San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-09

Dig Under the Ribs-Meeting Passes
Resolutions lnstructing Congressman to
Favor the Sulzer Bill Now Pending.
CHICAGO, March. 9.-The sweat
shop and the system which sup
ports it were under consideration
at Central Music hall last evening.
Nine speakers, representing the
pulpit, the bar, the state govern.
ment and the trade that is most
nearly related the sweat-shop,
spoke upon its ills and tenacity of
life, and suggested methods of re-
form. A large audience was pres
emit. A glance showed that it was
composed of all stations of life
from men and women with toll
hardened hands to philanthropists,
professional men and deep think
ers, and lastly, men from whose
hearts all sympathy Is not shut by
garments of silk and sealskins. In
the speeches made, there were
criticism both implied and ex-
pressed for the manufacturing
wholesaler who fattens on the
misery of sweater" excuse in
small degree; excuse of circum-
stances beyond his control for the
middle man or contracting
"sweater," unmeasured pity for the
toiling victim, wearying away
body and soul for a pittance, and
appeal to the heart and brain OF
the whole people for movement,
powerful enough to lead from
bondage tho white slaves of the
sweatshop as it shattered the fet-
tiers Of black slaves in the southern
cotton fields. Finally, resolution
was adopted asking the national
government for power to wipe
out the evil for which the state
governments had been impotent.
Jane Adams, who has found a
life work in the noisesome district
where the sweat-shop most flour
ishes, presided. In brief address,
she explained the objects of the
meeting. John Franey, who has
given nearly twenty years OF his
life to factory inspection in New
York, and who, after ten years Of
toll, has finally framed and had in
PRODUCED in Congress, measure to
drive out the sweaJ-shop by ma
tional legislation, gave history of
the system and the inefficiency of
even stringent state laws against
1t. Mrs. Mitchell spoke as sweat
shop worker. DIR. Thomas Hall,
DIR. Joseph Stolz, M. M. Rangaren
and Rabbi Levi offered appeals
based on practical grounds.
Mr.. Florence Kelly told how and
why the state law in Illinois had
failed. Serene in the conscious
ness of his position as lawyer and
judge, in stirring words not devoid
OF sarcasm, Judge M. F. Tuley ad-
vised working men and women
that legislatures and courts would
give them little relief until they
should manifest their power of
organization.
Judge Tuley's speech in part, is
as follows:
"If all men and women were
what they ought to be; IL they
could treat each other as human
beings there would be no need Of
legislation to get rid of the sweat
shops. / recommend to our
preachers that they make mission
aries of themselves, go among
these manufacturers and sweat
bosses and convert them to a
Christian life. / admit they would
have hard job. The only other
way is to appeal to the law. That
has been tried. But when / re-
member the fate of every law ever
passed in this state to ameliorate
the condition OF the common peo-
pie 1 hang my head in shame. II
passed by the legislature 1t has
gone to the Supreme court and has
been declared unconstitutional.
The time Of our judges is spent in
raking over the musty laws OF a
hundred years ago. They are not
keeping up with the times. We
now talk OF appeal to federal law
and federal courts. / have not
made critical review of this, but
/ know our federal courts are more
progressive than our state courts.
The court that could not find war