National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-10-16

they for the position They had made no
record In the ranks OF labor. Are there not
female industrians In the ranks qualified TO
fill these positlonsS And, II so, why are
not they rewarded, and why were they ig-
nored and outsiders, unknown, obscure
women, appointed9
The country at large asks this question.
not the Woman's League alone, nor do I'm
an individual capacity. The battle make
against wrong and the protests have made
against the subversion of the labor bureau
is not made in a vexatlous spirit by me.
am impelled by higher motives. / have
spent my private means aud my time for
the interest OF the female industrians Of my
country. am too positive in my declara-
tons to be popular with politicians. Grand
Master Workman Powderly understood
this when he said to me: "You will never
DC appointed chief Of the woman's depart
ment OF the labor bureau; they don't want
you; you are positive character; negatives
are what they are looking for" This Illus
trates the foresight Of the grand master
workman.
am perfectly content TO remain where l
am, but shall never erase to call public
attention to this labor bureau until politl-
clans are made to know that IL is not a
political bureau, and that they have no part
or lot in its administration. / shall not
only watch for and criticise the annual re-
ports OF the commissioner, but will also
claim to myself the power and privilege of
criticising the appointments made therein,
with the laudable desire OF having the right
persons In the right places. contend that
only prominent persons In the ranks Of
labor should receive appointments In
bureau Of labor.
The Woman's League Is well aware, and
so is the country, that Objectionable women
who have no fitness for oflice--are put
into the several executive departments for
no other reason than that they possess
beauty OF person and attractive style.
This Is their only recommends ion. Scan
dalous creatures, male aud female, draw
large salaries In these departments TO the
shame Of manhood and womanhood and
the disgrace OF the republic. This is fact
we all know. The Woman's League claims
that the labor bureau was born OF the in
dustrfal element Of the country--that II be-
longs to the people and should be strictly
devoted to the interest OF the people. No
disreputable men or women should be APP
pointed therein, and all appointments
should be make from the ranks OF labor, Of
persons prominent In the great movement
which now challenges the attention Of the
world
This is not done. We daily witness the
humiliating spectacle Of a bureau formed
for, worked for, and designed for the bene-
1T OF the sons and daughters Of industry
transformed into bureau OF incompetent
daisies and dudes. We have only the alter.
native left Of entering our solemn protest
against the continuance OF this great wrong,
aud the right to appeal to the Knights OF
Labor-our brothers In the great cause
which unites us fraternally, TO take such
steps as they shall deem wise and best, to
cast out the nest Of drones now In posses
ell nVN nf Nhn haaH % LII
what Congress In its wisdom declared IL
should be-a bureau Of labor to collect In
formation and data, solve.questlons and de.
wise means to benefit the male and female
industrians Of our country.
We have appealed for relief in this mat
ter OF the Ignoring OF women and the dis
regard OF both industrial women and men
shown by the bureau of labor. Our ap.
peals have been sent to the Executive OF
the nation, but no response has been
made. In tho press OF the country we
found better friend, and now In conclu-
sion we appeal not only to our brother
Knights OF Labor, but to the manhood
and womanhood OF a great nation. made
great by the industry of her mechanics,
artisans, and laborers; to arise In their ma
jesty as a people and demand that bu-
reau made for the people by the people
shall stand as wall against the entrance
OF interruptions politicians and political
wire pullers, who at heart are not we'll
wishers OF the men and women who have
to labor for the bountles they enjoy.
In conclusion your petitioner would re.
spectfully represent that during the last
session Of Congress she framed and sug-
gested bill, which was submitted by Sem
ator Blair In the Senate and by Gov.
Andrew Curtin In the House, authorizing
the appointment of two colored men and
two colored women as special agents of the
labor bureau to collect statistics and data
respecting the condition of the colored
people Of the United States and their rela-
ton to white laborers wherever they are
employed together. The statistics to COM
prise everything In connection with the
hours OF labor, treatment they receive from
their employers, their wages, cost OF living,
&c. The passage OF this bill is imperatiyely
demanded as an act of justice to race
who were once and are now the chief
laborers Of the southern states. They have
their rights which every true knight is
willing to accord them as a race, and most
assuredly the right to be represented In
national labor bureau-designed as ma
tional gift to the lndustrians Of the whole
Union.
Your petitioner therefore prays that
some action may be taken by your conven-
ton on the subject OF those appointments
by a resolution indorsing the sentiments
expressed In the provisions, and urging Con-
gress to pass the bill making 1t mandatory
on the commissioner of labor to appoint
four colored persons as special agents OF
said bureau, to discharge the duties as
heretofore set forth. Respectfully sub
mitted. CHARLOTTE SMITH.
WASHINGTON, Oct. IA, 1886.