The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-19

From Lone ISLAND, N. VI.
Astoria, March IL, 1870.
70 sSs Bsssss sftAs wcskrroHAxs ADvocArn-
/ do not know but tn at l ought to
address this letter r. the editor Of the
WoRKIxGAAN's Advocate, as it is of
the rights of our mothers, wives, sisters
aud daughters, that l propose to treat.
A long and careful study Of the subject
has proved to me that the condition Of
workwomen in our shops and factories,
can never bo advanced until working
men take their case in hand, when /
believe it will soon be impr owed. More
than this, however strange may be
the statement, think the success of
the labor cause depends more on eleva-
ting the status Of the weakest part Of
the labor forces, so that they can be
able to give good aid to the movement,
than in attacking ths position of the
enemy. whose main strength has con-
sisted and now consists, in the divisions
unfortunately existing in our ranks
With consummate wisdom the Ma
tional union has gracefully admitted the
right Of women i'm the fullest extent by
the action of its congress upon the sub
ject To suppose women capable of
voting there, councilIing its members,
and holding office therein. and incapa-
BILE elsewhere to defend themselves, Is
10 to degrade the National LaborU Union.
The position taken by our late lament
ed president, Mr.. Sylvis, on this sub
ject, ID unassailable. Whilst freely con-
ceding all the political and legal rights
of women to the same extent rs those
claimed by men, he deprecated the
dreadful necessity which forced them
to compete with men for work in our
shops pleasantly adding that his was
disinterested evidence, inasmuch "a be-
ing an iron moulder, he did not I'M his
special case, fear the competition Of
woman. n ..r.l Gan
Nothing 10 clearer than this, that Ii
workingmen secured the full returns of
their labor, they would be able to sup
port well their wives and daughters,
and our young men would not be afraid
to marry. Alas it il not 50 now.
Hundreds and thousands of women
amongst rs have no home. More than
that, these women are our mothers, our
wives and our daughters; their cries
must be headed by us, and it Ia our du-
ty to secure justice for them before we
seek it for ourselves. Yes, more than
this, those who carefully examine the
labor question, will find that the defense
OF the cause of women, il a nec 1sary
preliminary 70 our success.
Two noteworthy circumstances have
occurred this week which have induced
your correspondent to write this letter.
They are the mass meeting Of working
women, at the Cooper Institute, on
Thursday the 10th inst and the action
of the Knights and Daughters of St.
Crispin, nc Utica, the day following.
Both these seem to be taking away the
Of the movement, and ma
king the rights Of women, . "man
and woman" question. The result Of
the former was q very large evening
meeting at the Cooper Institute, st
which Mr.. Alex. Troup was appointed
and i'm which speakers of
both sexes advocated the cause Of the
of woman's labor. The
result of the latter was more directly
effective-it was as follows The boss
Of Utica, New York, hay
ng declared not to employ any Of the
Daughters of St Crispin, required a
written testimony from their workmen
hat they did not belong to that order.
rweaty-seven refu sed to give their sig
and were dismissed On this
being known, two hundred and ifty
Knights of ST. Crispin threw down
heir hammers and struck work in their
license. 1t is believed that almost all
'ur unions are benevolent societies; if
he boss shoemakers of Utica have de-
ermined to put down Secret Benevo-
ent Societies, they had better commence
operations, by attacking the Free Ma
ons and Odd Fellows first. n
R. w. HUME.