The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-02
THE WARNING UNIONS
knights Of Labor Try to Cap
ture Women's Meeting.
THEY COME OUT sEcoNppessT.
Contest for Possession OF the Hall Be-
comes Question OF Cash-Work-
ing Women Organize.

Considerable excitement was caused at
the meeting held at Red Mems hall last
night to organize a working women's
union by an attempt of Mrs. McCracken,
Mrs. Schofield, Mrs. Filburn and Robert
Bridges to capture the meeting for the
Ladies' Protective Association, recently
started by Mrs. F. R. Spalt.
The four persons mentioned secured the
platform and attempted to assume con-
troll of the proceedings. They were re-
quested by J. II. McEvoy, husband of the
president of the Working Women's Union,
first. and Mr.. McEvoy went out to call
upon the police to aid his wife and her or
ganization to victory.
While he was gone, affairs took another
turn. James Neatly, the tailor, who runs
the hall, appeared and wanted to know
who was going to pay for the use of it.
He stated that "a was the price, and who
ever paid that sum could have undis-
puted possession. Both sides dug down
for coin, but the Working Women's Union
had friend in the hall who raised the
necessary cash and, when Mr.. McEvoy re-
turned, he found that Robert Bridges and
the Ladies' Protective Association had
retired, and left the Working Women's
Union in sole possession of the field.
The meeting then got down to work and
listened to q number of addresses. Mrs.
McEvoy, on taking the chair, clearly
stated that the object of the union was to
benefit and protect real working women,
and not for the good of any special person,
and because it was for the general good it
was thought best to withdraw from the
Ladies' Protective Association, which was
to become Knights of Labor body, while
the Working Women's Union was to afil
late with the American Federation of
Labor
]. L. Murphy, in an interesting speech,
defined the objects of the Western Central
Labor Union, and other speeches were
made advising the Working Women's
Union to apply for a charter through the
Western Central Labor Union. The Off
GERS of the Working Women's Union are:
President, Mrs. ]. H. McEvoy; vice presi-
dent, Mrs. Whelan; treasurer, Mrs. Lang;
financial secretary, Mrs. Heimer; record
ing secretary, Mrs. McCioud; sentinel,
Mrs. Blair. On closing the meeting the
president announced that the next meet
ing would be held on Thursday evening at
3l2 Eighth street, to decide on the question
of charter and transact other business.
When the Ladies' Protective Association
representatives withdrew they went over
in body to the hall of the Knights of La
Dor, and held q brief though animated ses-
sion. The question of joining the Knights
of Labor was discussed, and it was stated
that that body would be glad to take the
ladies into its fold. It was decided to
meet on Tuesday evening at the hall at
Fifth and Pike streets to organize further
and transact other important business.
1t appears that the trouble about the
Red Mems hall arose over a misunder.
standing. Mrs. Spalt, it seems, had
rented the hall for Thursdays, and the
Working Women's Union had spoken tor
it for Sundays. Mrs. Spalt is out of town,
and meetings both of the Ladies' Protec-
tive Association and the Working
Women's Union had been called for the
same time and place.
There is very bitter feeling between
the two organizations, and Mrs. McEvoy
makes some very broad charges against
the Ladies' Protective Association. She
stated last night that the Working
Women's Union did not intend to give
dances to raise funds, but would pay its
own way by the help of true working
woman