Evening journal., 1891-06-27
NEWSPAPER OPINION.
Rewards of Protection.

Richmond Times.
The New York World recently insti |
tuted en- investigation into the condition |
of the operatives who are employed 10 a
number OF the factories of various kinds
in the vicinity of New York city The
results of this investigation throw a
sensational light npon the system which
prevails in these factories of obtaining
the largest amount Of work out of the
unfortunate women and children in re-
turn for an extremely low rate of wages.
One of the wealthest manufacturing
firms in Newark Is the Clark Tread Mills,
the reputation OF whose product has been
extended into every part of the English
speaking world-securing for the manu-
facturers of the famous thread an income
which Is estimated on the most careful
basis TO run up into the millions And yet
IL the report Of our New York contem-
porary Is accurate they show neither gem
erosity nor humanity to those by whose
labors they have been enabled to accum
ulate their large fortunes. In the report
referred to there is a series of interyie VS.
with women who are employed In various
/ departments OF the mills, and the facts
brought to light are such as to arrest at
tention. The average amount eirned by
| those women is about "a so week and
as the cost of board is 80 90, majority
| OF the female operatives having no home
| OF their own, the surplus left for cloth
| ing and other expenses after the work
Of week Is finished is one dollar or four
| dollars for the whole month Under the
system which was formerly in operation
in the mills some OF these female opera
tives were occasionally able TO earn un-
der favorable circumstances as much as
eight dollars a week, but under the rules
which have recently been adopted IL Is
impossible for any Of these operatives to
earn by the most strenuous exertions
more than 48 so week, a small amount
when to their own expense Of living the
expense of supporting their children is
added A single extract from an inter
view with one Of these workingwomen
may be quoted as fair sample Of what
was disclosed in the interviews with her
associates. Said she: "A cleaner gets
So week for the first three
months, after which the pay is raised to
81 3d. After year at this we get a
chance TO slip frames at $8 week. We
have to slip frames then for three years
when the pay is raised TO So a week. A
little later we are able TO earn SO 80 q
week--that is we do the work that ac-
cording to the pay by the piece en-
titles us TO so 90. But we don't get 1t.
II rests with the foreman to say when
we shall get paid by the piece, instead
Of 85 a week. which is paid regardless
of the work we do They take good care,
though, TO see that we are not idle
am now getting So week and IL costs
me So 75 for my board When we are
paid every two weeks have just ffty
cents to buy my clothes with. Some o.
the older girls give me their worn out
: dresses and shoes and my 81 a month
, clear goes for the rest OF the things that
need. don't care whether we strike
or not " What is thought of commun-
ity which will allow its great manufac-
turers to accumulate enormous fortunes
J by taking advantage Of the necessities
} OF helpless women and compelling them tS
work for wages which hardly save tn,
earners from starvation2 In the light O
facts brought out by the World how re.
diculous Is the boast of the Republican
, party that the system OF protection is a.
, promotive of the welfare Of workiDgmen
as It Is Of the prosperity Of those engage,
in manufacturing pursuits resembling th
Clark Thread Company The operative
IN such factories are mere slaves who
, not secure as their compensation an ap
preciable part Of the enormous wealtl
, which they are hesping ur for their em
ployers.