The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-19
WERE lilly TREATED.
A PulImaa Woman Writes a Strong Let
ter a Topeka Man.

A Pullman Woman Writes a Strong Let
ter to a Topeka Man.
Harry Chapman, who j. the secretary
Of the local A. r. U. recently wrote TO
Miss Mollie Fay at Pullman, Illinois.
who is the secretary Of the ladies auxili-
airy to the union at that place, with q
view to getting direct statement of the
condition Of affairs between the Pull
man company and its employees. He re-
ceived the following letter in reply to-
day:
PULLMAN, Ill, July IA, '94
Mr. Chapman
In answer to your letter would say;
I am willing to furnish you with the
circumstances Of the working girls Of
1 am pleased to know the workmen of
the west are in sympathy with US. We
have received great many letters ask
ing for a statement from one Of our
mum Der.
In 1898, wages were good We were
allowed to make, on piece work. 1923
per day; but this year we have been put
down 10 starvation wages.
Last year we got So for an eight sec
ton carpet, and for the same work this
year we got $16O, and drapery that we
got SID for, was cut to 90 cents. Mat
tresses were cut from 81 cents to 10 cents
apiece. Smoking room drapery from
1925 to As cents. Enclosed section cur
tains from 70 cents to 10 cents.
The houses that the working people
are obliged to live in rent from S28. Il
for six rooms, $50. II without bath, and
$17.71 for five rooms, $l5.71 for four
rooms, and $1,000 for three rooms And
this year any person or family who
wished to work in the Pullman shops
were obliged to rent from the Pullman
company.
onr.faa an7I1
for rent and the necessities of life, as
when wages were good
The Pullman company pays its en-
plOyes, and the rent collector comes
around with the paymaster. The pay
master hands the empI0ye two checks,
one for the rent, which must be signed
and handed to the collector; the balance
the employe may keep if there is any
and when any person was laid off, or
sick, or IN any way got behind with
their rent, their checks would be held at
the bank for the rent
So far. 1 have been speaking of the
two sewing departments. One we call
the new sewing department, and the
other the repair department. In both
departments, we have very abusive and
tyrannical foremen, who seem TO think
they must show their authority by aDus-
ing the girls, and cutting down wages
every time they have an opportunity.
The foreman in my department went SO
far as to forbid free speech. l objected
to that, and was told to leave the shops,
there was no more work there for me.
At that time (three weeks before the
strike) / was makIng at the rate of sew
enty cents day, and was quite bit be-
hind with my rent. I asked for a small
er house and was told that l could not
have one TIL l had paid in full for the one
1 am living in. 1 am paying $25.71 for
six rooms and told the secretary of the
bank | could not pay the back rent till
got a cheaper house. He told me the
best thing 1 could do, was to vacats the
place soon as possible
If a girl in our rom was obliged to
stay at home half a day on account Of
sickness, or sickness in the family, she
was laid off three days for punishment
The girls employed IN the laundry
have three rates of day work; the high
est that is paid % cents, and they all do
the same work.
In the hair department, where little
girls are employed to pick hair for mat
tresses, they have been ground down to
30 cents day piece, ard they have to
work very hard for that
1 have seen mans check Of II cents
to support his family on for two weeks,
after working every day and paying his
rent.
I could give you q great many facts,
but have to write another letter inside
of hour, as the mail leaves here at
that time. Yours respectfully,
MOLLIE FAY,
Sec Local Union No. 2e9. A. R. u.