The Evening critic., 1883-01-12
woMAn,s LABOR LEAGUE.
what WAS Done Last Night-Pre-
nuILIIe mud ReaOlntinnA AhOnien.

Nhnt NhA DOue Last NtRnt-Fre-
anibIe and Resolutions Adopted.
In spite Of the bad weather last night, and
while less earnest ard persevering reformcrs
were seeking the pleasure to be found behind
tho lineling sleigh-bells, tho herolnes OF tho
Woman's National Labor League gathered In
their cheerful rooms in the Corcoran Building,
and at o'clock proceeded TO dispose OF the
work which had accumulated on their busy
bands since the previous Thursday evening
Tho following preamble and resolutions
were read and adopted:
Whereas by q recent enactment OF Congress
eligibility TO service In the various govern
mental Departments Is made contingent upon
n successful examination by experts appointed
for tho purpose of testing the merits OF appl!-
cants uuder It's provisions; ana whereas IL Is
probable that large proportion or appllcants
who nro now serving In the various Depart
ments may become competitors Tor examina.
ton with a Wow OF retaining tno positions
thoy now hold as clerks In the service OF the
Be al HTes6lrtd, That 1t IS the sense of this as.
ISOLATION that rs 1t has heretofore been Gus
tomary to appoint mon alone - tho positions
OF examiners In all competitive examinations
that deviation from this rulo will result In
u great benefit 10 the civil service.
RtSoigtd, That We believe that the general
efficiency OF the civil service VIII be promoted
by the appointment, as examiners, OF such OF
our sex as have by long continued and accep-
table service In the Departments proved thom-
selves capable OF performing It's dulles to the
full and entire requirements OF the law.
RsSOired That we will unremittlngly Insist
unon the Observance OF the sentiments above
set forth, TO the end that Just aud fair pro-
portion of the examiners to be appointed
under the above enactment shall be selected
from among those OF our sex who are known
TO be qualified and worthy Of the preference.
ReSOiUod, That q committee be designated to
confer with tho appointing power and urge
our claims 10 be placed upon an equality with
the other sex In these appointments, or at least
that we may not as heretofore be entirely ig-
nored in all matters pertaining to appoint.
ments to place Of honor, protit or emolument.
Mrs. Smith, the vlyacious president OF tho
league, dwclt upon the justice of allowing
women applicants for Government positions to
be examined by women and urged the neces-
sity Of this us a substantial aud important
plank In the civll.servlce reform platform,
which has been erected with such zeal by our
legislators.
Women and Strikes.
Some debate followed on the rumored prob
ability of strikes during the year now open
ing and the effect which they would have upon
the female operatives of manufactures and
mills
The following statement of this subject was
read by the secretary:
SIN the natural order of tho universe the
weaker are always the greatest sufferers;
particularly is this the case with women. They
are not Inferior to men in intellect, and In
many OF The useful Industries they are mans
superior, and In some industries they have no
competition, but they are not allowed TO vote,
have no control OF the public finances, are not
recognized in the boards OF trade, and have
notthe same opportunities as men of judging
OF the imminence OF financial revulsions by
which women are
Made 40 Suffer SO Intensely.
''To-morrow the factories may close. Women
are helpless. Next week the banks may sus-
pend; another New Years may witness wide
spread revulsiop. Women are helpless. They
have not oven the ballot as n weapon, and the
record Of events proves that wherever oppor-
tunity offers woman Is made the victim of
greed-greed that is worse even than lust, for
even woman's virtue cannot protect her
for :one-third Its value. After five years of
suffering from the revulslon OF 1873 we have
had short era of apparent prosperity. The
stockholders Of
CORPORATE MOnOpOlies Have ReafBed
All the Benefit.
We seem now to be on the verge of another
revulsion. The first evidence of Its near
approach is that tho capitalists all over the
country are beginning 10 strike. More protec-
lion and lower wages, or we fall is the cry OF
combined capital. II, six months hence, the
labor unions cry out Better wages, or we
strike,' the noble United States Army will be
called upon to protect the monopolsts'
property. lu Russia, women failing to see
one ray of light for themselves through the
dark veil of despotlsm, become
COnspiratOrs-Nihil
"In this country, rather than be forced to
starye in a garret, when their little horde In
the savings bank has been stolen, the wheels
Of commerce clogged until the National banks
have gathered in the properties OF broken
merchants, factories closed until an excess of
products has been marketed, It would be
better for women to Join In all the strikes and
march In the front ranks and let the noble
United States Army attack. Capital strikes
because 1t cannot mako n profit after 1t has
accumulated all the profits. Laborers strike
when their wages do not procure decent
livelihood"
Mr.. Brown addressed the league at length
on the Importance of the women organizing
unions and federations Of unions for theiI
own protection.
The discussion then turned to the employ
ment of women In this city, and 1t was stated
that large number OF women were employed
by the pension solicitors and pension agents
Some OF the women employed by the pension
attorneys were only receiving from SO to SO q
week for the services which they rendered
and by which their employers realized for
| tunes.
Mrs. Smith cited Washington letter and
| editorial published in the IIOmdn'S journal, o
| Boston, which spoke OF Senator Vest, of Mis-
! souri,, and his attack on the laboring womer
| of the country. Mrs. Smith, In the course Of
| her remarks, said: "a Western Senator, in O
| speech before an assemblage OF his constitu
| ents, has given scope to his Imagination, wher
| contemplating the awful condition OF mundane
| affairs, when women are allowed the privll
| ege OF voting. He claims II 10 be against oul
| civilization, and pictures through his horror
| struck imagination the idea OF going homt
| from the dusty conflicts of everyday life, tC
| kiss a female Justice OF the peace or town
ship constable in petticoats.
'The honorable Senator stops short of the
| true index OF his meaning. He says nothing o
| the liberty which she has conferred upon hel
| OF paying taxes. supporting, perhaps, family
| OF helpless children, and assuming all the
duties which the conservative influences o
| our civilization imposes, without even tn,
| consoling reflection that she is countenancet
| by even the Vicious support of another powe
| that arrogates the superior position of ware
| over her welfare and protection"
The meeting then adjourned.