Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-05-29
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN.
A Matter of Vast Importance TO Women
Who Work.


A Matter of Vast Importance TO Women
Who Work.
81 think am beginning to get at part
OF the trouble, anyway" said bright
girl at one of the Working Girls Clubs
lately. 1--WE haven't got on any better
because we haven't stood by each ether.
What is the reason, wonder, that wom-
en- don't stand by each other the way the
men do?"
To that question, says Helen Camp
bell, in Young Woman's Magazine, only
an indirect answer can be given here.
But it is at least in order to say, that
Just so far as education in the real
sense becomes factor in the solution
of the problem, women do ''stand by
each other" and that the girl coming
up under such influences has precisely
the same sense of loyalty that distin-
guishes the boy gently born and gently
bred. But the farther one descends in
the social scale the more thorough is
the obliteration of this trait, till at last,
save in dire extremity, every woman is
pitted against her sister woman, and
rivalry, and undermining, and all the
range of petty meannesses, are the story
Of their relation as whole.
Ask the woman at work what she re-
CARDS as the most vital thing to be
brought about, and if she has come to
the point where thought has begun, she
answers on the instant. 'yTo make wom-
en- stand by each othsrw Organization
among men has worked to increase and
intensity this principle for them, but or
ganization for women is thing as yet
hardly attempted, save as the Girls Clubs
are paving the way. With every fresh
attempt at cooperation for mutual bene-
fit in small ways, comes light on the
path to be followed, dim still, but clear
shining of all who have eyes to see the
first CLEANS, and who are bent upon
making them equally plain to all.
Organization, even at its simplest, Is
an education. Enforced obligation to
work together teaches methods of max
ing such work easier; brings mutual for
bearance and better understanding and
an Identification OF interests that is one
of the first steps toward better things.
Whatever justice remains to be done by
capital, and it is certain the obligation
of justice is becoming palmer to all-it
is for the worker as we'll that reform is
demanded. Had the spirit of cooper
alton ruled among women workers as a
whole, it would have been perfectly
possible to have secured the pay for over
time granted during the holiday season
by few firms, but refused by the ma.
jority. If every saleswoman in New
York had felt that on her shoulders rest.
ed part Of the responsibility for the
overwork and underpay that character.
izes that occupation, and had made one
of representative body who would have
waited upon the owners of the great
stores and presented the case quietly
and fairly, an impression must have
been produced of infinitely more value
in the long run than any concession
brought about by the intervention o.
well-known names. Weak as the indi
vidual worker may feel and be, she be
comes a power the moment she repre-
sents an intelligent organization. 1t il
this that must be accomplished for the
woman who works, but it can be done
only by herself, and whatever props may
be needed in the beginning. she must il
the end, if real work is to be done, stand
on her own feet and speak with her owl
voice.
Naturally there is an antagonism O
interests. The trained worker think.
little of the difficulties that hedge abou
the unframed, and the fact that dozer
stand waiting for the least vacancy a
any point, brings with 1t terror all wht
work for daily bread have sometimes
had to feel. But out of just such terro
hope may be born. The reckless, un
taught girl who enters shop or factory
can in less time than may be believed
be brought to a sense that she is one o
an army who fight the same battle ant
wear the same colors, and that she owe
it to every other fighter to do her worl
in the most efficient way. Education
comes with a conviction of this sort tina
nothing else can give, and thus it is tina
my first word to the woman who works
is "organize." Find out what your worl
means and what it demands of you, an,
meet the demand. With such meeting
will come the better knowledge tina
must be part of the general advance
Skilled labor must lead, for it is tn
unskilled labor that stands like wal
in the way of better wage for all earn
ers, but even with this fact to conten
with, combination will alter its power
and in the end make good soldiers Q
the raw recruits"