The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-09
Mary AIMS Eden.

In Montana, where the problem involved
In first getting a Jewel OF hlred slri
and then keeping her is even more knotty
than in other parts OF the country II
will be interesting TO all housewives 10
know that the servant girls are threaten
ing 70 organize a union. The prime OBJ
iect of such a union would be wages. OF
course but there would be other inclden-
tai privileges and rights for them 10 IL
sist upon, and If they are convinced mat
they have the bulge on the employing
classes. it IS safe to say that other items
WIN De incluaed IN the bill.
There is CONSERVATION among the mousse
wives or Great rams. Inc servant ellls
have organized uhlon' IoIiOWlhe VIZ ca
alupie ot me Iaunury girls. ana their ue-
mands in bnet are; twenty-five doliaIs
month Tor laml.y or SIX or less, WIN an
addition of s. per month Tor each person,
over SIX; that thSy shdll not ne Ie4 ll Gu sa
10 care Tor tne cnhdren when mOtneIs are
absent from home, and tnat tney shGlI
not be required 10 do any nne Washing UT
ironing. -. ,no
barry wnen the mother goes 10 cnufCn IL
the servant Is allowed extra compehsa.
ton Al me rae OF 10 cents per houI, pus
the rule prohibiting the Laundering OF
shirts. lace etc, is absolute ana the ser
wants in private houses shail not conn
pete with the Laundry girls.
penalties are imposed Tor all violations
Of the ruies. and no memoer OF the Union
shall Work where there Is empioyed
me organization Of the union is perfect
ofncers having been CHOSEN. out Ine
names of the members are secret. large
number OF servants have not YET joined
the organization. ana many eIhpioye Is
have warned Them mat "General rouse
work' will want another glri II they 40
loin. but those VINO have become mem
bers have made their demands LOT me
Union scale and privileges.
When or where the union was organ
izeo cannot be learned. but u seems mat
about all the girls employed In homes on
Fourth avenue north, between SECOND
and Sixth streets. are in the union, ana
the other members come from various
~ Twenty wears ago. at Fort Benton. all
the servant girls quit and were married.
The men of The town grew urea Oi
cold meal three times day ana lhey
ported steamer load OF glrS. III was
only a few mon, hs until they were all
married too. Now. many old Fort Benton
lies suggest a similar importation, rea-
sonlne that the matrimonial market is
not so active as II was then at Fort BEN
ton and that the girls would have 10
work. The matter was treated as JOKE
IA Fort Benton. but IL Is no Joke IN Great
Falls. The union IS an accomplished Iact,
and the women who have had great
trouble In the past year In securing ser
NaNAS lNoisrN NhoA AiS
annoying.
Good house servants are not any too
plenty In Helena. the employers and the
employment agents find Indeed. there
has before been talk OF importing a car
load or two from the middle western
States 10 supply the demand.
III | knew a way 10 assure myself OF
the accomplishments of a girl beforehand
! wouldn't be afraid 10 advance the fares
OF fifty first-class ones said the agent.
"A girl who Is up In all the branches.
can cook and Is neat and patient with
chil( rem can get work here In a day, and
keep work twelve months In the year
al twice the wages paid on the Pacific
coast or east OF here. No you needn't
smile: there are some OF that kind. and
lots OF them don't know that real Jewels
are in active demand. The girls here are
as Independent as any OF our people. They
make the ternls.nine times out OF ten. not
you,
Servant girls who are willing 70 work
and know what 70 DO will be IN demand
for a long time in Montana. and the inni-
gration societies would confer q favor on
4 long suffering community II they would
send rs out 4 few good opes. Great
TsJss lMont) Tribune.