New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-22
WIVES VS.. WALKING DELEGATES.


The walking delegate is unhappy. He cannot
have strikes enough to keep him III cigars un'
dor the present condition of the labor uhlohS
There is n limit to the contributions winch
workjngmen are able to make TO the treasur!
of their organizations, and Mt present inc
amount is not sufficient to provide Tor tue
burial expenses of the members ana leave Iuhds
for os many strikes as the leaders want. Ac-
cordngly they do not care who Dliries the WorN
ingman so long as they can manage HIS s'rlNeo
The general secretary Of the Journeymen Tai
lors National Union has issued an address 10
the members of local organizations ealing Oh
them 10 sacrifice their wives for the cause Oh
organization He proposes that the wifes
funeral benefit be abolished, and says: III our
locals desire support in strikes or lockouts 'h's
"benefit must be abolished. If the members
wish 10 avoid repeated lcvies the adoption OIL
THE proposition 10 strike out the wires fuhcral
benefit will do away with repeated levios IL
"organzlng IS 10 be pushed funds can be pro-
"vldcd for the work by the abolition OF the
'wlfc's funeral benefit" This IS n subject
which concerns not only the men III the unions
but the women who work not eight but twelve
and fourteen hours to make the mems lives
comforfab Bile and not for minimum wages, but
generally for none NJ all beyond their food ana
clothing When the women are asked what
they think Of more strikes and less funerHl
benefits. they say: we don't think this move
"ment will he popular. and we will try 10 get
.'our husbands To vote against it. Strikes are
not popular with the wives OF workngmen,
and the idea OF doing away with the benefit
that more money may be had for strikes
..makps matters NIL the worse
\nturalv the woman does not Ike strikes.
strike to her does not mean being important
and directing the movements Of Idle men for
good salary Neither does II mean going about
the streets and holding meetings and receiving
little money from the union to live while
earning nothing To her 1t means taking that
plttance. II II is not spent outside the home In
the excitement of battle. and feeding and cloth
ing with ii husband and children, who were
not too we'll cared for work and plan ms she
might with the full family income. II Is the
woman who suffers most from IL labor contest,
and when left a widow she generally has little
with which to provide for her family. Ger
tainlv She Is entitled to what little help II union
can give her in return for the contributions
made 10 It's treasury from the family earnings,
which went to support other families during
strikes aad pay the expenses or those who
planned them. The wifc's benefit Is one Of the
most commcndablc features Of the tradeS-union
system The unions have done much for their
numbers. but little Of II has been accomplished
ly strikes The great body Of workers general
ly lose more than they gain by strike. and it
IS only the leaders who are benefited. More
strikes would mean more misery for the men.
and more yet for the women. and 1t is not sur
prlsug that the latter do not think they should
b" made 10 contribute 10 their own suffering.
But the leaders are not thinking Of that Their
revenues are running short and burials In the
Pottcrs Field must not stand in the way OF
their appctites