The morning call., 1893-06-14
CROSS AND CROWN
The Emblem of the Dive
Walters Union.
THE GIRLS HAVE ORGANIZED.
The Observations of the Blonde
Haired Woman and the One
With a Bible.

The women who have been employed in
the dives that have just been closed
formed an association Yesterday afternoon
that will be knewn during its existence as
the Women Walters Benevolent and Pro-
tectiye Union.
Its objects, as stated in the stltuton,
are to provide employment for the mem-
bers who are no longer able TO earn bread
in their peculiar way, and to relieve them
when sick or out of employment. A pre-
liminary meeting had been held at which
an appeal for assistance had been made to
the Labor Council aud to various chari-
table organizations. At this meeting the
women resolved TO found the union which
sprang into existence yesterday.
E. p. Frye.who recently wore uniform
in the Army of Heaven at Hand and who
more recently achieved notoriety as the
secretary of DR.. Willey's unemployed" /"
was the chairman. The meeting was held
in the hall of the Labor Council at 1859
Mission street, and while Frye read aud
| explained the constitution to the eX-dlvers
who had attended the preliminary meet
ing fifteen candidates for initiation waited
in the snter0Om. Some of them Were
richly attired. others plainly clad. and
| two held babies on their knees.
When they were admitted to the inner
room they signed the constitution. and
each was given Gne card adorned with
the picture of a cross and crown, and the
motto, IN hoe signo vinces." The card
| stated that the bearer was a member Of
the Women Walters Benevolent and Pro-
tective Union, "organiZed for the moral
and social elevation of our craft
Several ladies connected with charitable
| organizations and two representatives of
| the Labor Council were admitted during a
"A COLL 1a6 fOr
| tions as to what should be done for the re-
lief of the union. One of the ladies, who
nursed a big Bible in her lap. said that the
| churches would doubtless find employ
ment for the mattresses.
"Ah, would they theD?" exclaimed a
| blonde haired maiden who sat near the
door. II have tried them and obtained
nothing"
Would you not work in a family if a
situa ton were obta ined for you?"
who would give me work? would be
asked for references, and when l answered
that had been in dive the door would be
shut In my face"
"Dr. Cass once said that he would help
the dive girls" an elderly lady remarked.
'and | am willing to 90 with any of you
and ask him for help"
Il suggest" said one of the representa-
tives of the Labor Council. that we hold
a mass-meeting and demand that the dives
by the Supervisors is invalid, and [ think
the dives would be all right if the OBJ
jectionable features were removed"
That is So" said an energetic lady who
sat by his side. Make them places of
inn ocent amusement. Let there be sing
ing and dancing aud little beer. Let
them be places for the elevation of men
and the elevation of women as we'll"
Chairman Frye read few stanZas OF a
pathetic poem and suggested that money
for the relief of the mattresses could be
sent to the treasurer of the union, whose
name he did not give. The suggestion
was unheeded, and the lady with the
Bible arose again and said that she would
be very sorry TO see the women in the
dives again.
An, then, madam" replied the
blonde, "let me tell you that | was once
servant here, and that | had to eat with
Cinnamon | will not DO that again."
The visitors were growing excited over
their schemes for the relief and advance
ment Of the mattresses, when the chair
man declared the recess at an end. and the
discussion was continued on the sidewalk.
The Labor Council will discuss the ad-
visibility Of admitting the new union to
representation on Friday evening.
1t is understood that in the meantime
the organization will appeal to the churches
to find employment for It's mem bers.