St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-13
NO REMEDF AT ALL.
A Social Reform the Only Hope for
the Masses.

To the Editor of the Globe.
That pretentious journal, the Pioneer
Press, has an editorial entitled, Relief of
Workingmen," in which it says: The pit
iful case of the wOrkingmen of New York
is now being considered in the public press"
This pitiful case, as proven by careful in
vestigation is stated to be that the shop
and sewing girls of the metropolis receive a
''pittance barely enough to support life
under the meanest conditions" that the
hours of labor. numbering from fourteen to
sixteen, preclude real rest or recreation =
all this the result of ''unrestrained competi-
ton of an ever-supply of labor" After
noticing the remedy mostly talked Of
orgnization''- the Press tries to show that
these half-starved and WORKOUT shop CIR Is
could. every one of them, find employment
in homes where they could be we'll
paid, healthy and happy. 1t is
rose-colored picture the Press presents of
the ''eager demand for household help''
which would render it unnecessary for any
WorkingwOman to consent to any sacrifice
of dignity or independence. A home where
she could be respected would always be
open.
My experience in life. which has been not
a little, does not confirm this opti-
mstic view. But to waive. for the pres
ent. all opposition to the idea that the mis-
tresses of our homes are ready to receive
self-respecting. industrious faithful girls on
such terms as to keep up their self-respect,
| would like to call attention to one general
truth: ''Our reformerS. our newspapers,
our magazines seldom call attention to any
evil or danger of the future, that is they
never take time by the forelock. Not until a
false principle or system has produced I'M
bearable evil, is it attended TO. In this
case the cries of our poor girls
have been ascending to heaven for
many years. but there were few
to listen OF to answer until the mischief
done was so great as to be irreparable.
Talk of shop and sewing girls going into
our families to work. Nine out of ten of
these overworked and ill-fed daughters of
misfortune are tit only for the rest of the
grave. So long as life lasts they will need
nursing and attention that would utterly
unit them to do work in the kitchen or
vigorous work of any kind. They are al
ready incapactated by close confinement
Sedentary employment. low diet and dis
| enlargement for any active work. Their
mothers. many OF them. had been weak
! ened by long hours Of similar ill-paid work.
and so far as spirit, QuickneSs of mind and
strength of body are concerned. these un-
| happy women are down never to rise
again. No doctoring of any kind can dc
them much good.
Similar thoughts arise when we hear OF
bethany homes, founding asylums and
charitable hospitals. When will cur charit-
able workers learn that an ounce of proven
ton is worth tons of such palliatioes a:
they are able to present? 1t is melancholy
to see how reluctant enr leaders Of charity
are to look the truth in the face, and how
prone they are to spend money for thai
/ which is not bread. What is needed is &
social reform-a system that will prevent
the inexperienced, the weak, 1.-THE masses,
| from going down instead of going up il
health. knowledge. wisdom and goodness.
Until that well organized system is estab
lished the best we can do is bad enough
entirely too bad for the contemplation Of
God, angels or man. A RADICAL.
Minneapolis, Dec. II.