New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-09
TO HELP 1VORHING WOMEN.
MANY ADV Gates FOR THE BILLS CIV
ING THEM RELIEF
MASS MEETING OF LABcEING PEOPLE At COOPER
UNGoN-TIEY DEMAND THE PASSAGE or
LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTs - BISHOP
POTTER. JOSEPH II. CUoATE
AND FATHER DUCEY
ADDRESS THEM.

ADDRESS THEM.
Bishop Potter was the chairman Of a mass
meeting held last evening in Cooper Union to
show the Legislature at Albany that many Of the
working people of New-York are determined that
the Free Employment Once" and The "Mercan-
tile" bills shall become laws The meeting was
under the auspices Of the Working Womens So
ciety and other bodies. The great hall was
pretty well filled with both men and women Of
the working class
Bishop Potter in opening. said that the power
Of public opinion was great. and that the law
makers could be Influenced by such demonstra-
tons. In the struggle for life he said that
women workers should be protected by wise ana
just legislation. 1t was incumbent upon the
State to protect the weak and helpless The
next speaker was Mornay Williams. the secre-
tary of the meeting. He explained the two bills
now before the Legislature The "MercantNe
BIZ" provides that persons under eighteen years
old and women shall not work more than sixty
hours in any one week; that children under four
teen years old shall not be employed in any
mercantile establishment. and that owners of
establishments where mon and women are
employed shall comply with certain regulations
conducive TO the health OF the employees. me
"EmplOyment Office bill Is an act 10 authorize
the formation and maintenance Of public en-
ployment bureaus in cities having over 1900
inhabitants.
Mr.. Williams read a letter from Mayor Gilroy.
who said that the proposed legislation would be
for the public interest.
Joseph II. Choate then said:
You have heard the scrptural story OF The
first woman being taken from the side Of the first
man without any particular inconvenience 10
either Woman has been a s!de-issue ever since.
(ApplauseD Why should woman in a mer-
camille house IN New-Yorlf who does the same
work as a man or boy be paid a smaller sum 81
money? They should not be obliged TO work
more than ten hours day. at the most. The
employer says he must keep open hiieen or
twenty hours. What OF It? Wouldnt br
better to employ more Of the idle people? Good
heavens, they change the car horses two and three
times a day. and can't they change the women
and children? The working Of women IN foul
Easements should be stopped. Obhging them 70
take their lunches hurredly III hl'hy places
should be made criminal
The next speaker was Felix Adler. He said
in part: rs It possible such an act IS neces-
sarv? 1t Is our duty to take care Of those who
cannot take care Of themselves In monarchy
the monarch takes paternal interest In the
welfare Of all Of his subjects. but in tins coun-
try every citizen Is monarch and should take
a paternal interest In his weaker fellows !
hope to live to see women wage-earners organ
lied thoroughly as men wage-earners
Jacob A. Rs spoke OF the sad lot OF the poor
children in New-York. He told OF children at
work who were found to be only eight. six, five
and three years old.
when | see the pampered woman Of fashion
spending in frivolities many dollars through lack
Of which other women as good II not better, are
starving feel within me the thought. DO these
women believe In a Cod? The moro ] see Of
charity the more think Of hypocrisy" Turning
to the ministers on the platform. he said; DO
not hesitate to refuse the $4,000 gifts and the
stained glass windows If YOU know they come
from the men who live luxuriously upon the
flesh and blood Of their employees"
The last speaker was Samuel Gompers presi-
dent Of the American Federation of Labor lie
Endorsed the two bills. At the close Of the meet
ing resolutions were unanimously passed IN
dorsing the passage of the two bills. end calling
upon the Legislature to make them laws.