Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-10
FOR WOMEN'S CLUBS.
AN UNDERTAKING. TO RAISE WORK
INGwOMEN's WAGES.
Major Bonsall Gives Straight Tip to
the Friday Morning Club-A
Cause That Needs As i
sistance.

In a street discussion Of the labor
question the other day. Major Bonsall
said:
II tell you that the man or woman
whose heart doesn't swell up and go out
in commiseration to the poor struggling
women of America, isn't built right.
They have slipped cog or something
worse, Perhaps in their makeup the
essential parts were not all gathered to-
gether, and they have no heart at all.
II am speaking of the toiling million
who work for the large clothing and un-
derwear establishments in all large
cities, particularly in the east. In
former years clothing for men was
about the only thing found on sale at
stores ready made,' but now, in addition
to this, all sorts OF female apparel, in
Guiding underwear, can be purchased at
retail for about what the material costs,
without cutting, to say nothing of the
ct ceteras that go into the making of
garments, the tedious work Of making
them or the profit to manufacture for
capital employed.
"The amount received for making
thS5S 6oA AACAO1 10 - AuClC PlbbhnC0y duu
it is only by working all day and most
of the night, that the overworked
woman are able to earn enough to keep
body and soul together.
Talk about the eight-hour law, my
dear sir, these poor creatures work eigh-
teen and twenty hours day. There
are honest women, hundreds OF thou
sand of them, suddenly made widows,
struggling in pain and sorrow to hold
their family of little children together
until they are old enough to shift for
themselves, selling newspapers, etc.
They are deserving women, making
a gallant uphill fight in the struggle
for existence, and ought to be protected.
They prove their honest determination
by continuing in the uneven struggle,
instead of yielding to totemptations, which
are innumerable in all large cities, and
which would afford them an easier mode
of living.
II don't believe in woman's suffrage,
but do believe that something can and
should be done in this one-sided fight
these struggling women are making for
existence. The whole fault lies in the
fact that they are unorganized. They
work as individuals, occupying cheap
inside rooms and top garrets, and know
little Of each other. They have not the
time, money, or knowledge to organize,
and will not get the protection of organ
lied labor, unless outside parties assist
them. 1t is no fault of the merchant
that they are not better paid. With the
merchant, the selling of garments is
mere question of competition. Suppose,
for instance, these women were paid
three, four or five cents more for the
making of the cheaper garments, and
more for the expensive garments. This
small amount would make no difference
to the merchant, or the public, who
would have the extra amount to pay
but it is just this difference that is the
difference between life and q living
death to these poor women thus chained
to their treadmill. I have lived in Gin
cinnati and New York city for many
years, and tits an old subject with me,
but nevertheless it is one that should
make the tender heartstrings of our
whole people vibrate in sympathy with
them. In all the labor strife there ia
no one championing their cause, and
consider this the greatest opportunity in
the world now open for some one to win
everlasting fame by taking hold of the
matter. 1t will take little time, and
some money, and presents golden op-
pOrtunitv for some wealthy person to
immortalize him or herself by furnishing
the needful.
''Or it might be done without money
in this way: Every city and town in the
country has its Friday morning. or
other clubs or associations, composed of
ladie1. Let them direct their attention
to the matter. 1t is claimed that there
is great deal of wasted energy among
ladies' clubs or societies; that they are
given to gossip. and do not deal with
practical, fresh, live issues of their day
and generation. l do not underrate
their ability and influence, and point
you to the action of the American
women during the war closed some
twenty-seven years ago. American
women, north and south, at that time,
proved themselves equal to great under
takings. They are the bulwark and
safeguard of the nation, and will arise
and show themselves equal to all emer-
gencies. Here is cause that needs de-
Tending, and a class whose pitying
Macedonian cry to come over and help
u.s. should be responded to that they
may be lifted up to the level OF others
doing like work"