The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-28
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fCor1eatded nom nrst page

today, to the exclusion of gomen Of
gotdreput I found the avenues to
honest labor we're are all lbarricaded.
Washington is Justly depicted as q
place of icentious proclIVities. More
women are the Victims of vice than in
any other city in the United States.
Vice is fostered by government influence.
The courtesan attracts and receives more
attention at the doors Of congress- sban
tho honest woman asking an approDria-
ton forlabor. The government moneys
ar, expended in miserable danbs called
paintings, and miserable statnary. APP
pr opriations for almost everything Is
>la,ishly made, except for the wage
workers Of the land. Even the govern
m,nt washing is put out by contract. No
house of refuge for the repentsnt Magda-
lene who wishes to retrace her steps.
Ore thousand 81 K hundred rum saloons
fash out their red lights to entice the
m,llhtude, licensed and fostered by con-
gr,sss. Police reports show 100 houses of
illfame, 800 assignation houses, and 600
women of doubtful virtue in the depart
ments -placed and kept there by con-
gr,sssional influence. The public time
of senator's and members is monopolized
in the waiting rooms of the senate and
house by scarlet-robed females, and
pages dance attendance upon their
wishes. Millionaire landlords lord it
over the poor bread-winners. Magistrates
give Judgment according to tie amount
of real estate owned by the litigants. 1t
is such wrongs and injustice as these that
the league has had to fight.
a few years ago 200 women we're
discharged from the departments simply
on account of their beng women. An
Indignation meeting was called, the
Womans League was formed, l was
elected president, and to satisfy the
public clamor raised the women were re-
instated in their places in the interior
department. From the day the league
WIS formed it has had tn battle against
the, enemies of honest labor. Million
al re landlords have vented their spleen
against it, and three times within six
months was the league elected from It's
premises. 1t has kept up, nevertheless
i
a perpetual war against its en- 3mles and
those of the Wage-women. 1t has fear
lesly pointed out to through the public
press the injustice to women practiced
in the nations capital. Ir, fact, the
league has stood as the friend of the
w,.ge workers and bread winners 81
ashington, and the good it has accom-
plshed is now acknowledged ty our law
makers, reluctantly, perhaps, but still
acknowledged. The expense necessary in
carrying on the work of the league has
been considerable. Every dollar was
given by me and not one penny was
ever contributed by friend of the cause
rent of rooms, clerk hire, postage
stationery. and thousands of dollars
spent in collecting information, and sta
tistics regarding the working; women OF
the United States and Europe, their
moral social and physical condition, and
that, too, under appointment from the
senate and house committees on educa'
ton and labor, and no remuneration
al owed me- This is no Sensational
story, but an indisputable fact. The val
usble time l have spent in the cause O.
the wage women would, perhaps, if 9th
elwise employed have rendered MT
ri,h and independent. l gave it freely
and will'still persevere until an indus
trial college shall grace our capital. Fol-
the means to build this college l appea
tc the manhood and womanhood o
America, the mercantile community
the labor organizationS their wives anc
sisters, and all lovers of justice anG lib
elty, the friends of virtue and homes
poverty in our land to aid me in build
ing here an industrial college to tht
women of our country.
The Endorsements l have offered t.
the public as to who am and what
have done should be sufficient to satisf,
the most credulous as to nay status ant
reliability. feel confident that will
the aid of the press of the country
shall succeed in obtaining an amour
slficient,to place the industrial collegt
for women on firm basis
To repay those who may contribute tt
the success ofthe industrial college will
establish in Washington at an early dat,
tle Industrial Woman's Magazine,
monthly magazine devoted to the caus
of the wage women Of the country
to be independent in politics and t.
be the fearless exponent of publ
opinion. The best writers of tn
eountry viii contribute to its col
unns, and its pages will b
enbellished with fine steel en-
cravings of the eminent men and womel
Of the country. Ny success IS publishe
of the Inland Magazine gives the uubli
assurance of what you may expect fron
the industrial Magazine The Indus
trial Magazine will stand as a faithful
sentinel at the capital to protect and de
fnnd honest industry The magazin
will demand a change IN the condition
of affairs at the national capital that til
wage-workers shall have their rights il
the legislation OF the country, and tina