New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-12


For know that the hell of the flesh is it
thorns,
And the hell of the spirit is-fear.
New Orleans, June 10, 1870.
THE LADY DELEGATES TO TIKI
TYPOGRAPHICAL CONVENTION.
0suething About the Woman's Typo
graphical Union and the WON an,
Rights Oreans-Mueh Talk but VERY
Little Constituency.
From the Cincinnati Chronicle.l
The most novel, and to q large number
the most interesting feature in connection
with the Convention of the international
Typographical Union is ''the lady delegate,
No. l. New York. We might also add Miss
Kate Cusack, president of the Womens
Union, and alternate delegate. This is the first
convention which has been hOnOred by the
presence of q lady delegate, and we con-
graduate the members on their good fortune
in being associated with such intelligent
and agreeable ladies. We also congratulate
Union No. /, for by choosing such representa-.
tives, the ladies have undoubtedly materially
enhanced their prospects for procuring such
action as will best tend to promote their in
terests. Miss Lewis, although quite young
lady. is pioneer in woman's labor union
ORGANIZATIONS, as it was through her effolts
that the first organization of this kind YVES
formed. She was forced, by the death of
her guardian, some two or three years since,
to maintain herself and after making seve-
raj efforts to obtain employment in better
paid occupations. was compelled to accept q
situation in Broadway store, where she
worked twelve hours daily for two dollars a
week, and at tire end OF two weeks was COM
PEELED to reiinquish her situation because
she could not dress sufficiently stylish to
meet the requirements of her magnanimous
employer. About this time she called upon
Miss Susan B. Anthony for the purpose of
obtaining her autograph; for although Miss
Lewis was not q woman's rights advocate in
the political sense, she had very great re.
gard for Miss Anthony, as woman who
was conscientiously endeavoring to aid her
sex. In the course of conversation Miss
Anthony suggested the organization
Of q wOmans protective labor asso-
citation, and prevailed on Miss
Lewis to induce some of her acquaintance
to meet and consult in regard to the mat
ter. The meeting was held in October,
1868, and there were about dozen working
girls and dozen reporters present at the
meeting. Miss Anthony took charge of the.
meeting, and soon introduced her favorite
hobby-woman's rights. Miss Lewis, who
had dread of conspicuity, overcome her
modesty sufficiently to protest against this,
were to be directed toward redressing
woman's wrongs, and that the object Of the
meeting would doubtless be defeated if too
much was attempted. The consequence
was that rights were dropped and wrongs
were taken under consideration. From this
meeting Miss Lewis, Miss Cusack, and some
other ladies, obtained more definite idea
hat cd
in the World office as compositors, and con-
cluded to form . Typographical Union for
the protection of female compositors; and
ut the last Convention of the international
typographical Union, Miss Lewis, who was
President Of the Ladies' Union, applied her
talent and energy to the work of procuring
charter, and proved so successful that
from an almost unanimous opposition to
granting charter, the convention changed
to unanimous consent, and the formidable
document was "signed, sealed and deliv-
cred" and she returned to New York tri-
umphant and happy. Previous to this,
Miss Lewis says the New York publishers
had merely used lady compositors to defeat
the men; but now the interests of male and
female compOsitors were IDENTICAL and no
such use could be made Of them. furthe-
than that the price of composition was rated
about i've cents thousand ems less for
women than for men. Being on the pro-
gressive road, 1t was supposed that such
staunch advocates of woman's rights as the
ReuolMion and Independent would uphold
their principles by affording women an
equal chance with men; but this was a
mistake. as Miss Antnony's paper declined |
TO pay the same price for composition, and |
Mr.. Tilton's foreman peremptorily re.
fused to allow ''strong minded old |
maids" to work under his supervision. |
The lady compositors next turned |
their attention OF the missionary societies, |
and sought employment, offering as plea |
that societies that were sending red fam
mel shirts to the sweltering Hottentots and |
books TO the heathens who would never read |
them, ought to endeavor to assist re needy |
at home, and prevent vice, by encouraging
industry, and assisting virtuous women to |
obtain q livelihood" After the Herald re-
porter had interve wed MIR. Tilton's foreman |
and published his views in regard to STRONG
minded old maids" Miss Lewis and her as |
sociates published an answer, which was So
sensible that the Independent concluded to
employ some ladies, and in few days sent
TOR couple of the "old maids After a
years Presidency of the Union, Miss Lewis
used her efforts to procure the election of
Miss Cusack. in which she was successful,
and herself accepted the office of Cores
ponding Secretary. These two ladies'
are the central figures of the Union. |
ana by their Efforts In behalf of
the working women have secured
for themselves notoriety which is very
hattering, but at the same time very annoy- |
ing, from their desire to avoid conspicuity,
but which they were willing to accept in SO
good cause. This, as we before remarked, |
u the first time the Ladies' Union has been
allowed delegate. and the honor has uu.
doubtedly been conferred ON thoroughly |
competent and very deserving ladies.
Miss Lewis possesses fine education, |
excellent conversational powers, and a very
intelligent countenance, which expresses
her thoughts almost as wildly as do her |
well chosen and rapidly spoken words. She |
is, IN fact, one of those ladies whom any |
gentleman would respect instinctively, and |
who, while she would not finch from doing |
her whole duty, would undoubtedly rather |
avoid notoriety as much as possible.
Mics Cusack is q lady of dignifed appear |
ance. rather quiet, and not very emphatic |
n her conversation, but always earnest. |
She, too. possesses fine education. much |
natural talent, and converses very agreeably. |
The receipts of the Postoffice Department |
or the last quarter, were over five million