New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-01
PROTECTION TO WoRKIYG WOMEM.

THE wORKINGw OMENs PROTECTIVE UNION-mEEI-
ING AT TnE COOPER CsTuUrE-TuED ANNUAL
REPORT
The third anniversary meeting Of the Working
wonens Protective Union held At the Cooper lnst
tute on Wednesday evening at which speeches were made
by Judge DAILY the President Of tho Union, Mayor Ho
man. Gen Cochrane. tho Rev. Henry Blanchard, J. W.
Gerard, and IAther II. Marsh, esqs.
The third annual report was read from which II aIN
pears that the Society has been OF great benefit 60 the
! workngwomen OF this city. Tho first meeting Of the
Society held IN 1863, and tho following basis upon
which to establish tho "Woikingwomen's Union" w.s
after adopted
First: To secure TO workingwomen legal protection
! from fraud and lmpOsitions, free OF expense,
Second To appeal respectfully but urgently 10 employ
er for wages proporloncd to he cost OF living and for
| and the requirements Of household affairs
Third TO GEEK now ana apPr9PiI,,s spheres OF LABOR
Fourth TO sustain registry system. through which
those out Of work may DO assisted In nndinG employ
IIdl; To appeal 70 the community =. large for that
sympathy and support which Is due TO the otherwise de-
! foncccss condition Of workingwomen
| At the time the work commenced many persons
employing female labor accustomed to dcfnud their
sewing out Of considerable portion OF their earn
ings No Of redress aabe, and the
first few months the existence Of tho Union Of
employers were prosecuted aud the money withheld from
out deduction although In many cascs the cost Of cOcc
ton exceeded the amounts recovered During the past
year l3i complaints have been made out OF which 10
have been prosecuted sI have been paid on legal
The simple application OF officers OF mo Union, ana l5i
other 10 In which the Union refused 10 act
because the claimants sought 70 recover money To which
thoy Justly entitled The total thus
being tIl S the claims ranging from - cents up to 50
each. -
The Officers Of the Union tlnka legislative enactment
giving the worklngwOmcn an easily obtained lien upon
i would give Calm upon Tie goods entrusted by the
owner 90 some interruptions iniddeman.
Appeals TO employers have been made 10y the Union for
Increase Of wages proportional TO tho cost OF living
hasu Ia In Lao hae
shown by an exhibit Of the prices paid TO female opera
yG' ~ some OK inc Ig branches nc s uIns @ ne
1861 Coakmakcrs, ~ per week; shlrtmakcrs opera
Cuff and collar operators, So TO s. per week. Umbrella
sewers, 81 per week. Burnshcrs g per week. Military
work 80 to per week. Bultonholc makers s. per week
Drcssmakers - to s. aud g. per week. Fur sewers IS 10 e.
per week; Machine operators, s. 10 " per week. Vest
1865 ioakmakers. o. per week. shirtma,crs' opera
tors 81 to s. per week. Boys clothing 81 TO IS per week
q, per week; Burniehers 81 TO q per week; Mill
tarS WORK ~ 70 - per week Bntonoie inaEer per
y to - per week Machine Operators 81 to $40 per week.
Speaking OF their eifOrts securing new and appropr
ate spheres OF labor for women the officers Of the Union
during the three years Of active operations We
have been the Of introducing 20 females INTO
branches OF labor OF mechanical character not generally
occupied by them. In establishment where gas fix.
lures made and finished employed on tho
employer must be suppressed because he thinks his male
operatives would desert him IL known that part OF
perhaps, suc1 prcJudces will disappear, and women be
allowed to compete with men wherever their services
bc made available"
The registered applications for work show 377 persons
having applied 10 the Union for labor OF whom 1879
were furnished with employment by the aid Of the society,
but IL IL believed many others obtained work by acting
upon Information received at the rooms OF the Union
The females furnished with employment arc thus classi
fed: Widows. 4i2; soldiers widows 495 soldiers wives,
1874 orphans 65j; half orphans 592 girls with parents,
Col; women with husbands, i3l homeless girls 49,
In addition, 42lG women applied and received infOrma-
ton or assistance in writing, In matters not
connected with the pursuit OF their respective branches
OF labor Only 700 employers during the year gave the
Society an opportunity Of supplying them with working,
women. The following is the kind OF work supplied ana
the number OF persons TO whom furnished: Operators,
5i6 Srtmakcrs, 100; ButtOnboe Makers 1885, Learners
Sewing Machine, DO Bead work. 1856 ErTand Girls a:
asterS, 81; Soanstrcss0s, 49, Vest Makers lOj; cap
Makers, c.; Umbrellas. 81; FoTcwomen H. Engraving
Cleaning 10; Flowers li5 Hoop Skirts rs; Drcssmakcrs,
2J up0stcrers. 2G TailOrcsses, 2sl Feather Makers.
Ing So Quilting 20 Book Folding, -; Printing Al Mis-
CellaneOus, "a.
The officers Of the Union in making their appeal for
ssance, say: I'VE do not ask you for charity money 10
be dispensed To these women for whom appeal. We
ask hist and always for WORK. We adequately
paid employment for females Only u very small sum Il
required nO much than $500 a year. 81 keep this
Union ~ operation. the registry system showing that
thousands annually seek for employment while compare
lively few Obtanit To oiablO Union 10 do its work
efficiently require funds aud hope appeal for
money 10 continue this work will not bc in VAIN"
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Westerly or. H. Gift enterprise firm has disap-
pcarCd, with