St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-25
the sewing except the buttons and but

the sewing except the buttons and but
tOnhOleS."
How much are you paid for each
shirt?'
"Three and half cents each.n
''Three and half cents.'' repeated.
SIS that possible?''
eyes. When the work is finished,
three bosses overlook it. If the shirts
are not well made, we rip them and sew
them over again."
"Then you earn about 40 cents day,
or 81. 40 a week. 1 queried.
II only earned S1.75 last week"
But you are new hand, | SUPPOSE"
81 suppose. I've worked here only
two years and half" she said quickly,
land you'll find some of the new hands
can only earn 10 cents day."
Thinking her story rather highly
colored, passed down the shop chatting
to the girls here and there, but her story
seemed to be true.
Why" said one. 81 can only make
twelve pairs of OverallS, by hard work,
at z cents each; we used to get II cents
and thought it bad enough, but we're
glad to take 'em for Z cents now"
AT another table jean pants were fin
iShed complete at and 10 cents per
pair. The girls here were not laxative,
so l sauntered along to the farther end
of the room.
A girl working on Mackinaw lined
duck coats told me she could finish four
at SO cents each, day. She had been
sewing for four years.
How much do you earn week?"
''AbOut 81 or 49,"
"Ihen you earn pretty fair wages"
eyes, but our foreman says we girls
wear too many feathers and fine clothes
and threatens he'll cut our wages, so
We'll be glad to wear plain clothes by
next spring."
Yes, and when he meets one of the
girls on the street who is well dressed
he'll ask her where she got her fine
feathers and dress, and tell her she
didn't buy them out of the wages she
earns here"
''He says we act as if we thought our
selves ladies'"
II hear he gets 20 per cent of every
cut in wages he forces on u.s." clipped
in various voices.
eff your foreman insults you, why
don't you complain to the prOprie-
torS?"
"What's the use? If we don't want
to put up with the way we're treated,
we are told we can leave. They can
find plenty glad to get chance to work
for any wages"
The scale of wages in the other shops
were about the same as in this.
Many of the employees were married
women, who had home to help keep,
or young girls, who lived at home, hav-
ing no board to pay and regarding what
they earned in the shop as merely
help towards their support.
A general inquiry showed that the
majority of the girls had to support
themselves, paying from 81 to So week
for board and lodging, having of course
to make what was left after that do for
dress and other expenses.
Speaking of dress, one girl said that if
the firm would sell the employees calico
and sheeting by the bolt at wholesale
prices, it would help out. They refused
this to the girls, although |, an outsider,
could have obtained bolt of calico at
reduction if l wished.
One girl, who could barely manage to
earn 81 week by hard labor, told me
she had a widowed mother and small
brother depending on her for support
wondered how girls that earned $3.50
week made ends meet.
Many girls refused to say anything,
saying that talking and singing were
forbidden in working hours. If such
was the case, the rule was not always
hOnOred.
Despite the complaints of hard work,
low wages, ETC., they were a lively, in
telligent lot Of girls. They seemed de-
termined to make the best of their lot
and have good time anyhow.
EVA GAY,