St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-29
STRIKING MA|DENS.
Eva Gay Describes Yester-
days Meeting Of the cart
Gallery"
The Obdurate Firm Makes
Slight Concessions, but
Not Enough.
The Girls Are Firm in Their
Determination to Get
Their Rights.
An East Side Delegate--Why
Reporters Are Barred
The Discussion.

iidn't seem to mind the weather Tor
here were about 175 present.
"Girls, don't you think it's rather a
vet day for a meetingw
1--WE don't mind it, we're used to
going to work every day in the week,
ind we wouldn't miss a meeting on ac-
count of little rain, we're hardened to
things of that sort"
They Didn't look at all depressed;
everybody was chattering and laughing
with her acquaintance. The meeting
had not yet opened, and while waiting
they discussed every topic except
"strike."
The meeting was called to order at
$50 sharp by their accustomed leader.
She seemed to have the business OF her
office thoroughly in hand. AT the signal
all talking ceased and we prlcked up
Dur ears for the news OF the day.
L had never seen meeting OF work
lng-girls before, my acquaintance being
confined to the workshop. was won
dering if there wouldn't be the amount
of confusion and sharp retort which is
always credited to wOmen'S meetings
when they have no masculine hand at
the helm to keep order.
There was, however, good order, but
the girls were more willing and eager to
talk than | have found them in my Wis
Its to their factories.
After listening a while asked: Girls,
why don't you talk as openly about your
wrongs at work as you do here?'
1--WE don't dare to; we would be told
that we were the kind of girls that were
not wanted. We don't often talk about
such things except we meet like this,
and then we try to arrange plans to get
justice"
1--WE could have told you great deal
more than we did when you visited our
shop, but we thought there was no use
talking about low wages or bad treat
ment, and that there was no remedy
but to grin and bear it,"
"Then we thought maybe you were
only
SPY FROM THE FIRM,
and would report all we said" thus
heard from the girls what [ had often
noticed myself, and could hardly blame
them, because, while many would be
glad to have their work made endurable,
yet they feel that public opinion is with
the employer, and prefer to bear with
the evils as they are rather than fly to
others they know not of.
The girls at this meeting, however,
said that they didn't think they could
be in a much worse condition than they
were when they struck. "We were
forced to STRIKE" said one. "No re-
spectacle girl could work under Mr..
WoOdward's insulting management"
"My wages lately were not enough to
pay my board" said another. 81 ran
in debt $40 to my boarding mistress.
She turned me out, and by cooking my
own meals and living on the plainest
fare, ! managed to exist Oh 81 week.
astaken sick, and the doctor said l
was simply starving myself at that rate,
and must have better food. That's the
reason am in the strike"
The report of the grievance committee
was the first order of business. The
committee said: eve called on the firm
this morning, telling them we wished to
settle our difficulties, and would accept
any terms that would give us chance
to make living wages"
eve will have to get the advance we
asked, or we can't live" broke in a
voice.
The committee continued: 1.-THE firm
talked over the situation with us, and
offered the stipulated advance on three
lines, saying they couldn't possibly give
any more"
"That's only a little, but its differ
ence from refusing to pay any attention
to our requests" said several.
1.-THE firm told US they had 100 new
girls employed, and, of course, couldn't
on any condition take back more than
100 of the strikers"
For moment there was CONSERVATION
among the girls; it was followed by a
burst of laughter.
'"That firm can't be very good at reck-
0ning," said one, ''for we counted the
new hands and there are only twelve"
perhaps when it comes to counting
art gallery specimens they don't 60 by
the same rules that others do"
They didn't say anything about the
new help that try the work and quit the
next day, did they?" asked another.
At this stage of the report the chair
man asked, 'How many of you would
20 back and leave some of your COM
rades out because new help had their
places?" By unanimous rising vote
they affirmed their determination to
stay out until all were restored.
''Mr. Woodward was present and gave
his views" continued the committee;
"he said that if the girls came back there
would be more rules and restrictions
than before; for instance: No visiting
Or talking allowed during working
hours. Working day nine and half
hours. Employees must account for any
time lost during the day. Any girl who
couldn't average Sc a week would be
discharged"
"Then We'll work by the week instead
Of by the piece?" questioned the com
mittee.
Mo- said Mr.. Woodward, work
will still be done by the piece"
The report was again interrupted by
comments of He'll have to raise the
price per piece considerably, so these
girls that only earn So week now can
earn S6, or else discharge lot"
"What business is it of his if a girl
goes out an hour or so; the loss is her
own when she works by the piece?"
Did Mr.. Woodward say he would
behave as gentlemen to the girls here
after?"
HE didn't say anything about it,"
replied the committee, ''b1t Mr.. Shot
we'll assured us that the girls would
NEVER BE INSULTED
hereafter, and any foreman reported
for such conduct would be instantly dis
charged"
THAT'S an Improvement" was the
remark, ''of course they'll begin by dis
charging Woodward"
"Ihe firm was quite courteous, offered
US chairs, listened patiently to our
which was surprise to us
after our treatment at the factory"
Bmilingly remarked the committee.
'But we told them we were quite will
Ing to do our duty in the matter of call
ing on them with view to settlement,
as we possessed none of those false no
tons of pride which are sometimes
charged to working girls. That ends
our report, except that they requested
us to let them know the result of our
announced the committee.
Much discussion followed the report.
was surprised to find that there were
a number of good speakers among their
I listened intently to the
measures brought forward, and saw the
majority of the girls, while determined
to hold out, yet advocated conservative
measures.
What shall we do about girls who
nj ~.