National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-11

the ith. has been received by the press Of
the country with favorable comment.
was actuated by no feeling Of ill-will
toward the commissioner OF labor in writ
ing that article but prompted solely by
desire to protect tho interest Of tho
wage-woman and secure to my sex rep
resentative department in tho formation
and work ings of tho bureau. My object
is not TO insult anybody--to make war
upon anybody-but to SEQ that equal jus
tice is accorded the vaGe-women Of the
country in every department established
by the government at the national capt.
tai, especially the labor bureau. IL this
is on insult j an glad Of II, and have
no apologies to make.
The commissioner of labor thought
proper to leave woman out in the cold in
the formation of his bureau. objected,
and will continue to object, aud my oh.
lection will be sustained by the country.
That is the only difference between tho
commissioner and myself
Tho commissioner will pardon me just
here IL ask him q question.
In seeking for information on the sub
ject of labor where will you 60 and to
whom will you go?
Not to Europe, surely For If 1t took
100 consuls three months to compile the
information collected and now on file in
the State Department, 10 would tako
your agents twenty-five years.
In sending an agent to Europe, what
instructions could you give him not eni-
bodied in the instructions to our consuls
in the circular from the Department of
Statc2 This was my plan submitted to
l.. a.,l f,,ll id
out as regards the female industrians.
Tue Secretary of state remsrking that it
was tho only practical plan, and that, too,
submitted by woman. 1t is fact that
all the information collected regarding
tho state of labor in Europe and pro-
nouuced so valuable to our archives was
plan organized by woman, and that
woman the humble writer Of this article.
This is no idle boast, but is substantiated
by the records of tho State Department
and tho testimony Of the members Of the
Senate and House committees on edu-
cation and labor.
eIAs l remarked in my former letter,
ave are satisfied with our knowledge of
labor in Europe" already received from
our consular agents. and published to the
country in every sense of tho term.
To take any portion Of the limited fund
appropriated for the labor bureau, and fit
out agents for Europe at this time, would
be worse than fOlly--a waste of time and
money, and an outrage perpetrated on tho
wage-laborers of the country. Nothing
could be gained, and this course pursued
by the commissioner would subject his
conduct to censure. His agents could
certainly give us nothing new. unless
they were the descendants of Gulliver,
whose travels excite the disabilities of
mankind.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, our late Secretary
of State, in his letter to Congress review
ing the reports from the consuls in rela-
tion to the state Of labor in Europe, pays
the consuls a we'll. merited tribute. From
oyery country, every cline, reports were
compiled respecting the state Of labor,
md whatever good posterity may derive
from this fund Of information may be
Justly attributed to the zeal of woman.
Let US then concede that our informa-
ton respecting labor in Europe is COM
plete; that IL certainly cannot DO added
TO by the agents of Mr.. Wright. and that
the attempt on their part would BIO fruit.
less-"love's labor lost"
In these consular reports we find much
to instruct US, for the labors of women
were taken into account as well as man.
Our consul at Dresden, when speaking of
be interesting 70 the American readers !:
IAN important factor in the labor Of
Germany is not inquired Of by the cir
cular--the labor Of dogs. / have heard it
estimated that women and dogs. harnessed
together, do more hauling than the rail
roads and all other modes of conveyance
of goods united. Hundreds OF small
wagons can be seen every day on all the
roads leading TO and from Dresden, each
having a dog for the near horse har-
messed, while the of horse is a woman,
with her left hand Rrasping the wagon
tongue, to give 1t direction, and the right
hand passed through q loop in rope
which 10 attached to the axle, binding her
shoulder; thus harnessed woman and dog
trudge along together. pulling miraculous
loads in all sorts OF weather"
The labor bureau, like charity, should
commence at home. If we can profit by
the lessons the consuls send us from other
lands, let us do 80. The United States
claim our undivided attention, and the
best means to DO devised and the best
mode to elevate labor and benefit the
laborcr should be our morning and even
ing lesson. The condition of the wage
women, the bread-winLers, engross my
attention. How shall We benefit them ?
That's the question. Can we do il by
Il practical answer!
In the first place, we are entitled to and
solelnnly demand that woman's depart
ment should Lo added TO the labor bureau,
and that u woman should be chief OF that
department. This step is absolutely nee.
essary to give woman representative in
the labor interests of the country fOs,
tered and maintained by Congress. lie,
us have this first Of all. We will admit
of no denial.
In the second place, we shall ask the
government TO at least notice the condi-
ton of our wage women. This is no new
or novel idea. France does not forget
hers. In her glory she remembers hei
wa2c-women, and has provided $50 in
dustrial schools for them, fosters anj
maintains them, and the result hid,
shown that they are almost selt-support
ing, and the great good they have don,
would fill volumes. Is our government
less liberal than FrSnce2
1t is subject of comment among al
humanitariaus with whom ! have con
versed that our government. the fOromos
of the nations Of the earth in every grea
and lRudable enterprise. should neglec
the care and supervision of its wage
women. My answer has always been
that it resulted more from spirit of in
difference than from want Of sympathy
on tho part of our Congress. That til,
question had not been seriously agitRted
that the idea was new one. and that /
we earnestly advocated the project of es
tablishing these schools our efforts wOulC
be crowned with success. This is a prac
tical move, and something practical is de
manded.
IL required noilearned disquistions T.
teach US the absolute necessity Of takinj
some important stops TO better the condi
ton of our laborlng classes, especially GU
wage-wOmen. 1t 10 universally conceded
that woman is the weaker vessel, yet so
ciety is 80 constituted that she is force,
to bear the principal burdens of life, an'
in her race as bread.winner every i'm
pcdimeut is thrown in her way. In tn