The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-23
POOR WORKING WOMEN
STRIKE FOR VIRTUE, FOR DE-
CENT TREATMENT
And for Better Wagcs-TestimOny
Taken That Is Unfit for Publica-
tiOn-A H0rrifying Picture.

says that the COMMITTEES OF the Brook
Ign Central Labor Union which has
been appointed to investigate the
charges OF immortality and abuse a.
legged to have existed in the yarn
spinning factory OF Jo'eph 7. Perkins
& Co at the corner OF Hooper srest
and KeLt avenue, in the Eastern Dis
tTict, were in seFs on from 8 o'clock on
Thursdsy morning unit noon, and
examined eight Of the striking girls.
The afements of the girls are pre-
pared as affidavits, and after being
sworn 10 will be presented TO the
grand jury. The investigation is being
carried on at the headquarters OF the
strikers, Temperance Hall, on Kent
avenue, near Myrtle avenue. The
committee hiss determined TO hght
Perkins & Co. TO the bitter end, and
yeste day decided ON new course OF
p ok ting 10 prevent the firm from en-
ployipg any a1diiiOnsl help 1t was
also decided to send out the following
appeal 10 labor unions throughout the
country:
AN APPEAL TO ORGANIZED LABOR.
We, the employees of Joseph 7.
Perkins, worsted mill, appeal t. organ
izod mon nd women 10 aid us In our hght
against tn, immoral and tyranntcil op
pressions imposed ueon US by the petty
bosses employed in perkins's worsted mill.
After repeated efforts to have the proprietor
investigate tho immoralitie. and Oppres-
siOns, aud fail ing, tho alternative OF coming
out was forced upon US. Therefore, we ap-
rality. to aid us in our f. ht for justice. All
donations should be sont to the Executive
Committee, Temperance Hall, Kent avenue.
The appeal is signed by the Ex.su.
tive Committee, who yeiteldjy wou d
not consent to the publication OF thsir
names.
In the large waiting room OF Tenn
psIaucs Hall about fifty Of lhestr king
girls sat yesterday afternoon. Tney
"a ,eed in age ON IA years t. %. but
many Of the younger ones wro de-
C AIRED that they vera II, app arvd
scarcely over ~. There wtre many
pretty faces smong them and sca'celv
feature hat could be termed "hard."
NeMly all OF them bad some sort OF
feminine need ework IN their laps and
kniltit e needles clicked indus Iiou'lv.
A yoang woman with an in GREETING
face, brown hSir end quit gay el es,
who put dowp one of hober. l. uis
SteVenson's lbte;t novels az she sp lke,
talked al out the SAFE OF affairs in Per.
kins's factory which brought about
the strike.
"We not only want tn be pro 'ecied
from immortality and abuss," she said,
"but we have sIuck because we are
not paid enough. We want an in
crea'e Of a, least Is p cant, ( r Mr..
Perkins has been p yirg US about 45
per cent. less than any other wois ed
mill in this vicinity. The average
wages earned by the girls, twis'' rs,
spinners, reelers, doublers and draw.
ing room hands, are from So to s. 3
week. These are the bert paid, and
there were girls in the fact ory VINO
made only 81 so a week, and bad to
pay out OF that 81 q week for beard 4,
and clothe themselves on ths fifty
cents that wss left. The 6nes we're 30
heavy that il made big difference 10
the wages II girl ever got into any
trouble. II we made over pound OF
wsste from bobbin of ysrh We we're
feed five cents, and a. we go
only half cent b0bbin II
YVES pretty bard work. The fore
WON an IL iavorite Of the sup sriu-
tendent, Andrew Lee, and If shs took
q dislike to any girl she made it very
uncomfortable for her. We als) d.
mand the Discharge of the thirteen
girls whom we refused to admit into
the union because CT their character,
and who remain at work in the fac
tory; but above ali, we want ths
tyrannical petty bosses bounced who
compelled US to put up with insults
and indigni,ies which can't name.
81 know girl who had woi ked In
the factory and wss away for time
for some reason. She came back snd
sa~ one of the bosses one day and
asked him to put her on. He SAID
You meet me az such placs toniRh
and l will tell you if 1 ctn give you 8
| Job She would rot meet him, aud
applied 10 Mr.. Perkins, who had her
put to work. She dn't stay two
weeks, for the boss made it so hard FL
her that she hsd to quiz. II cir
was hall minute late sae was pun
ished by beiHg de led the privilege oil
WISH ng in The mill for ak moutbe."
eyes, that's 81" said slender g r.
sitting next the one who talked. 81
was a couple of minut late once and
/ didn't wash in the factory for ovel
four months, until ons day begged
Superintendent Lac to let me bee iusf
my hands were 80 dirty WIS ashame q
to 20 in the street. He sad: ''lll lei
you wash this time, but won't let NJ
on you again
''Men and girls work tog athsr in 9
long room where most of toe work i:
done. There Is NO washroom for tht
girls and they had to wash d change
their clothes right there before tue
boys and men, who always came
around and made remarks. The worl
is 30 dirty that girl was Obliged Il
change the clothes she wore in tbs
street for working clothes. II a cir
was putting in a set Of bobbins anC
could not leave IL TO wash when the
time came, she would have to e
out that night without washing
There was only one toilet room for tbs
girls, and 1t had no door. The super
inteudent was asked to put in door
on account OF the rude conduct OF thu
boys and men, but he never did it. l
we complained of the conduct Of thu
men the sup alintendent only laughed
and that made them worse
The Chairman bore out tho state
men,s Of the girls, ssyirg that tn,
afiidavits brought u light st,ta o
things that was unfit for publication
which had been sworn to by the girl
examined
The str, king Girls belong TO Distric