The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-03-06
IDA VAN ETTEN DEAD.
Passed Away in a Paris Hotel
Early Yesterday Morning.
Heart Failure Given Out as the
Cause OF Death.
But There's II Pitiful Story that She
Died of Starvation.

Tho report reached New York this
morning that Miss Ida Van Etton, the
well-known New York organizer OF
working girls, died in Paris. at the Con
tinontal Hotel. early yesterday morning.
The caua" OF her death was given as
heart disease 1t was said. however.
that she died of starvation.
Mr.. Eustis. the United States Ambas-
sador, has taken charge OF the case.
Miss Van Etten's body viii be placed In
the mortuary chapel of the American
Church on the Avenue de rAlma to
await IN" instructions Of her friends III
the United states
The death Of Miss Van Ettrn removes
one of the most energetic and tlrcloss of
advocates OF the rights "f her sex.
Slender almost to attenuation, ana plain
almost to ugliness. she attracted to her
women OF all classes with magnetism
that was phenomenal She was n born
organizer. direct. iorccful speaker, and
possessed an executive HDility seldom
seen In women.
Miss Van l;tten was born Mt Van Et-
tenville lIttle village near ElmIra.
where every other person Is "A Van Ettcn
when labor was just awakening to the
necessity for organization for It's own
protection and advancement.
Little had been done by or on behalf
OF the horde of women workers, ana
presently the shopwomen were surprised
TO learn that Mrs. Coils J. Huntington,
Mrs Courtlandt Palmer and other WOO
men of great wealth and social position:
Robert II. Cutting, G.. i. Huntington
and other wealthy men were interested
In them and were anxious to help them
to advance their interests.
Mrs Josephin" Shaw Lowell, Miss Arin
Huntington, Father Huntington, Dr. An
movement. and II had its first expression
In several meetings at I'ythagoras Hall.
the object being to organize the working
Miss Van Etten was the leader, the
heart. the soul OF these meetings. and
the Working Women $ Society was or
GaniZed with her as its secretary. \
but the wiry little old maid from Van
Ettenyill" was the real chairman. the
cally n quorum all by herself
She made her first appearance and hit
as n public speaker at meeting OF the
Or. McGlynn-Henry George Ani-pov-
erty Society, where she presided at IL
knights of Labor table.
But Miss Van Etten's perceptions were
strong enough to convince her that frst
OF ali the membership of the Working
Womcn's Society must not be limited 70
women who toled. else II woulu not be
self-,supporting, and next, that al women
needed improyement.-and rlch Women
were permitted to subscribe in aid or the
organization without becoming members.
These were the snags on which MISS
mately foundered In "A lofty preamble
1t was set forth that ''the unwise. In
equitable and defective features of tn"
economic conditions inevitably tended To
reduce all who lived by their own labor
to debasing poverty and dependence;'
and also that mo remedy Will r'moV"
the source OF these evils until the condi-
tions under which men and women work
IRE 30 changed that all workers VIII
have abundant opportunity TO- employ
their labor and enjoy it's fruits,
to saving that the rich who donated
would he helping to destroy the very
conditions under which their wealth was
obtained. many wealthy ladies' joined
enthusiastically In the work.
The Society was organized Jan |, 1885,
and on March /. wnen, a removal to
2ths- quarters , was Desirable oo, MIS- H.
the building OF the Society of Humanity
In Lafayette place. and bought the fur
nture for tn" rooms.
Of the value of money. and the funds Of
the Society passing through her hands
got in dreadful state. Nob9dy ever
simply as bad a business woman as she he
was clever as theorist and organizer.
She led the striking feather workers.
but Th Sc som nr wea1hE naynE
strikers, refused to let II pass through
Miss Van Etten's hands, that magnetic
leader of women so worked upon the
sympathies of the almost destitute girl
strikers that they refused to accept the
money at all. and the strike failed in
consequence.
That was the beginning of the end OF
Miss Van Etten as leader of New
York's female workers, although she did
much at Albany i'll promoting the pass
age OF THE Evening Worlds" measure
providing for women factory inspectors.
Mrs. Huntington refused longer to nav
and the Working Women's Society was
ready to disbaEd. Then Miss Van Etten
hired rooms mt - Clinton place In her
own name. and the Society continued
there TIL January. 1889. when they sought
to Dust Miss Van Etten from her posi-
ton, and instead got cvicted from their
quarters by the indomitablc little old
maii
She organized another Society and be
came "a member of the Central Labor
Union, In spite of the opposition of the
old society. But she and her new So
cety were eviCted from - Clinton place
for non -paymg mt Of rent. in 1880. and she
January, 1881. and revived the Working
Womens Society, holding meetings In
St Georges chapel. stanton street
Quarters we're secured at 70 East Fourth
street, 4. f. Cutting furnishing the
finances He withdrew after a time. be-
ligving that the funds were not being APP
piled ~ he had directed.
Ida Van Etten delivered a series OF
Lectures on Socialism after that but she
failed 10 gather the supporters she eN-
pected. Six months ago she went
abroad, She ann >unced that she was
going under contract 10 visit the homes
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