The Evening critic., 1882-11-10
THE WoMkN,S LEAGUE.
The Proceedings at the Regular
Meefing Inst NlEhI.

Tho woman's Labor League was called TO or
der last night at tho usual tlmo by Mrs. Char,
lotte smith. Numerous letters n,,.., Were r9na
unboundcd satisfaction at the great good tho
league was doing for tho welfare OF the. work
ing women OF our city and land. All OF these
lcttora wero filled with words OF encourage.
mcnt 70 tho officers, and hopes that they would
daily become moro powerful and influential Tor
good. one destitute lady sent
A PitcOus Letter,
saying tha' she was deserted by her husbQud
and had fourteen months old infant TO sup.
port, besides being far behind In her ront. she
gave other details OF her situation and begged
that the strong influence Of the league be used
10 get her place In one Of tho Departments.
sixty nvo names were handed In OF persons
who indorsed the labor OF the league, many
OF tho signers being prominent persons from
all sections OF tho country.
Mrs. Bryant wEs elected recording secretary
In place Of Mr.. Il. Humphrey Brooke, VINO
resigned.
II was then agreed that the members should
not, under any consideration, patronise busi-
ness houses who were conspicuous in oppres-
sion OF the girls employed In their stores.
Mr.. J. u. Billlngsley, of tho Federation of
Labor, addressed the audience. He strongly
upheld the working classes, and contended
that they should
stand ny Each Oihcr
and refuse to deal with merchants who op.
pressed them.
Mrs. Bryant called attention to tho progress
OF strikes for higher wngos In Massachusetts
and other States, and mentioned the election
of General Butler In tho state namod as a
peculiar triumph for tho working man. The
General was eulogized for what he had done
for the hard.nsted sons of toll, and for the
bills that ho had introduced and tried to get
pnssed while member OF Congress.
Mr.. Brown was then loudly called upon for
an oration. He commenced by saying that he
was Bourbon Democrat, so-called, and has
been for years, and was proud Of tho
Triumph of lbc Party I'm the Old
Bay state.
He did not admire mnny thiuns that BON
Butler had done In his career, but he has al
ways been a fast friend of the working man,
and his election as Governor should bo hail cd
with Joy by oil working classes over tho whole
Nation. The Republican party was strongly
denounced for Its alliance with the monopolies
OF Wall street. General Grant, although a
member OF this party, was praised for his &c
tion in helping to pass the elght.hour law. AL
ludlng to Judge Folger he said 1t was thought
that the aristocratic but narrow-minded old
Judge would have done much better II he had
kept his seat on the bench In Now York, in-
stead OF mixing with the fllthy slcnth.hounds
of politics. Tho working classes have pro-
duced many OF tho brilliant intellects OF our
Nation. The halls OF Congress aro often made
TO ring with the cloquence OF those who had
formerly made living by
Hard and Honorable Labor.
Butler was again warmly alluded to, and
the General was unanimously elected n nom.
ber OF tho league.
Mr.. Mcdonald was then introduced, nnd,
like the rest, spoke in glowing terms OF tho
new Governor OF Massachusetts,. He then
dwell; at some length upon tho necessity OF
united action. He advocated tho establish
ment Of store where girls could work aud
receive living support. place OF this kind
would at once get the support OF tho Mems
Labor Union In Washington, nearly 5000 In
number.
Mrs. Smith then arose and said that fortu-
nately there were n few rich merchants In the
city who offered TO help the working classes.
resolution was then passed extending
sympathy to Secretary Teller and his cham
pion, DR.. Mary Walker, for the defeat of their
party In Colorado.
Mrs. Smith thon spoke In eloquent terms of
the hardships that many noble woman was
forced TO suffer when they wore thrust upon
the world. She alluded TO the mean romark5
that were made by the enemies of the league
and the
ViIiainous Efforts That They Made
TO check It's influence In the city. We shall
live through all this SANDER, she said, and be
a great power for good. When the people Will
women would have greater influence In tho
country than 1t Is now possible for them to
have.
MIR. Mcdonald advised the members to seek
Information from the shop girls about their
condition and treatment. Great care mast be
taken in this work, for 1t was worth girls
position for her employer to know that she
was In communication with the league.
IL was stated that some stores were not pay
ing even half the money. that other stores In
the city were paying for work. This was q
palpable evidence OF fraud, for III one store
could pay good wages and prosper there was
no reason why another store could not do the
same. To show tho progress that the league
was making in the city It Will only be neces
twenty-five members were admitted during
the week,