Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-11-14
FOR WORKING GIRLS.
THEIR CLUBS HELP YOUNG WOMEN
70 IMPROVE THEIR LOT.

Tho principles Upon which All 'w"rs-
ing Girls" Societies Are H"i'-"'
uanizations That Have Done Great
p..I to Make Women Independent
Miss Grace II. Dodge, who nrst thoaen'
II the Working Girls club and VINO mas 10
,oalously and helpfully lent her cooperH
ron from the beginning, has kindly con
sortad In state the aims and endeavors Oh
the members and does so in these wor'is'
First-Consider just what club H. name
ly, an organization formed among o""'
women and girls to secure by cooperation
means of self improvement. opportunities
for social intercourse and the developinen'
NJ higher, nobler aims. Secondhand II Is
governed by the members for the meh'uers'
Thirl-That it strives to be sell supporting
II Is not charitable society. II sa CO
operative rather than philanthrop'c or
panization. Methods that are usually
adopted to start charitable and philanthropy
ic movements cannot he carried out "hen
A Working Girls club is planned
peighborhood or city cluD, OF either
men or women, is started by a rev VINO ae
eide that the establishment OF such ci'io
would be desirable for social or literary
reasons. Then others are consulted. con
situations and bylaws adopted, a committee
on rooms or location appointed, anu tne'r
report acted upon by the club. other com
mittees follow on furnishing house rules
finances, etc, all the members OF the com
mittees being chosen from among those
who are to utilize or have part in the house.
rooms or meetings. Fee and dues are
voted upon and other club affairs system
affixed.
IL the house or rooms are TO he bonRht'
built or leased, capital must often ne oD
tanned, and this is loaned on interest or
raised among the members Those with
large incomes feel it privilege to give
more than the Others, who perhaps give
time, talent or effort worth more than the
money. Outsiders are not admitted 10
these deliberations, but after the club IS
located, rooms furnished and all in run
ming order reception is held when each
club member is privileged to invite given
number OF guests, and from these new
members are obtained and fresh interest
aroused.
HOW CLUB IS STARTED.
A similar plan is followed in starting
Working Girls society or club, If it is in
tended to be founded upon the principles OF
cooperation, self government and self sup
port. Working girls cannot he forced into
a club organized in their interests any
more than any other people can be driven
into social club. They wish to know
their proposed leaders, and here friendship
must be at the root Of the matter. To
guard against the springing up Of cliques
it is well to have the early members repre-
| .f
leisure, teachers, saleswomen. clerks, stem
ographers, dressmakers and mill and fac
tory employees-if at the start there is II
mingling of these each will bring in
friends, and Il sisterhood of women will lie
the result, all interested in mutual aims
but coming from different surroundings
The Importance of impressing on members
their individual responsibility to the club
cannot be too strongly urged.
In Europe working girls club could
not be started because the principles Of or
| ganization are not comprehended ~ yet
In this country organization is understood
because wage earning women breathe the
air of self government. The class of girls
that come into the clubs are women who
are accustomed to join other forms Of or
ganization, such AZ benefit societies, lodges
etc. There are in this city an enormous
number Of wage earning women, perhaps
$4,000 or 10000, who belong to the women's
branches of the Freemasons' organizations
and other societies, and in these they have
already learned something about the bene-
fits of associations.
The clubs are giving to girls An oppor-
tunity, and are doing for one class what
Sorosis, the Woman's Press club, the
| WadDooduu al, Il
for Others. People say, "Why do you give
1t the name Of the Working Girls clubs"
We want to dignity the name Of working
girl"
| SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.
The public should know what intelligent
and enlightened girls belong to our clubs.
There is the 'other SIDE" however. Labor
organizations say, I'VE are opposed to you
because you are making working girls
satisfied with theii lot" but is there any
thing to regret in that,
When people say we do not touch the
class Of girls that most need help feel
quarresome. Where are theys We have
girls belonging to our clubs who earn but
IS week, girls who work for Sweaters"
and who do the humblest kind of factory
work, and yet we are told we do not reach
the really poor girl. received miserable
anonymous letter two or three days ago,
asking why we do not devote our money
to better purposes than to New Years
parties at the Madison Square garden
People talk of things they know nothing
about The club girls know the secret Of
the New Years party expenditures, and if
they are satisfied every body else should be-
The principles of our movement are pene
trating everywhere, and can any one saw
that the results are not goods
am asked by what right am mem
Der Of the Working Girls club and why
MRS Richard Irwin and others are admit
ted. The club girls settled that question
themselves one evening at discussion. II
was decided that Mrs. Richard Irwin and
others were working women, but they
might be said to be working with money
not Tor money. 1t is not question of dol
lars and cents, or of the kind of work One
member may be just as busy keeping house
lor her mother as another girl is in a shop.
ana 1t was thoroughly agreed that both
nave an equal right of membership. Asa
matter OF fact have no more voice in the |
lhlrty eighth Street club than the voun,,
est cash girl.-New York Tribune.
Women of Chill.
ohill Is the woman's Utopia. 1t is the only
country IN the world in which women .ra
possessed of full political rights Evarr
LFEF