St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-20
1--WE WON'T GO BACK. "
Two Hundred Girls on a Strike for
Better Pay.
AN EXHIBITION OF PLUCK.
They Will Stand BY One Another
Yesterdays Meeting and Its
Proceedings.

The strike Of the machine" girls en-
plOyed in the manufacturing depart
ment of Shatwell, Clerciherd & 10th
man still continues to be topic of
great interest in labor circles. Yester-
day the girls met in body at the
hall, $50 Second avenue south. Nearly
two hundred were present, all neatly
dressed, for the occasion was rec
ogniZed as one which called for
their best attire. There was buzz of
conversation until the sound of agavel,
when the chairman, tall brunette,
whose black eyes betokened animation,
and whose air indicated both determln-
alton and energy, remarked by the way
of commencement: 1--WE have received
factory to-day to get the pay due US,
and it is suggested we 60 in body and
return to the hall afterwards. Ii the
company does not give us the wages we
ask, are we going back?"
''NO, no."
'.Let us understand each other. All
who are not going back at the present
wages stand up"
Every girl arose.
''Now those who are willing to re-
turn.''
All renamed seated
1t was then decided by unanimous
rising vote that the present committee
should still manage affairs for the girls,
and all pledged themselves to stay out
until their demand is granted. The
girls then marched in an orderly, quiet
manner to the factory to receive their
pay, which had been promised to them.
TO their surprise the doors were closed,
only four or five were admitted at
time, while their companions stood out
out Oh the pavement awaiting their
turn. The girls had agreed to request
their time books on being paid off.
These books belong to the girls and are
taken to be checked Off each week and
then returned to their owners. These
books would show the exact wages
received. While the girls were wait
ing on the pavement, the foreman,
cutters, ETC., amused themselves by
pelting spitballs from the fourth story,
while another cutter kept the crowd
back, at the same time making
facetious remarks for the girls edifica-
ton. Soon large number Of girls
from Weyman, MulIin q Co. were seen.
They came down to show their SYM
pathy with the strikers and ac-
companied them back to the hall.
John Lamb, the state statistician,
theu took the statements of wages.
Among them might be noted the cases
of girls who worked ten and twelve
ing 60 cents for ten days work. On
their return after being paid the girls
were more indignant than ever.
eve were refused our books, Wood
ward is afraid we'll show the public
just what he does pay u.s."
''And the firm took all their own books
down stairs yesterday to fix them up
as they said. We know what they'll
do"
1--WE didn't get our pay for the bundles
Of work we left unfinished, the forelady
told us we wouldn't get any pay for
that, which will be about 5000 in the
pockets of ShOtwell, Clerihew & 10th
man." said several.
''Oh, we can stand it, we're working
girls"
eve can get our pay for those bundles
by going back and finishing them"
woodward asked all the experienced
help back at better wages, but he didn't
get 'em."
''They had rain of spitballs to amuse
us from the fourth story"
''Oh, that was from the chrOmos left
in the art gallery"
81 had worked there only three days,
when l asked for my pay they told ME
there was none coming to me-" said one
girl.
81 worked there two weeks and had
earned S1.6S. When l got my envelope
there was only 6S cents in it. / asked
for the dollar, and the fOrelady said that
was to pay for the trouble of teaching
me-" said another.
you might expect that" said the
older hands, they'll tell you it doesn't
cost anything to learn and what good
wages you'll make if you only work
hard. Then they charge for teaching
you, and if you don't like it you can
leave"
woodward couldn't Jamestown Mr..
Brosnan Nevins' books because New
ms says that all but one of them is at
his home,' said several.
''Mrs. Dexter, our forelady, says we
are lot of foolish, ignorant girls, who
don't know what we are striking for,
and she thinks Mr.. Woodward did no
harm in insulting the committee be-
cause she doesn't think they are decent
girls" said several who had talked with
Mrs. Dexter. From the way in which
Mrs. DeXter's comment was received, it
won't be safe for her to venture where
the girls will see her for some time"
The committee reported ''that Mr..
Woodward hadn't had time to think
about the matter, but if the girls would
come back and finish their work they
would make better prices on some lines
for them" The committee told him to
make his terms first then the girls
would consider the matter. He refused.
The girls concluded that he only wanted
to get them back to finish the work on
hand, and then discharge everybody he
could spare.
Messrs. Brosnan and Lucas made
speeches complimenting the girls for
the manner in which they have pro-
ceeded, and advising them to pull to-
gether until their demand was granted.
The meeting adjourned until Satur-
day at 3 p. m.
The appearance of the girls on the
street and in front ofthe factory created
considerable excitement. The windows
of buildings in the vicinity of First ave-
nue. south and Sc ond street were
filled with heads, while crowds were
collected on the sidewalk. The ex-
pressionS were generally in favor of the
girls, and girls in the other factories
Seem"tO be with them heart and soul,
thinking doubtless that if Shotwell,
Clerihew & Lothman continue to reduce
wages their firms will be compelled to
follow suit in order to compete.
Company BIS Benefit.