Richland beacon., 1888-11-03
WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS
They are now knights OF Labor tho
Same n the Men.


'.Arc you at the head of the women
huights of Labor
Il am happy 10 say | am. And
you?"
"A reporter. and want to know
something about }our organization
and The real cond on of the women
wage .earncrs in America"
Probably no one is better informed
as 10 their condition than Mrs. Barry.
She is at the head OF the womon de-
partmcut in the kn. ghls OF Labor. and
although the title of her position is
General investigators. she : mOreprOp-
erly IN instructor, and is virtually to
the women of the order VIII at Terence
V. Powdcrly is tothc men. Mrs Barry
has been connected with tho Knights
OF Labor for -four years. bat She first
came prominen!lf before the general
public at the Women'S Convention re-
Gently held in Wa~hingto Her adj
dres>s, on the condition OF nc women
toilers. and her graphic description of
scenes of Unjust ce and misery that
shc had witnessed. brought tears TO
the eyes of her audience.
Al the meeting of the general as
Semblv OF the Knights at Richmond in
1886. Mrs. Barry was chosen To inves-
tigLto the condition of the working
women of the country. Since that
time she has Travelled all over the Un-
tied States visiting factories. shops and
homes. examining into the coud ton
of the women wagc-workerS. holding
meetings. instruciing then and advo-
eating organization as the ONLY means
of betterng their condition. She il
an cloC tent speaker and her intense
earnestness carries conviction 10 her
hearers. She speaks teeingly because
she was once Il wage. worker herself,
and was forced out Of her position b.
the biz strike at Amsterdam several
ago. Mrs. Barry is now in this city in
tho interest of the womrns organiza-
tons here. Before beginn mg an
address at one Of the meetings this
week. she gave the writer an interest
ing talk on the work that is being
done TO improve the cond ton of work
ingwomen. In appearance Mrs Barry
is tall and slender, with pleasant
moiherly face and cordial manner.
Sine has steel gray eyes that beam
kindly on her audience when she
is enisiin. their sympathy and flash
with Indignation as she depicts the
wrongs AMI injustice that many ii her
fellow workers indure. In talking
with individuals she has the habit of
emphas zing her remarks b. tapping
with ner fingers on the listeners
shoulder. She said that previous to
the admission Of women 90 the ku ghts
of Labor. twelve years ago, they were
nonentit ca. Their rights were ignor-
oil. and III thousands of instances thoy
were shametully oppressed. They
were subjected TO indignities and an
noyances without number. Since that
limo the work OF organizing and edu-
cat ng the laboring women has pro-
crossed until there are to-day between
90. 900 and 90, 900 women belonging 10
the various local branches of the
Knights of Labor. The mere fact that
they are members OF an organizat on
aids them. Petty annoyances are rc =
moved. and they receive more respect
and less Interference while nj their
work. Their demands are listened to
and. if reasonable, they are usually
granted.
"Arc there many strikes among
women?'
Very few. We seldom strike be-
cause we do not believe in strikes as Il
general tn ng. When women do strike
| it is almost always on account of an
Objectionable foreman. and these
] l. II
they have public sympathy on their
sde they arc sure 10 win. One of tho
greatest evils that women have 10 con-
| tend with is the presence of foremen
| in the factories who take improper ad-
vantage of their position. Before Or
| ganiZing. the women or girls would not
dare 20 protest for fear of losing their
| places. but now many matters OF this
kind are remcdied at the request IF tho
| association. Work ingwOmen have
| gone out in a number of strikes with
men employed in the same factory.
| The results have seldom been salts
factory, and some diScouragemcU {
among tho women has followed The
number of women in the organizations
has fluciuated somewhat from this
| CuuS'. NcW SsScuiDiIc' dic cuHSldn'-
ly being formed, but some of the old
ones lose IN membership occasionally
and prevent the total mem bcrshir
from increasing. The western branch.
es arc growing the most rapidly. but
there are a number of very ilour sh nc
| locals in this city. The women cigar
makers'have the largest organization
here, and the hatmakers are next.
Among the other locals in this city are
the dressmakers. the hociitcrs, thu
shirtmakers. the laundrywomen and
the carpctwcavers. Many other trade
are represented in the Knights of La
Dor by women who belong 10 the men
locals. The assemblies are mixed. ano
in some eases the women speak ant
take an active part IN the organiza
items"
How do you form organizations"
.'The method Of forming an Organi
zation is usually 10 send man who j
well informed as 10 the procedure &
preside nj the meeting and direct it
work for tho first year. He arrange
the committee work and gets Othe
male members of the Knights OF La
Dor to attend the meetings and discus
labor topics until the women are abb
to conduct their own meetings an
carry on the organization themselves
Then he wiihdrawS, "-AeW lors Ma
} ami Express.
|
Is Tbs Foreign Contract Labor?