National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-18
JUSTICE, LABOR, CHARITY.
Measures 10 Provide for Dcstitution an
Dfstress i'm Warrington

Measures 10 Provide for DestitutIOn and
Distress in washington.
To the Editor of THE REPUBLICAN,;
most laudable and sensible endeavor has
been made In Washington TO provide for cnses Of
restitution and distress. The Associated Chart
ties organize 10 protect both the needy and the
helpers Of the needy. The basis of their work is
the proper and just one to provide employment
instead of bestowing aims This Is the only
principle on which individuals or communities
can maintain self.respect and moral health. The
difficulties which attend the smooth and perma-
nent working Of this system are the same as pre-
vent the securing Of an equitable adjustment of
work and trade life everywhere. At the head
quarters of the Associated Charities Mrs. Sara
Spencer, on her own responsibility, has started an
industrial enterprise TO meet the urgent necessi-
ties OF women who must have bread or perish
What is the first obstacle which appears? 1t is
an obstacle of hidoous features and gigantic pro-
portions 1t is the competition which hcartIess
monopoly offers, n monopoly fed by the hearts
blood of underpaid working women. In New
York, where
THOUSANDS OF sBwING GIRLS
| aud women are forced Into the service of employ.
ers as soulless as the machines with which they
operate and Of which they are only an appendage
OF brains and skin, shirts made at the lowest
possible price II seems farce to pretend there
Think Of 1t, thoughtless man and woman; think
OF iti And these shirts are offered to the people
OF Washington TO underbid the garments that can
be mnde by the women Of this city, who must
have either work or aims or starve. There Is kind
of missionary work more important, that would
be more sanctifying. soul-sayng and redeeming
than oil that religion ever has or ever accom-
plish without It. II Is the teaching and practice
that will establish justice in work and trade life.
man or a woman WIN N non nfillv nd with qat.
isfaetlon perform religions services toward God
while they wear garments fashioned by hands
that stitch into them the WEAKNESS and anguish
Of underpaid labor needs more than regenera-
ton; they
MED A LIGHTNING STROKE
from the very throne of eternal justice. They
need electro. magnetizng with the golden rule.
Who would be willing as n price Of existence to
make shirts of any kind at one cent piece, at
four cents, which hundreds OF women do-ffty
cents dozen2 Who would be willing to work
ten, twelve, fourteen hours day increasingly for
ten, twenty, thirty, or even hny cents day? You
nppy and S ea rs he
subierfuge of the careessness thoughtlessness and
sel6shness that fails to do TO Its neighbor what II
tons reversed. You, man and woman, who first
OF all when you purchase garment buy where
you can obtain tho lowest price, you are one ofthe
individual members of the community who COM
bine and conspire to rob the makers of the gar
menis Of their Just reward, and thus to lower the
when you seek satisfaction in saving a few cents
or dollars on the price of ready made garment
that what you have saved to your purses is the
very cost of
YOUR SISTERS LIFE,
which has been wrought into the garment. Why
should Washington people buy garments made in
New York when women in Washington are suf-
fering for the neeessnries of life aud could main
tain an honorable livelihood would Washington
people furnish them garments TO make at fair
remuneration The enterprise of Mrs. Spencer is n
moro needful. just, philanthropic, aud every way
meritorlous endeavor than exists elsewhere IN the
S IS han us
strous. That honest women willing to work should
lack the support OF the community In furnishing
Religion that fails to enforce honest payment of
what II honestly costs to produce garment is not
cheap Is to rob labor the eighth commandment is
as surely violated as when one abstracts the con-
tents Of
PURSE THAT BELONGS TO ANOTHER.
Moreover, It Is a more dastardy and degrading
robbery to the thief because under q preteuse of
honest dealing. Christianity and philanthropy
need seek no more urgent or worthy field of mis-
sonary labor: than that ofsecurng Just remuuera.
ton to work, especially woman's work. Women Of
fine sensibiliies and tastes, as well women of
less refinement, are ground between the pressing
necessities of existence and the desperate or de-
grading resources Of civilization for the degrade
ton of womanhood secures the best remuneration
| and living. heard tony astonishmeutund indlG-
nation that a woman inquired at the work rooms
l4lS street, the prices of garments for sale there
and remarked "she would like to buy there but she
could get them cheaper elsewhere" She would
like to get the garments for less than they cost
take the nice work that fashioned them without
paying for 1t.
WASHINGTON SHOULD SAVE
its own citizens from the distress and humiliation
OF indigence, Instead of sending to New York for
ready, made garments made by defrauded
wretehed womans labor. To do this home indus
try should be well patronized aud well paid. No
human rights are OF any avail unless the rights Of
industry are seCured-the right 10 both opportu-
nifty and reward. The supreme demand OF Amer.
lean civilization and of the hour is to secure to
every person the opportunity TO earn q livelihood
and TO reap the profits Of industry. five believe
that God hears the signing of the needy-we know
that an hour of Judgment must come-will any
woman be glad in such hour to present the cheap
est garments her certificate OF Indifference TO
the heart thrObs of anguish and despair that fash
Toned the tucked, RULED and neatly made ward
robe she has worn without counting the cost? A
cheapnesS that is injustice TO the worker Tobber
Of industry, is quite too costly for an upright soul
LUCINDA b. CHANDLER
--N--
The TOiterinG Empress Eugcnle.
To-day saw that former beauty the former