St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-11
They Are Endorsed and En-
eouraged--The Firm Ask
ed to Arbitrate.
The River Has An Unusually
Large Quantity Of Wa
ter In It.
Park Police Appointed--Ma-
sonic Temple Contract
Other News.
THE GIRLS INDORsED,
And Their Employers Asked to
Arbitrate.

Arbitrate.
The public meeting held at Harmona
hall last evening demonstrated thatpub-
lie sympathy for the striking machine
girls, who recently left the employment
of Shotwell, Clerihew 81 Lothman, is
both abunndent and heartfelt. 1t was
an eminently respectable gathering
which brought together classes of So
ciety which do not often meet;
employer and emplOye, workingmen
and women, as we'll as those whose posi-
ton in society does not cause them to
interest themselves generally in the
cause of labor. The addresses of the
evening were conservative in tone, and
no attack was made upon individuals,
even the offending firm were treated
with great deal of courtesy. The hall
was filled to overlooking, and the meet
ing, if only the means OF in
teresting the public in the situa-
ton, was decided success.
An effective argument was presented in
behalf of the girls before a word had
been spoken. 1t consisted of number
of garments, such as are worn by work
men, pinned upon the drop curtain and
labeled with the prices paid for their
making. For instance, blouse marked:
"Shotwell, Clerihew & Lothman, 6
cents; st. Paul, 8 cents" Overhauls
marked IS. G. u L., ~ cents; st. Paul,
1419 cents" A shirt marked IS. q. d
L.. 81 cents; st. Paul, 5 cents" etc.
on the stage sat several well-known
ladies, under whose auspices the en-
tertainment was given. Mrs. E. S.
Marble presided, and after an eloquent
address by Mrs. Charlotte o.
Van Cieve. and an instrumental solo
by Miss Jennie Kelley. Mrs. Van Cleve
was introduced. She said she came to
speak simply as woman for women.
She had worked a great deal among
girls who are called ''outcasts," and
knew that many go to destruction be-
cause they cannot earn living wages,
and nave only the option of ruin or dis
traction. She was glad to learn that the
situation of the girls had attracted
the general attention of the
community, and that commit
tee composed of leading business
has been organized who are making an
investigation, the result of which will
soon be made public. That woman is
underpaid is patent, and God never
meant that man should prosper and that
woman should Starve. Here the speaker
drew an impressive picture of the poor
girl working at low wages, and the
temptations that beSetS her. She knew
of six girls who lived tagether in one
room, having only crackers, bread, and
the very plainest of food for subsistence.
She brought the lesson home by asking
fathers and mothers how they would
like to have their daughters slav-
ing for a mere existence? Brothers,
how would they like to see their
sisters working for a pittance that
would not keep body and soul together.
Mrs. Van Cleve closed her address,
which was of the nature of kind,
mOtherly and even atfectionate talk TO
the girls, by saying that if any of them
found themselves suffering from need
to let their wants be known and they
would receive help.
After a piano duet by the Misses
Marble and Cady, Rev. w. Wilkinson
was introduced, and made an address
which called out round after round of
applause. He was decidedly practical
In his views, and said he didn't be-
lieve in prating about angels with
golden harps, while people are in need
of the necessities oflife. He didn't be-
lieve in preaching altogether about the
hereafter, and reading articles in news
papers about show TO reach the laDOring
classes" The way to reach them he
said is to help them.
Mons Baker sang his Labor Marsel-
laiSe," and upon being recalled made
some pertinent remarks. Mrs. Clara
HOlbroOk-Smith urged the girls to be
firm and assured them of sympathy and
help. She said they were working not
for themselves alone, but the advance
ment of women who are wage workers.
Mrs. E. S. Marble made the. closing
address, which was an eloquent plea
for the girls. At the conclusion upon
the suggestion of Mr.. Wilkinson by a
rising vote resolution was passed re-
questing the firm to submit the ques-
tons of pay, out of which the strike has
grown, to arbitration, and Father James
McGolrick was selected to visit the firm
and present the resolution. At the close
some one made the suggestion that
contribution be raised to defray the eX-
penSeS of the meeting so the girls would
not have to bear it, and in less than five
minutes nearly $50 was raised.