New-York tribune., 1892-01-10
CLUBS FOR WORKING GIRLS,
MISS GRACE H. DODGE DISCUSSES THEM
REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF THE THIRTY EIGHTH
STREET ORGANIZATION

The present Is the seventh year in the history OF
the New-York Association OF Working Girls, soclete.
association that has ramlfcati)ns all over the
United States. Those who have watched the develop.
ment OF the organization the last six years speak of
II as one of the most effective m m)vements for help
fulneSs and good that this generation has seen and
as such deserving OF the highest consideration.
Miss Grace II. Dodge, who first thought " the
Working Girls Club and who has 50 zeaously and
hephllly lent her cooperation from the beginning
has kindly consented to state the aims and endeavOrs
of the mcnbers, and does In these words:
"Frst. consider Just what a club is. namely. an
organization formed among busy women and girls -
secure by cooperation means of scfimprovement,
opportunities for social intercourse, the develop
mcnt of higher, nOber aims. second. that it IS gov
erned by the members for the members. Third, that
II strives to be self supporting. 1t Is not charitable
society. 1t Is cooperative rather than a philan
thr,pic organization. Methods that usually
adopted 10 start charitable and plilanthropic move
ments cannot be carried out when Working Girls
Club is Planned.
a neghhorhood city club Of either men or
women. is started lg few who decide that the
establishment of such n club would be desirable for
social or literary reasons. Then others are consulted
constitutions and bylaws adopted committee on
rooms or location appointed. and their report
follow on furnishing. house rules, finances.
etc. all The members of the committees beng
chosen from among those who are TO utllle or nave
part in the house, rooms or meeungs. Fees anu
dues are voted upon. and other club anmrS sys
tcmatized. If the house rooms are to he bought
built or leased, capital must often be obtaiped ana
this is loaned interest raised among the mem
hers Those with large incomes fe il privilege
to give more than the Others. who perhaps H'c
time talent or effort worth more than the money
Outsiders not admitted to these delibcr"nohs Du'
after the club Is located rooms furnished ana all IN
running order reception IS held, when ea'n clun
member is privileged TO invite given number OF
vposts and from these new members are obtained
and fresh interest aroused.
A similar plan is followed in starting WorR'ng
Girls society club If II Is Intended I" DC iou'ocu
upon the principles Of coopeHuon sctgoveinrneh'
and self-suppor Working girls cannot be forced mo
a club organized in their interests any mere thah any
other people can be driven into social club. lhcS
wish TO know their proposed leaders and here friend
sbi, mus, be a; the root OF the matter. To guaro
AGAINST the sprngng up Of clqueS II Is well 10 nave
che early members represent different occupau""s'
Women of leisure. teachers. saleSwomei CLERKS so'
oorapher. drcssmakers and mill and 'actoN e'p"Se'
IL AZ the start there IS mingling OF ihse' @on
ctu btng in friends and sisterhood of wom'n VIII
ne the result all interested In mutual AIMS Du' COM
Ing from different Surroundings. inc lnPr'D ,,,,'
,mnressinr on members their individual respohsl"ih'!
to the club cannot be too strongly urged
ain Fnrope a working girls club could not De
started because the principles of organRato' are ~
comprehended a. yet In this country orsaI"@,'' "
understood because wage-earnlHe "omc" u " ~ w
civ - sefcovernment. The class OF girls tha' come
,. ,bo clubs are women who are accustomed u"
to, o.her forms Of organization, such as pchen'
societies lodges etc. There are III thS o'' "I
eno-mous number Of wagcearring women pe'"'P9
on 600 or 40 600 who belong to the w"meh's pran'"
q. the Free MasOns' organizations and o'her
and in these they have already le'"iou SUM
abort the benefits Of associations
"The clubs giving to girls an opPor ",-
. ao,ng for one class what soross. the woman ;
press Climb the Wednesday Afternoon 'iuo' e"'' ".e
doing for Others. People say. 'WhN q" 20" XIV. " "
,be name OF the Working Girls ClubF We """' " "
sicp,fr the nam Of working girl The puohc s"o"'
know what intelligent and enhgh'eneo s"is ne
a. our clubs There is the othar side' ho"eN'i'
Iohor orcantzations saw 'We opposed 10 you DC
cause vou are making working girls sa"sheu WIN
ther lot but is there anything t" regret IN 'n''
.vbe, ncop,e sav we do not touch the class OF
GIRLS tbat most need help feel quarrel'"rhe. "",i
60 t,ev1 We have girls belonging 10 our cIuo' WIZ
corn hu, s5 week girls who work for sweaters an"
| M +he burnbley yt kind of factory work, ana yet we
-o tob we do not reach the really poor eHl.
received a miserable anonymous letter TWO vi "''''
eovs mo asking why We do not deNo'e our "'e' "
tottor nurnogos than 10 New Year parties "' WV
Madison square Garden. People tak OF trheN '''
,nor nothing about. The club girls know the secret
>. tho New Years party expenditures. and II tleS arc
o.ssod everybody else should be. The prmclpies I"
or- movement are penetrating evcryw ana c'n
onv one sav that the results are not eooo
arom asked by what right am II member OF He
Working Girls Clrb and why Mrs. ilchaiu ir'i" ""u
.hors ore admitted The club girls "ttien ua'
l.,oD themselves one evening" at a discussion 1t
40. decidod that Mrs Richard irwin and others "efc
working women but they might be sad 70 De "o'H'"s
with money. not for money 1t is not q'ieSI'" VI
dollars and cents, Of the KIND Of "rrh vic "'o"
her mav be Just as bGsy keeping house or her h"Uer
os another eirl is IN shop, and 1t was thoiOnghH
agreed that both have equal night OF meihDersP'
A. matter OF fact have more voice In the lhlr'y-
eighth street Club than the youngest cash girl
The exact standing Of the Working Girls A'solat-
ZION is % n-le understood by the public that IL may
ho well 10 oote from leafet Issued by the orgahH-
tion: , .,,o
II IL most important define at once Tor whoh "oA
rs c,pbs exist and what they generally undeistou
a. be- Societies for working gls aye not all eliAe ou
rar be divided iuto three groups. flrst me'e are "
roverned by boards Of managers advisory counoI'''
such a. the Young Women's Christian Assocatoh Vh'
1i, t,cndlv Society various Industrial AID educ1tions
unions. and many Others under the auspices OF ue "o
Christian Temperance Union and different churches' Ae
sre generally sectarisn in character Second there arc
organizations a. labor unions fraern'y ciroies
All NJ which have .ome sociological object Ihd we nho
standing between II were such s"cie'es ~ a
represented by associations.
Working Girls Clubs such as ours are as rue com
posed Of young mainly dependent on their OWL
xsrtIons quickened by contact experience into sym
patty who combine ia bodies looking 10 persoho
advantage advancement Often too conservative 10 tK'
active part In such movements thee young women ar
usually with the aims and methods OF labO
unions and frequently members OF bencht socc
ties organized by companies for those employed In trades
Such thinkers and workers readily drawn 70 cooperate
with women Of leisure in ndviduallsm
f. cherished not easily attracted to bodies with
strongly defined chorsctcs, such church societies
Our clubs being governed each member cqun
hight direct It's expenditures and an equal responsibility
I'm procrnC and receiving the funds Voluntee
Teachers books for library money when solicited
NAV bv the vote Of club be accepted with pleasure
unmixed with the dread Of patronage. Bat Is not th