National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-28
IN BEHALF OF WOMAN.

and How tho Condition OF Wage
Workers Can Be Bencfitcd.
Senator Palmer Of Michigan, II will bo
made a speech in the senate
early this month in favor Of female
suffrage. This speech has givon the
3enator national reputation and won
him the hearts of tho tair sex. ln|the
course of his remarks he PAID many
deserve d compliments to woman for her
work in the world, and demonstrated
that he was in hearty,sympathy with tho
cause of universal suffrage.
In recent interview between Mrs.
Smith, president of tho Womans
Natioial Industrial League, aud senator
Palmer, Mrs. Smith opened tho converse.
lion as follows:
Senator, congratulate you on the
able speech you made few days ago In
the senate, and thank you in tho name of
my sex for the admission that women
have brains as we'll as hcarts.'"
The senator thanked Mrs. Smith and
said: "But deserve no thanks for the
remark you alludc to. ltwas an assertion
founded on fact. Women have brains as
we'll as hearts, and should be SO recog-
nized."
IL WOulu 10 lDueGu u Dlbshlukt htuulOit
If majority OF our legislators thought as
you do. The status of women, even here
at tho national capitol, Is deplorable.
For many years have devoted what lit
tic talent God has given me, my time
and means, to the sole purpose of benefit
ing the wagc-women of the land. have
met with jeers. opposition, and persecu-
tion all along my pathway. | have per-
severed and can now sec the dawn aud
the principle l contcnded for seriously
entertained in tho national halls of legls.
lation. | mean the elevation of the
wago- woman. | am now more than re-
paid when find the cause has such able
champions in the senate as yourself, SEN
ator Blair and Senator Miller. DO you
know the condition of things rs regards
the wage.womop Of Washington, senator!
If not, will tell you"
II should like to be informed" replied
Senator Palmer, and Mrs. Smith, cOntin-
uing, said There arc institutions pro-
vided here by the government for many
purposes. For the lunatic, tho deaf and
dumb, hospitals for the sick, institutions
for the birds, fishes, insects, snakes, alli-
gators, mummios, dummies, monkeys,
dudes, and superannuated clerks. but no
refuge for respectable woman in search
of home. My object has been TO estab.
lish a bureau of statistics for women
here, and to have congress establish n
polytechnic or industrial school. i am
confident that in short time such au in
stitutiou would be solf-sustaining, and
would be Endorsed by the voting millions
of the country. 1t would be an institu-
tion where the wage-women could learn
tho art of self support. IL would be u
monument to virtue, taller and grander
than that erected to tho father of his
country in the sight Of high heaven. Con-
gress should encourage tho wage.woman
Of the land, as does the government Of
France, and even semi-barbarous Russia.
They are both in advance of US in this
regard"
Senator Palmer said he was In favor OF
polytechnic schools. have" he said,
seen tho benefit of these schools in Eu-
rope. advocate the education of women,
and will cooperate in any plan, in or out
of congress, TO establish these schools. /
have seriously considered the establish
ment OF one in my own state of Miohi-
gan. / desire to SEQ every advantage
given this movement. II Is worthy OF
government support. | desire to see the
elevation of labor, and would lend hand
to aid tho wage women in their laudablc
undertaking"
~ notice, senator, that you voted in
favor of the bill to prevent the importa.
tion of contract labor. How is this, and
you millionaire ?"
81 did vote for the bill. | como OF
working stock, and all my sympathies
arc with tho working classes of the
land" replied the senator.
81 have been employed by the senate
committee on education and labor to COM
pile information for the committee rel
spectiug the moral and social condition o.
the wage-women Of the laid" said Mrs
Smith, "and have witnessed scenes Of dis
tress and poverty in its direst form. In
the city of New York alone there arc
So 900 women out of employment, aud
10000 making living by the use of the
needle at wages 80 low as to be only one
remove from starvation. recite few
examples: For finishing shirts, Z cents q
dozsn on these they must put foul
stays each, three buttons, and one ticket
SO for cents you sew in forty-eight stay,
thirty-siX buttons, and twelve cards
calico sacques 90 cents dozen; 40 cents
a dozen for mems drawers; two doZer
| in three days by hard work; 8 cents pieo,
| for linen dusters-the smartest worker
! with machine can make two a day, ant
other work in proportion. Tho womei
often with large families, and this Is
civilized country"
That is almost as bad as have seen IL
Europe-a woman aud q COW yokeC
together and hitched to n plow. Mrs
Smith replied that she could fill volum
in enumerating the scenes she had wit
messed, but continued, | will now com
homo to Washington under the shadoy
of the dome of the nations capitol w
have 5000 soldiers widows here outsid,
of the government departments requir
ing assistance, There are no avenues O
labor open to women here. There is no
even house Of refuge for the repentan
Magdalena who wishes to turn away frou
the paths she has followed. We hay
to 90 TO Baltimore to find a plac
of refuge for an 0rring sister. StarvAtio
even stalks through the streets Of Wash
ingtOn. On Christmas day / visited
family of eight persons who were staryin
for food | waited on the chief of polio,
aud was informed that congress had mad
no provision for such purposes. Why
this? Justice is even denied the poor
this district. / witnessed the election
a poor wage woman from house withor
a shadow Of law to sustain the writ. Ju
tices of the peace give judgment in fave
of tho party owning the largest amount
real estate.
! Mrs. Smith then dwelt upon the vic,
that abound here and elsewhere, whiC
she argued legislation could eradicate.
The interview closed by Senator Palm,
, extending TO Mrs. Smith an inyitatiC
!, to visit the state of Michigan, where 81
could see not only the most progressi'
state in tho union, but one where Il
laborer, male and female, were accord
, equal privileges aud rights. Exchange.
Tho East Washington Democrats.
The East Washington Cleveland al
: Hendricks Club, St their meuting Ia
I night, accepted the badges TO be worn
/ inauRu ration day. A vote Of thanks "
3 extended to the persons who participate
0 in tho recent entertainment, which nett
e tho club 300. Mr. William Martin "
/ unanimously elected marshal OF tho cl,
I for WednfSdny. A meeting will be he
!, Monday q ,hght. ;s