Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-08

IL wears, and has, therefore, thorough and
distinct knowledge of factory life and all
that goes to make it pleasant or disagreea-
able, as the case may be. She entered pub
lie life first in 1882 by assuming the presi-
dency of an organization composed Of, 700
women.
Her rare ability, and wise judgment in
this position won for her the respect and
admiration of her associates and determin-
alton on the part of her superiors to ex-
tend her influence and reward her for the
labors she had already performed.
POSITIONS OF TRUST FILLED
In 1887 she was promoted to the Secre-
taryship of the women's department of the
knights of Labor, whe she continued in
faithful services until February l. 1891 In
the interim, however, she was elected
Worthy Foreman of d. A. ], and was the
only woman who ever held that position.
She was also an offices in the United Labor
League, of Philadelphia, and was delegate
to two sessions of the General As
sembly, K. of L. Since her appoint
occurred last February, Miss o'Reilly
and has effected many changes. Her own
practical knowledge of the manner in which
the majority of working women and chill
dren are treated is of great value to her in
the work. Among the most important re-
forms expected are the enforcement of the
MONDAY meal time, which the law defines
shall be not less than As minutes; the adop-
tion OF better sanitary accommodations;
safety guards to machinery, elevators and
fire escapes.
Miss O'Reilly has the distinction of having
provided many thoughts and suggestions,
which were Incorporated in the present
factory law. She was associated with Mrs.
L. NJ. Barry, now Mrs. o. r. Lake, of st.
Louis, and well known in labor circles, at
the time Mrs. Barry was general officer
in the X. of L. Mrs. Barry furnished
Senator Hines, who was also a member of
the order, with the ideas and neces-
sary provisions for such bill. Senator
Hines introduced the bill in 1882 and it
passed.
THE FIRST WOMEN DEPUTIES.
The Pennsylvania factory law was the
first to accept women as deputies with its
inception, and it was no doubt considered
highly proper, and in perfect accord with
the fitness of things that one who had been
so closely Unidentified with the creation of
the bill, should be thus recognized. While
other States employ women as deputies, it
was not until after some time and expert
ence that the need Of women forced itself
upon them.
Miss O'Reilly is a very pleasant and affa-
BILE lady, highly educated and OF a courteous
disposition anu is a fluent tconversationalist.
Her work at home, where she is associated
with three other inspectors, is confined
chiefly to mercantile and textile factories,
of which there are many in Philadelphia
employing as many as 300 women and chill
dren, the latter ranging from u to l6 years of
age. Miss O'Rellly has scarcely made a
sufficient investigation of the conditions of
the working women and children here to
make a comparison with those at home But
she admits that it is something surprising to
her to find women working about iron and
wire mills and nut and bolt works.
The other inspectors in the work with
Miss O'Reilly are Mrs. NJ b. McHenry, Miss
Mary A. Wagner, w. S. Godfrey, all of Phil
Mrs. Nan Y. Leslie preceded Miss Reilly,
and all the inspectors who were employed
under the act paid their own expenses until
within the past year.
A CHANGE OF LAW DEMANDED.
an important alteration made in the present
law. Section 4, as it stands, provides that no
person, firm or corporation employing less
deemed a factory in the meaning of
the act. Miss O'Reilly says that many
employers evade the law by limiting
their forces to nine persons, when they
really should have from 10 to II. In some
cases when firms require a larger number
and desire to evade the law they divide
their business, one member of the firm en-
ploying eight or nine people in one building
and another so many more in an adjoining
building. Miss O'Reilly gives her views or
the matter by saying that two or three
women employed in the fourth story of
building are entitled to the same protection
and accommodations as 25 or 50a are.
Miss O'Reilly rested yesterday, it being
Labor Day, but will continue ner inspec-
tions this morning, accompanied by MIR.