St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-06
THE GIRLS MANIFESTO.
Their Plain Statement of the Situation
of the Strike.
CAN THE FIRM DENY IT?
The Employees Have Rights and Are
Entitled to Respect---An Appeal
to The Public.

OF the machine girls at Sh0tWell, Clerl-
hew & Lothman's have exhausted all
effort to bring the firm to terms as to an
understanding. Their stand has been
bold and honest, and they now lay the
case before the public for its verdict.
Their argument is a sound one, and will
be read with interest by all concerned
in economic matters. The situation
may have far-reaching influence, and
this appeal cannot fail to carry weight.
THE GIRLS MANIFESTO.
lnasmuch as the difference between
the firm of Shotwell, Clerihew & 10th
man and their employees have not yet
been adjusted, and the firm seems I'M
willing to meet the girls on any terms,
except that they come back as individ-
ualS, without any definite contract, and
trust to the clemency and justice of the
firm, or their superintendent, it may
not be improper to call public attention
to the case, so that the public may
clearly understand the attitude of both
parties in the controversy, and where
the blame Justly belongs. According to
the concurrent statement of the girls
(and there is certainly no reason to
doubt their evidence, as their separate
statements agree and haye not been
conhadictcd), the advent of Mr.. Wood
ward to the SuperintenQency was soon
followed
SYSTEMATIC AND PERSISTENT RE
DUCTIONS
of from 90 to 80 per cent in all, or nearly
all, the grades of goods manufactured.
1t must be understood that the original
prices were no higher than those paid
in similar establishments in this city
and st. Paul, while on many of the gar
mentS madeaat ShOtwell, Clerhew d
Lothman'S extra work was required, the
value of which was over two cents per
garment. and for which no compensa-
ton was given. Just where these re-
auctions would have ended, it is i'm
possible to say, as they were continued
nearly up to the date of the strike and
there was no reason TO suppose that the
the prices stand as they were then.
Notwithstanding these reductions all
the other firms in the two cities have
kept their prices nearly up to where
they were last year, except some slight
cuts which were forced upon them by
the reductions in Shotwell, CleriheW u
LOthman'S.
1t will be seen by the statement pub
lished last week by the grievance COM
mittee that the wages of the girls had
been reduced until sixty of the girls
averaged only 1919 per week. sum
evidently insufficient to pay board, not
80 speak of clothing and other expenses.
Under these extreme reductions the
girls remained patient until the Satur-
day previous to the strike, when Mr..
Woodward required them to put some
extra work on cashmere pants, which,
as a preteXt for cutting the price two
cents. he had formerly taken off. He
refused any extra compensation for this
md hn
girls made demand for a restoration
OF the prices as they had eX-
listed before Christmas. The de-
mand was refused and the girls
quit work. Since quitting they have
laid their case before the public. being
willing TO abide by the judgment of the
people, as to whether their action Was
or was not justified under the cir
cumstances. They have made a clear
statement of the facts, giving the firm
ample opportunity for correction, if any
of the statements were false. and ample
time TO place themselves right before
the public if they had just case. The
firm has not aVailed themselves of these
opportunities and has left the public,
whether just or not, with the impress
sion that their side of the case
Is NOT a GOOD ONE.
SO much for the history of the affair.
We will now ask the public to take a
glance at the general equities involved.
and determine whether the real inter
estS Of any community are advanced by
such a course as this firm has been pur-
suing before and since the strike. To
begin with, we lay down the prin-
ciple that the time has passed
when any firm or company can
use the expression attributed to Van
derbilt, The public be d-d!' If a
firm puts its money into an enterprise
it does not. therefore. become absolute
dictator of all operations connected with
its affairs. The public have right to
interfere when the effect of its business
operations have become vicious and de-
mOraliZing. A gambler can fall back
on the principle of personal liberty, and
say that if man commences a game
with the understanding that the issue of
the game determines the ownership of
a ten-dOllar bill, the public have no
right to interfere between him and his
victim, since their operations are car
ried on under system of free contract;
but then
LAW Furnishes GAMBLING,
all the same. SO the man or firm who,
under system of free contract, forces
down the wages of girls so low as to
drive them practically into prostitution,
is not an element of strength or utility
in community, but an instrument of
evil and decentralization. We can no
more argue the benefit of such a bust
ness to the community, on the ground
that it employs labor. than we can argue
the benefit of saloons TO the community,
on the grounds that they employ bar
tenders. 1t is time that every business
man should realize that he is more de-
pendent upon the community than the
community is on him: that he is not in
dependent either with respect to his
employees, or his patrons, and that, if
he furnishes work to his employees. he
makes a profit on their labor, and that
he cannot violate public welfare, or de-
grade public morals, through his en-
piOyes. with impunity. Tie man who
expects TO live in society. and enjoy its
benefits. in the shape OF business pat
rOnage, or otherwise. must have due
regard to public welfare and NOR
ais, and must not permit his
business to become detrimental to
either: for when he does, the public are
relieved from all obligation tc patroniZe
or sustain him, and in self-defenSe, if
for no other reason, may properly let
his trade take care OF itself. The inter-
ests of society rise above the interests
OF any individual. The individual is
not in position to defy or ignore soci-
ETY.. Society is so much more powerful
than the individual that great care
should be taken never to bring its
power to bear upon the individual
except as a last resort; but when the
individual says to society, i'll effect, II
ignore you, YOur benefits to me: want
no dealings with you; L can get along
without you; you have no right to inter
fere in my atfairs;' then it is not
proper, but necessary, for society to let
that individual and his business Sc
verely alone. and permit him to achieve
such success and prosperity as he may