The San Francisco call., 1898-07-13
Widows and Wives of
 Soldiers InsuIted.
CHINESE LABOR PREFERRED
AN OUTRAGE INVESTIGATED BY
 GRAND ARMY MEN.
They Ask That Soldiers Uniforms Should Not Be Made by Aliens, but by American
 Women.

The Grand Army of the Republic has taken hold of the, matter of getting the work of making soldiers uniforms away from the sweat-shop contractors ana theli coolie operatives and handing 1t over 10 the deserving women who need thlS enl- ployment. According to the story or W. w. Allen of Lyon Post the widows and wives of the old soldiers have been very shebbiy treated by the people who pre- side over the local commissary depart ment. He states that several women whose husbands fought for the Cnioh called upon him and complained that they were unable to secure Work, aIlhousli II lley are all competent to make garments TOT the soldiers of the present war. Three or these women said that they had peen down to one of the contractors Tor "oIk and the wages offered were less than Is paid to Chinese.
 When they refused 25 per cent rate while the contractor makes 70 per cent, they were brusquely told to get out or the way and not bother any more. IhlS caused MT. Allen to put on his war paint ana now he is working to interest all of the Grano H Army posts Tn seeing that justice Is done He will make 1t his special business 10 call al all of the c. A. R. posts and he has no doubt that the influence of the old sol diers will be sufficient to get Major Long to consider the rights of the white people who need work, as against the Chlnese and the contractors who are doing "skinning" business on the soldiers gar ments.
 He added that he knows that the Gov ernment does not approve of the contract system as 1t is followed here. Heretofore this work has been done by direct dealing with the people who perform the labor. In his efforts Mir. Allen will cooperate with the Labor Commissioner and endeav or to effect such changes as will give the work where 1t will do the most good. The State official Is continuing the registration of all women who desire to secure this kind of employment, and 1t is surprising how many have applied for a chance t. seventy registered their names, and yes terday the number was Increased by about sixty.
 perience in sewing and will be onIy too glad to secure enough to keep the wolf away from the door. While many are the wives and widows of the old soldiers, there Is also a surprising number who have relatives in the present war and who are hard pressed for the common necessares of life. A great many have applied by letter and several of these let ters are indeed pathetic. Commissioner Fitzgerald does not think that 1t will be necessary for those who are interested in the movement to hire a place where a factory can be established. Most of the applicants for work have home duties that would prevent them from going to factory to work. and 1t Is argued that there Is no necessity for them to do so. as the matter of getting employment can be arranged through committees from the ested bodies. The Home Helpers will meet at Metropolitan Temple, this evening u be to see p if Major Long viii coooperate at, with them in giving the work to white women and not to contracting firms. who good, but if the Helpers are not successful a mighty effort will be made to get the situation presented before the War De- partment at Washington through the Pa cific Coast representatives, who are to ar rive from the capital in a few days.
 According to reports made at the Labor