The daily critic., 1890-09-26
WORKING WOMEN.
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF
The INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE.
To rombIne win the Farmers Al
Iianrc- The DiHercrco Bctween
the cuWother Hand" and the
uTather Hand ~

ttt Alner NlAmu ~
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, president Of
The Woman Industrial League, and an
enthusiastic advocate in the cause of
women wage carncrs and bread winners
was seen this morning in reference to q
recent conference She had in this city
with President Polk of the National
Farmers Nliauce. 10 which reference
was made at The time iu the columns Of
THE CRrrc
The ohitc. Of the conference was,
said Mrs. Smith i0 devise O plan for
the dissemination and distribution of
Noman's League literature among the
various oranges of the Farmers Ali
suCe and among the industrial women
! was received very cordially bv presi
dent Polk. who Is straightforward.
unassuming gentlemen, and who takes
q sincere interest In his work.
Mr Polk asked me, continued Mrs.
smith, "all about what I knew OF
women's S wages in the factories, shops
and mills. lie wishes TO use the statis
tics In the alliance campaign I'm behalf
gagged IN compiling a political and in
dustrial text book Of what wages work
ing girls receive, and how they are
treated, for distribution throughout the
alliance.
one thing that I am especially in.
ieresiCd IN IS the adulteration Of food
Out Of ll0 articles that are daily con
sumed, including such things as salt
and mustard. | know the former Is
adulierated with white sand, and so Is
sugar. In coffee there are beans and an
essence used TO give It flavor. and these
adulteraiions are made by the large
sugar and coffee trusts. There Is chaT
In pepper, and jams and fruits are adul.
terated from 80 TO 60 per cent. We
wish TO have legislation upon this sub
iect, and | have suggested that there
might be a great industry among the
farmers wives in preparing jcllies and
Jams with the special label Of the
Farmers Alliance 10 show that they are
pure and unadulterated. In this matter
Of adulteration IN food Mr.. Polk does
rot believe IN a special bill, such as the
Lard and Olcomargarine bills, but a
general bill that would take much less
time TO investigate and consider"
Referring 10 the trouble IN the Senate
over the memorial Of the Womaus Ma
tiOnal Industrial League Of America
for the protection Of women and chill.
drCn employed In the mills aud fac
tories throughout the United States,
which had been presented by Mr.
Plumb. Mrs Smith said:
"Mr Dawes stated that he could
see n fathers hand Ia the memorial.
] do rot know what Senator Dawes re-.
iCIs 70, but N my reply 10 him | will
say that The fathers hand was seen In
Massachusetts two years ago, when an
| Officer appointed hy the Governor was
! interested IN ilraucieIing IN sending
lir's no two dollars per head tu hll up
dCrs Of iuiliy and selling innocent I'm
migrant girls for purposes Of pr1stitu
ton.
II was instrumental In having n hill
passed by tie Massachusetts Legism.
ture which imposed a fine Of $500 or
two years imprisonment In the peniteu.
tiafy for such oifenses. The bin was
| signed by Governor Ames, who seut the
/ quill pen he used 10 me. and / prize IL
| very highly. There was a syndicate In
| selling these girls. They were shipped
10 the West in winter and 10 the South
In summer. The bill was introduced
by the Hon. josiah Quincy. Ia that
bill there was the mother hand,
I'VE are going 10 enter Into the politl.
cal campaign with the Farmers All
ance We know no religion or creed.
| Our interest alone Is in the wage women
and bread winners 10 see that they get
fair play and equal pay-foI there s
where we get In our fine women s
I hand. :"
Regarding her idea on the tariff, Mrs.
Smith said. i am a protectiOnist for
the wage women, but not for corpora
tions, combines and trusts. l do not
believe In a manufacturer getting so per
cent. ad valorem protection aud then
cutting down the wages of his working
girls. ! know that Gl per cent. of the
girls IN the Massachusetts mills are re-
ceiying less than half pay, and Il Is that
that saps the life blood of WOmanhood.
! am about preparing a list Of manufac-
tuTeTs all over the country who are cut
ting down the wages Of their female
employees. We intend 10 make this q
political issue"