Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-13
GIRLS ARE COMING IN.
ARE RESPONDING TO CIRCULARS OF
THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU.
A LETTER RRox The BUREAU
...rr.uccs That white Girls Never
work I'm Factories With Nesres'-
es-Attitude of Labor
Christian Work Among the Girls.

Much comment was caused yesterday
by the publication exclusively In the Dis
patch of the statement to the effect that
there are now employed I'm a cheroot fac
tory of Richmond 100 coored women.
At the Girls Employment Bureau OF
the Young Mems Business Association
IT was feared that the publication OF the
article in question might throw obstacles
In the way OF the efforts of the bureau
to induce Virginia white girls to come to
Richmond and work In factories. 1t was
thought the girls would be deferred from
doing so by the fear that they would
have to work in factories with colored
girls. Such is not the case. In no fac
tory In Richmond are white and colored
they Will never do so.
A LETTER FROM THE BUREAU.
Mr.. Lewis w. Burwell, secretary Of the
Bureau for the Employment Of Virginia
Girls writes the Dispatch az follows re-
garding the publications:
Bureau for the Employment OF
Virginia Girls.
October L. 1899.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
The article in tho Dispatch Of this date.
and headed, Employ Negro Girls-One
Hundred ut Work in Richmond Cheroot
Factory" is well calculated to cast a re-
lection on the Young Mems Business
Association, as this Office has been estab-
lished by them, and we are advertising
throughout the State that situations IN
our factories await their white girls)
coming. But many country girls will feel
that possibly they will be given situations
as promised. but have to associate with
the Afro-Amerlcans making cheroots.
l write this letter to assure them thai
such is not the case. In none Of the
cheroot factories of my acquaintance
land ! thought knew them alb are there
any but white girls employed. A NUM-
Der of citizens have interviewed me to-
Cay in regard to the article in question.
az well as regretted Its publication, be-
cause OF It's admitting of wrong con-
struction.
Your article also states THAT they
meaning the white girls) arc not re-
spending 10 the appeals being sent out
to them (the white girls) by the Young
Mems Business Association Bureau" In
reply to this, do not propose to banter
words. but simply to say your reporter
has been misinformed.
LEWIS w. BURWELL,
Secretary.
The bureau has been IN existence only
a few weeks. OF course, IL cannot be ex-
pected to reach the climax of success in
so short a time The work is growing
every day. A day rarely passes in which
places are not secured for several girls.
The number each day is all the time i'm
creasing.
ATTAINS GREAT PROPORTIONS.
The work is attaining far greater pro-
portions than was ever expected. Not
only is Secretary Burwell obtaining en-
ployment for the girls, and finding them
homes. but there is a concerted move
ment being inaugurated by several Chris
tan women OF Richmond TO establish
home for workingg where they can
obtain board for 81 per week and have
thrown around them when not at work
all the safeguards and good influences or
the homes they have left These ladies
have conferred with Mr.. Burwell. OF
course. he will give to them every assist
ance in his power.
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES.
The girls who come to tAs city are be-
ing given the advantage o. Christian In
nUences Mr.. Burwel mak-s 1t point 10
go to as many of their OOardng-houses
as he can, and take them TO the sunday
schools Of their choice and INTRODUCES
them. He then gets the members OF the
church, and the pastor, OF course. inter
csted. and they call to see the girls.
When girls come to the bureau, immedi-
ately on reaching the city, ii Is practlee
OF Mr. Burwell to learn the church OK
their choice. He at once telephones or
sends a message to a pastor OF the sect
the girls prefer. and often the minister Is
a caller when they have been III tleir
clearinghouse only few hours
A list of clearinghouse is kept at the
bureau Mr.. Burwell has made careful
selection. and is assured that he mas
homes for the girls where they VIII De
subjected to the best of influences
Mr. Burwen has contracted with the
Richmond Transfer Company to transfer
girls coming to Richmond from the sta
tion 70 boarding houses az % cents each'
the same for each trunk, hand-Dagsdss
| free. He has had q contract oil TINS char-
acter printed which he mails 10 eaeh
girl who writes him she is coming 10
Richmond The girl is Instructed 10 ''"hu
tho contract to the agent OF the coflpans
when ne boards the train, snort us
tance from the city.
UNION MEN NOT HELPING
1t seems that there IS no Likelihood Oh
| the labor unions Of the city encouraging
the country girls to come to Richmond
Many OF the members think the sitis
cannot make enough in the begihhihs
] TO support themselves comfortably. IN
| this connection the fact is pointed GU.
| that the girls earn only 50 per week. IL
is a fact that many girls in Richmond
factories earn more than that sum. FRO
| badly 50 a week is an average rms
| leaves s. a week for clothing and other
EXPENSES after board is paid. The gen.
| tlemen who established the bureau
| thought this better than remaining at
home. where they earn nothing.
| The Clgarmakers' Union mas maze
strong efforts to have the factories en-
pioying girls pay the union scale. Such
movements have never been in any way
successful so far as can be seen, though
they may yet bear fruit. Until the girls
receive union wages they cannot receive
| the aid Of the union Indeed IL -
| thought By many of the union cigar
| makers that the employment of girls In
| tobacco factories IS a disadvantage 10
| the men. as it brings down wages