The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-13
. TALK TO WORKING WOMEN
Miss Pierson Addresses Them Under the
Auspices OF the State Federation.
Woman-Fields of Labor Adapted to Female
s~trength--Defense of Unionism.

Miss Belle Person, State organizer of the
Federation of Labor. lectured last night.
at the AaDsur Hall. under the auspices Of
the federation. Her address was to work
ing women: the subject, How to Better
Their Condition as Workers." Being her.
self a member of the Typographical Union,
she fully understands the principles OF
unionism which she so strongly advocates
and especially appreciates the advantages
of unions to her sex. Her lecture last night
was as follows:
In the beginning we wish TO state. and wish It
understood, that we are not an advocate OF So
called woman's rights; we don't really want the
ballot, although we believe that most working
women would make a better use of it than the
majority OF the present manipulators.
We believe that all avenues or trade TO which a
woman's strength Is adapted are legitimate fields
sOI o meT We se s seher; p that T tbe "p %lss pt& Wom mlns
Is the "woman who looketh well to the ways of
her household" a womanly, old-fashioned wom-
an. We also believe that she Is the happiest
But for the hundreds. aye. the thousands. of
girls and women who have the responsibility or
earning q livelihood for themselves and others
that viii be the most '1 remunerative,
possible s'e enter a trade aaected by men
because the best wages are paid for that kind OF
work. Then go to work with the intention OF
conquerlng all difficulties yourself. Take your
place alongside of the male apprentice and ask
no favors other than they receive. Resolve to
make your work as good in quality if not as
great In quantity and an exact equivalent for
labor performed by man.
1t has been charged that trades unions com
that their object was to exclude women from
the trades. The falsity of this charge Is proven
in this country at least. The Typo graphical
Union. of which we are a proud member. was
the first organization to open it's doors to wom-
en-, and it numbers Its gentle breadwinners by
the hundreds. The cigarmakers. one OF the
grandest and best organizations on the
roll, are next in line with their
equality to women. and the tailors. the cloak
makers, and the mixed assemblies of the K. OF l..
follow. What the trades unions want is to ex-
clude girls and women who lower the standard
OF wages. When a woman shows herself COM
petent and willing to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the great mass OF workers, and uphold the
quality of the work done, and the prices paid
for the same. the unions throw open their doors.
offer her their protection, court her cooperation,
and their male MEMBERS say, Amen.
She m, Dor b; SG ley sn p efs rsim us s6. n ss1ay h emhss ean
the absolute uselessness and dependence i'll
which a vast number Of the girls of the nine
develop their Unborn self-reliance and
ability to stand with a little help
some are weak, crying out and breaking down
woman ia self-reliant, thoughtful, earnest, work
ing in the face Of almost certain defeat, taking
her victories quietly as a matter of fact, bearing
failure with fortituce and a resolve to begin
anew. seldom resortinG to suicide or worse.
One OF the strong objections offered
trades Is that she will eventually marry.
and forfeit to the employer ali the
not form any part Of an excuse fore woman to
only partly master the trade she affects. what
soever thy hand tindeth to do. do 1t with thy
might" Work as If your life depended upon &C
curing the details: work as ii you never ex-
pected to exchange the workshop for the
rain the reepecf of vOur c0lahOrera by uniting az
early as possible with the labor union which Is
represents. II there is none. become the mover
meetings. take part in its discussions. make
Your interest,", and sss 0S WITH MS'. .ss
your woman's brain is as well developed and as
capable OF coping with the knotty problems OF
the rights of labor as those of your masculine
contemporary. A woman may not be capable Of
throwing a stone. but she has naturally as much
common sense as a man, II she does not
Ing that not much is to be expected Of her be-
cause she is a woman.
sary to order strikes that women are unwilling
to obey the unions mandates, they have a ten
.dency to cry that "half q loaf is better than no
satisfied with "well;" don't put up with
half a loaf" You would be far from
being contented =, when married. your hus.
band acted upon this principle. Neither would
you have the finger of scorn 20 inted at him as q
rat or a scab. No. you would take in washing
before you would permit MIN TO do so. Having
united with your labor organization. stand by Il
with Your might. The laboring man-the man
OF the day-will respect you. the trades unions
OF all. perhaps. your employers will recog-
nize your worth. and pay you accordingly. and
You are not doing half work for half pay and
depriving a competent workman of O situation
and his children of bread.
Again let us urge every woman who lives by
the labor OF her hands to be part and
parcel of a labor organization. II your
calling Is composed Of women alone, and
form one. The signs OF the times are ripe for
such work. II you would have an example,
look at the laundry girls OF your own city. We
soldiers monument. not even your beauti-
full buildings. not even your great men
land, are cause for more pride and
laudation than your Laundry Girls Union and
its honored members.
Working women of indianapolis, emulate their
example. You VIII receive the aid, the support,
the approval of the day.
This is the age of labor; the church and labor
walk hand In hand; the State and labor
are one; the pollution of labor yet remains
to the old world. Let us band ourselves
together to uphold the womanhood and the man.
hood of our own fair land.
Organize. Flee from the evils that exist in the
mines OF Holland. the ~collieries of the Belgian,
The Kings Daughters are doing a noble work;
the cause OF labor Is not less noble. The Ladies'
auxiliary to the y; NJ; G. A; are emulated upon
every side; the working Women's Auxiliary
Is more worthy OF emulation. The w. G. T. u. is
revered in many lands; the organized forces
OF women wage earners. to educate. to refine, to
Tighten burdens, to make labor honorable and
sought after will be yet more revered.
Make haste while yet there is time.
The latter part of the lecture was devoted
to a defense Of labor organizations. aud
their principles were ably upheld by Miss
Pierson. A number of persons well known
in local labor circles also spoke upon the
subject in hand. Miss Reba Insley spoke
briefly and to the point. and paid q high
tribute TO Miss Ida Keys. of the Laundry
Girls Union, for her earnest efforts in be-
half of the girls in that department of
labor.