 appointed committee TO in
vestigate them, ana though that committee
was composed in part Of her accusers, it was
unanimously reported that the books were
correct in every respect. Shor y after,
these charges were renewed, anS in such y
manner as to confirm a suspicion, long en-
tertsinsd, that jealousy and personal malice
were the actuating motives. The result was
that the most efficient members of the So
ciety left in disgust, preferring to sever
their connec len than assemble merely for
the purpose of listening to the venom and
bick ering of few malcont ents. A corrobe-
ration of this statement is found in the fact
that at the meeting held on Friday evening
last, the SOLE representatives of Society
which formerly numbered over 200 members,
consisted Of thirteen persons, nearly all Of
whom were over ", or under Is years Of
age; aud that 1 cave been frequently urged
to call meeting for the purpose of eIpelIiag
these san individuals, but have invariably
declined 40 to do.
While | was DESTROYS of advancing, to the
best of my ability, in ANY manner, the in
terest Of this much neglected class, was
unwilling 10 prosecute one whom | had
every reason TO believe was an Efficient Of
fcer and worthy lady, merely to crafty
the luminosity of a clique who had evidently
conspired to injare her in any possible man
ner. That am not alone 10 this opinios,
the ladies referred TO can testify. In taking
this course | have simply done what con-
SideTed my imperative dafy, and which
should do again under similar circumstances,
regardless Of consequences.
With respect to INV having been removed
from the position Of President, would sim
ply state that my term expired in the month
OF March, since which no me nting has been
held, as Ihed little interest In attending the
deliberations Of Society which might have
proved blessing both to its members and
the public in general, nut whose objects hal
been perverted, and whose usefulness had
been virtually destroyed. So far, however,
from refusing to call a meeting as soon as /
learned it was the desire, even of portion
of the Society, that one should be held, L
waited on Mrs. Fuller, the Vice President,
and requested her to attend, as was unable
to do SO by previous engagement.
In conclusion, | would state that the
charge made that no report Of the financial
condition Of the Society has ever been pre-
scented, is uaquol!fedly falss A dst4iIsd
statement was given to and adopted by the
Society, after Prof McCoy's readings, by
the late Treasurer, Mrs. Bradweli. Since
that time, although it was certs;nly not my
province to prepare any report, frer, uently
and publicly urged upon the Secretary to do
so, and presenting the same a. soon a. pos
siole. Two Secretaries having left the city
soithout falfiiing that duly, the receipts and
books were placed By me in the hands Of the
Superintendent, with instructions to present
the same 10 the Society ut iis first meeting
Az see, however, committee has been ap-
pointed to inspect them, | would state that
I have every conhdeace In tie honor and in
tegrity Of the gentlemen selected, and that