The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-24

APEnTIoN or the WoRkMcWoMEN TO TINE
MASSACHUSETTS LEclsLATvRE "A MO-
DEsT AFp STRONG APPEAL.
TO the Honorable the Senate and the House Of Repre-
sentatVes Of the Commonwealth OF N ass Ach u.etts
(which may God protect and Prosperij In Gsaerai
Court aasambed

70 the Honorable the Senate and the House OF Repre-
sen.Autes OF the Oommonwesitn OF Mass Aen u-etts
(which may God protect and prosperiJ In Geaersi
Court assembled.
We, the undersigned, workingwomen Of
the city Of 'ston, dependent for our daily
bread upon the daily labor Of our own hands,
humbly make known 70 your honorable body
that We are insufficiently paid for our labor,
scantily clothed, poorly fed, and badly
lodged.
That the mere physical health Of many Of
as is becoming, or has already become,
thoroughly undermined b. s@oits of pro-
longed work, performed under the constant
influence Of deeterious conditions.
That manv Of Us suh .r in our moral na-
lures through the lack OF proper society With
zach other and with those whose influence
would have tendency to strengthen us and
elevate us, We being prevented, by Q natural
pride, from showing ourselves, with such
clothing IS We have ct command, either at
church or Ia the company Of persons whom
We respect.
That we are, to great extent, deprived
Of the consolauons Of the Ohristisa reiigion,
by being occupied throu shout tLs week
with incessAns coil, thus being compelled,
through sheer necessity, to bring up the ar-
resrs Of our household duties BY working on
the Lords day.
That many Of our sisters ere actually
forced to make up for the insuficiency OF
their earnings, by . recourse to avocations
ruinous to themselves and dangerous 10 tue
whole community.
That we are harshly judged bY persons in
prosperity. who do not stop 70 reflect that
We are called upon TO face trials, necessities
and team inns n Rhieh "A wiwaa afafarn
aod daughters OF the members Of your hon.
orable body are never subjected, and that,
In this way. our progressive isolation from
redesming moral influences 10 becoming
mare and more market.
We are poor, ignorant women, with insuf.
heient educataon, and without proper train
ing. We do not presume to dictate any
plan for our own relief. You know better
tnsn we do what the circumstances of our
case requires. Ii 10 the humble prayer Of
your petitioners, that you should think for
as, care for us, and take counsel from your
own kind hearts to do for US better than We
know how to asx.
We, nevertheless, pray your honorable
body TO cause to be purchased, in the neigh
borhood OF Boston, tract Of good cultivated
land and to lay out the sane in suitable
otss some OF bali an acre, some of IN acre,
and 30 on, to lots Of three and Eve acres,
with good (but the cheapest posslblel
house on each lot. Il ~ our desire that
these lots should be let on lease to poor
workingwomea Of Boston, to whom the
State would be Wiling to furnish rations,
tools, seeds aud instruction in gardening,
until such time Is the women would be able
70 raise their own food, or otherwise become
self-supporting the payment OF rent to COM
mence With the third rear onIy, and the rent
10 be then 50 graduated, and 30 applied as
purchase money, that each woman might, IN
reasonable time, pay of, in the form Of
rent, the entire cost to the State Of the lot
on which shs Lives, with oil other necessary
incidental expenses, and become the sole
propristress Of the lot In fee simple or, II
u b thought preferable, each lot may be
held 10 trust By the State for the sole ~
and benefit OF the woman who has paid for
It under the form or rent, to pass 10 her r.
male heirs in the event OF her death. And Il
b our further desire that these homestead
may BE- exempted IRON Ill tkxAtioa.
and from all process for debt, and
and thst The title TO thsm mar Be non-traus-
fsrAbss W any msls person whatever.
We know that difIlcnities VIII % oucs sus-
gest themselves 10 your minds; but W think
that ~ ssrieas stjsesion 70 sur plsn map IS
easily answspsds \ Il eur fsals thaf ~