St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-01
A CRUSADE FOR WOMEN.

The GLOBE has undertaken crusade
In behalf of the workingwomen of
Minneapolis. 1t proposes, with the CO
operation of well-dispOsed employers,
and backed by public sentiment through
out, to ferret out every wrong and hard
ship endured by the thousands of girl
wage-workers, and right them where
possible. The work has already begun.
and within one week the gratifying
statement can be made that good re-
suits have been accomplished. The
GLOBE desires to acknowledge the
humanity of those manufacturers of
overalls and jumpers, who, the moment
their attention was called to it, remedied
the evils exposed last Sunday. They
have improved the ventilation, furnished
seats where possible, Overhauled and
closed up the closets, and have done
such other things as improved the
sanitary condition of their workshops
and made the life of their employees
endurable. If no other end is accom-
plished, the crusade has wrough enough
good to pay for the trouble and expense.
Attention is called to-day to another
class of wrongs in the bag factories and
understanding shops, where girls are
compelled to breathe foul air, endure
offensive dust, and often stand all day
day long at their work. The story is
graphically told and requires but little
comment. There is an easy remedy for
these wrongs, and the GLOBE cheriSheS
the hope that simply calling attention
to the existing wrong will be sufficient.
employers should learn that in clean,
wholesome shops, with pure air, good
surroundings and high moral atmos-
phere, lies the secret of the best work;
and they are really consulting their own
interests when they provide them,
though they should be inspired by less
selfish motives; but if sense of human
ity, added, does not bring about the
needed reform, the GLOBE pledges it
self to use more effectual means.
The world has little idea of the many
hardships and privationS these girls are
called upon to endure. 1t can not real
lie, for it can not know. 1t is difficult to
get at the true state of affairs, even from
the girls themselves. The ready black
list is too great terror, and Servile fore
men are lynX-eyed in the matter of
guarding shop secrets. To complain of
bad treatment generally means dis
charge, so the girls would rather endure
their suffering in silence than lose the
meager pittance they earn at the eX-
pense of their lives. Even the state stat
istician has been deceived by the ter
rOriZed girl employees of some of the
shops, and been given facts and figures
varying considerably from the truth. 1t
has also been ascertained that many of
the girls received wages so pitifully low
that they were actually ashamed to
give the real figures. In other cases,
girls were secretly told by employers
that they were getting more than GER
tain others and must keep their pay
secret, but the fact was that all were
getting the same wages, with the same
story, the object being to inspire each
girl with the belief that she was doing
little better than her neighbor, and thus
stimulate her efforts.
The city workshops TEEN with abuses,
and upon them the GLOBE proposes to
throw the broad light Of day. 1t has
been assured of the cooperation of Or
ganized labor and of the humanitarian
element of this city. Letters have come
to the Office assuring the support of
those whose influence would do much
good. The GLOBE only asks that women
workers be not afraid to tell the whole
truth of their factory life and wages
earned; it will guarantee that public
sentiment will sustain them.