Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-04-18
TALKING TO CORSET GIRLS.

Miss Ida Van Etten Of New York Urges |
Them 90 Organize and Protect Their |
Wages ana Trade-About 400 Girls |
Listen to Her Remarks.
There was an audience of about 400 girls /
who are employed at the corset shops in this
city at Proctor's opera house last niget to
listen to the remarks of Miss Ida Van Etten. |
Miss Van Etten is from New York and has
devoted herself extensively to the interests of
the shop girls. She strongly urges them to
organize for the protection of their wages
and their trade. She IL . quiet, unosten-
introduced by MONTH Ruther and talked for
an hour and o half
1t seems strange that I should come here
to speak to you Of organizing, said she. AZ
the relations of society are to-day, ii would
seem most natural thing to organize. It Is
for the purpose of education and for the gen
eral welfare Of each one Of you. You have
always heard that in union there is strength,
and this is true in everything. You live in
the city of New Haven. which is mainly .
great organization. The city, again, Is
part of the state, which IL another and larger
organization. The church Is another and
an older organization. The factory il above
all q perfect and complete organization. Ev-
erybody and everything about you is
OAH0Aa1oN oAo0PV yVuA5cAs ~S"S> -
chiefly organization. Would one not natu-
rally expect to find members Of these old
Organizations the most emphatic favorers Of
the organization of labor? Yet they are the
most bitter opponents of it. Why is this3
It is because Of the power of many of these
old organizations which depends upon your
Reorganization. The old organizations en-.
rich themselves upon your labor. Above all
things, these people tell you to be contented;
for if you are in an uuquiet state 1t imperils
their success. You art completely in their
power. You cannot even work unless they
allow you to. And yet labor creates all
wealth. This is truth which Is always
true. I tell you this that you may honor
labor. Working women are the queens of
women. 1t is the idle, rich woman
who is to be looked down upon. Il
lay down their tools for one week
famine would stalk through the world with
rapid stride. Yet why is 1t the working class
often goes poor and hungryi 1t is because
you receive but a small percentage of the
profit of your work. You know how insig-
corsets is, compared with the value of the
finished articles. 1t is labor that does it.
The owner Of the factory receives the benefit
To obviate this injustice I say the shops
should be controlled by the state, Just as the
postofice is. This change would take time,
but how long 1t will be before it becomes
established depends upon how quickly and
how thoroughly the laboring classes organ
ize. 1t is the work of organization to make
for the good of their class, endure the pains
of hunger for months, AS did the miners
in Pennsylvania for just increase
of wages, it makes no matter whether the
strike be lost or won. The great movement
has received a great impulse. Justice is the
beginning of all charity. The distinction
between employed and employe must soon
give away for the benefit Of both. In the
industrial war ii working women remain iso-
lated each for herself, no one knows what
may ensue. You will be oppressed. You
cannot battle against the world single hand
ed. You must organize. Any system which
pays misery, dishonest wages for honest
labor is impeding the onward march of prog
| rsss. Charity has for a time helped the
working girl, but 1t eventually harms them.
All charitable organizations would find, II
| they looked into the condition of their poor,
that they were the under paid EN-.
ployes of large organisations. II girls
could live on dollar week
their employers would be glad to pay them
these small wages. You are entirely at the
| mercy of your employer in the matter of
wages. II your wages are cut and one OF you
| objects she is Immediately discharged. How
union and the union made its demandsi 1t
Is just as right and proper that you put your
price on your labor as that the manufacturer
puts his price upon his wares. There is 60
excuse for you not forming an organization.
There are men organized here who are willing
| to help you, and your organization may ex-
| tend throughout the state where corsets are
manufactured. There is more aid for you in
organization than in charitable Institutions.
Many fear to organize for fear of . strike.
But this Is the last thing that ia
| tried by organized labor. The griev-
| ance is generally adjusted in q way
| to prevent q strike. Thus, organization pre-
vents rather than hastens 1t. Organization
| will not Immediately raise wages but It will
protect. Little reductions made once or
twice a month will amount to a great deal In
time. Even manufacturers recognize 1t il to
your best advantage to organize. Most girls
say: 81 mean to marry. I don't mean to
work all the time" But it is to your advan-
| tage that you make the condition of your
trade better. Working people rather rise
| above their class. If you are not going
| to work yourselves your daughters will
| probably have to. Sea, then, that they are
protected as they should be. There are so
| many societies who strive to teach laboring
girls contentment that hope you will for
give me If I preach to you discomfort.
want you to be discounted with your wages.
If you are not, you can never hope to better
yourselves. I would also urge you to adopt
| Q label for your goods. Thus, all women,
whether they work or buy. may help you
and use your goods. You all have an oppor-
| tunity to join the organization and I hope
all of you will avail yourselves of it.