The Evening critic., 1883-01-05
WOMEN WHO WORK
For the Rest Interests of Their suf.
fering Sisters--whas was Done at
the Labor LeRgue last Night.

fcrtug Asters--Whas was Done at
the Labor Lesgue last Night.
At the usual hour last evening tho little
bnnd Of champions. OF their downtrodden sex,
known as tho woman's National Labor
League, assembled In their rooms at the Cor.
coran Building TO dispose of tho business &C.
cumulated by their busy members during the
past week. When Mrs. Smiths gavel fell
about twenty ladies belonging to the league
and half rs many members of tho Federation
OF Labor were In attendance.
Vivacious Mrs. Smith then turned her atten.
ton TO what che termed the great local issue
growing out OF
The Surplus Female Populations.
She said that troops of women came to this city
In search OF governmental employment who
had not the influence required to get the posi-
tions desired, and therefore during the past
ten or fifteen years n large surplus female
population of oflceseekers had gradually
gathered here beneath the dome OF tho Ma
tlonal Capitol TO seek and aspire in vain; to
suf1er and, in some cases, starve. This had be-
come so serious matter that something was
necessary for the relief of these women. They
could rot ina husbands here, because there
were mono. They were equally certain to fail
In their search for Government positions be-
them. II the women could not find either posi-
tions or homes here their only alternative was
TO leave this city, in which they were so
ForlOrn ana Miserable.
Where should the women go' remained as
the great question, and how they are to go is
equally puzzling. She would suggest that they
go West, and that Congress send them. Mrs.
Smith then introduced the following paper,
of her theory that the women should go West:
Why They Should Go West.
OF the population of the United States, 5O,-
1886, $500, $50 are males and "a, $50, 2S1
are females. In the whole tier OF States
bordering on the Atlantic excepting Delawarel
there is an excess OF females, this excess In
cluding Alabama, being 2SO,000, and the
largest percentage of excess Q2x per cent?
N nj Irahf
In Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and
Montana there are less than so females TO
100 males; in Colorado, 80; Dakota, q; Calf
S5; Minnesota, SO; Michigan and Texas, SO
females to 100 males ana In all the Western
States, except Tennessee, the males are in
excess. AS Congress finds 1t very easy aud
practicable to pass laws to protect certain In
terests, which absorb all the wealth of the
Nation, 1t might in Its wisdom flnd some means
OF encouraging and assisting women to 60
where their intelligence and refining ipfiu-
eDce would be of most value.
The starvation wages which protected In
terests and combinations of capital force upon
women afford them no means of bettering
their condition by change Of locality in the
East.
Mrs. Briant delivered very Interesting ad.
dress on the phenomenal cases of female
strength or skill which had come under her
experience. She knew of hundreds OF women
employed In the Lighter work in connection
with farming and gardening. The speaker was
informed that women were now employed in
the iron works Of Western Pennsylvania, and
were found active and competent. Those who
saw tho work OF the women in these iron
furnaces and mills allege that a women can
frequently compete with man In those rough
industries, and can even seek q livelihood In
the unwomanly task OF blowing bellows or
shoeing horse. The speaker confidently be.
lived that women, II driven to 1t and allowed
TO do ii, could
Carry n HOd or Dig Ditch.
Mr.. Edmonston, of the Federation of Labor
followed Mrs. Briant on the same subject and
gave some interesting anecdotes Of his expe-
rionce with women workers in the occupa-
tions OF carpenters, cabinet-makers and carv.
ers. He was aware that in many OF the more
delicate branches Of those businesses woman
was moro competent and successful than a
man.
Mr.. Edmonston then introduced to the league
the chairman of the Legislative Committee of
the Trades Congress-, Mr.. Samuel Gompers,
the English working classes to secure living
wages and Just recognition. In these deter
mined and successful efforts the speaker
found q worthy example for American women
recognition and for equal rights.
The speaker contrasted the condition OF the
European countries. He spoke from expert
ence of the rates OF wages, the social condition,
etc, of the working people the world over, and
showed that with the most despotlc govern
ments the working people were most do
pressed, poorest paid and most degraded. The
more liberal tho government the more ela-
NnteQ was tDe COnultlOn the WORKING Classes,
the greater their influence and the more
equitable their wages. The speaker, in sug-
gestinG the necessary steps for.the league to
secure the success of the organization and the
benefit of Its members, said that the great
necessity was for the league to form separate
organizations of tailoresses, salesladies,
seamstresses, shop girls, etc, who would
understand, consider and enforce their own
| necessities, and, step by step, press forward
and gain the recognition, the consideration
and the aid which they require and may Justly
| claim. He had great confidence in the ability
| great good for those in whose interest It was
established.
Mrs. Smith responded, defining the position
| OF the league and Its progress from the time
that the Congressional wiseacres had shaken
| their heads and said,
''Half n Dozen Female Crnnks
| have banded together to upset the country
Mrs. Smith said the cranks were still hanging
together and meant TO hang together until
| they had materially nssisted the unfortunate
women with whom the District was filled to
overiowing. The speaker went on to review
the troubles of tho poor women to secure any
assistance or charity In this city. During the
past few weeks the representatives In Con.
gress had come forward in goodly numbers
and expressed their sympathy with the league
and their willingness to further Its ends and
objects.
The meeting adjourned after transactlng
| routine business.
MR.. CoRCORAN'S PROPERTY.