Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-16

! IKE ~ ~
CHARLOTTE SMITH AS WORKING WOMAN.
country, whether they have been in Wash
ington or not, have met her. She is in
many respects one of the most remarkable
women of her time-of phenomenal men
tai and physical vigor, strong in individu-
atty, persistent in purpose, adroit, skillful
and untiring in action.
Ten years ago she came to Washington
as the most advantageous point from
which to carry on her life work-a self i'm
posed task-nothing less than the protec-
ton and advancement of working women
She was among the first to foresee the
great part which women were to play in
dustrially, and she early perceived that in
the nature Of things their pathway would
not be strewn with roses; that they would
be underpaid and overwOrked; that they
would be Disseminated against simply be-
cause they were women, and that wicked
men would attempt to take advantage of
their sex, their necessities and their weak
nesses. Mrs. Smith set out to champion
the cause Of working women at the capital
and everyW here, and she has nobly held to
her work amid all sorts of discourage
ments, sneers, insults and rebuffs.
A positive, plain spoken woman, the foe
OF corruption in high places and of evil
everywhere, a woman who believes that
the devil must be fought with fire, she has
Of course not gone unscathed. She has
enemies. Some men hate her for the good
she has done, in doing which she has inter
fered with their little plans. Others mis-
understand her and unthinlingly Join in
IN hJ1a nd hor pr,+ s.Eo Il,
not permitted herself to be disturbed or
her work to be interfered with by these at
taclls. Alone, with rare fortitude and a
courage which only a woman who has
baffled with the world can appreciate, has
she made her fight.
Charlotte Smith was a native of New
Orleans, where she married and for some
years lived in luxurious elegance. When
she came to Washington to begin her life
wOrkshe had youth, cOmelinesS and money.
One of her friends says she had comfort
able fortune, sos, 900 of which has been ex
pended in her work for women. The Wo-
mans National league was organized in
August 1882, and it's first meeting after
organization was called to protest against
the discharge of $50 women from the inte-
rior department. This was Mrs. Smiths
first fight in Washington, and she went
into it with vigOr and determination
which soon made their influence felt in the
government The $50 women were rein
stated, and with victory perchng on her
banners after her first battle the indomit-
able woman began to assume that unique
position which she has held ever since-a
woman feared by men in authority and
loved by poor women dependent upon their
labor for a livelihood,
IoI IL
treasury department., and less conspicuous
ly in other government departments here,
disgraceful and degrading practices. Wom-
en- bought employment with their reputa-
tions. The treasury girls were noted for
their beauty, their Incidence in performing
| their duties and their fine gowns and ex-
| pensive millinery. Officials high in au-
thority engaged in this immoral barter.
Even secretary of the treasury was DOM
mated and almost terrorized by woman
who held his reputation and his domestic
peace in her hands.
This woman sold for cash places in the
treasury to women and girls who were not
willing to pay the other price. To this day
she boasts that more than hundred wom-
en- obtained employment in the treasury
through her influence with a former secre-
tary. Senators and representatives quar-
tered their favorites on the public pay
rolls at the treasury department. This
scandalous system was attacked by Char
lotte Smith and destroyed. Similar scan
dals in the government departments are
now, happily, very rare.
! The story of Mrs. Smiths work reads al
most like a romance, and is a suggestive
showing of what one woman of energy
and determination can accomplish in the
world when her methods and purposes are
good. Largely through her influence and
efforts a thousand women are now en-
ployed in the government departments as
charwomen. Nearly all of these are poor
women, many of them widows, who have
children to care for and who therefore find
it inconvenient if not impossible to accept
employment which would take them away
from home all day. In the char service
they go to work at in the afternoon, clean
ing and tidying public Offices, and work
till g. At first they received only fifteen
dollars month, but now, thanks to Mrs.
Smith and her colaborers, they get twenty
dollars, and have besides thirty days leave
of absence with full pay every year.
Mrs Smiths wholesome influence has
been felt IN many states. In various parts
of the country she has obtained from legis-
Iatures the necessary authority for the ap-
pOl41l4IlSilG VI NOllGD as LldOIOIIS Ill JdlIS
and wOrkhouses, and she has also secured
work for women in state labor bureaus.
She was one of the first women admitted
into the knights of Labor, and in that
order she has always welded a great in
fuence, being a recognized authority on
every question pertaining to woman's
labor. She was also the first woman to go
as a delegate to the National Federation OF
Labor, which convened in New York in
1888. She was Immediately requested to
address the working women in behalf of
the federation, and she obtained for wom~
en- the same rights and privileges enjoyed
by men in that organization.
Charlotte Smiths mind and hand have
been felt in a great variety of directions.
Through her eXertions women were ap-
pointed on the medical staffs in work
houses. On account of her agitation in
behalf Of women employed in dry goods
and other stores seats were provided for
them in many establishments. She has
induced landlords and hotel proprietors to
SO organize their staffs as to afford the
greatest possible protection to chamber
maids from the insults of men under the
influence of LIQUOR or naturally deprayed