The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-31


of 100 breadwinning employments would
furnish bread or clothes or shelter. Occa-
sionally the girls made merry with Mr..
Smiths theories.
where does he live?" a girl in a
bindery looked up to ask.
st. Paul"
well, how big a place is ST. Paul?'
oh a medium-SiZed town"
Now. I'll tell you what it is she re-
marked confidently as she went on past
ing gold leaf. THAT preacher has been
reading about life in a great city and
he's never saw none of it." Others shook
their heads doubtfully and inquired how
many dependent female relatives Mr.
Smith supported, or if he was in any way
connected with a matrimonial bureau or
a home-hnding association.
SHOPS SURPASS THE HOMES.
Conditions among Chicago working
women do not bear out Mr. Smiths theo-
ries. Even the sweating system, which
bore so hard few years ago upon a
small proportion of the very poor
classes, has been abolished in large meas
ure. Ten years of efficient factory in
spection has brought about conditions
more sanitary in the best shops than in
the homes of half the operatives. Again
Chicago wage-earning women in factories
are doing work which in many cases
one form or another has been done al
ways by women. Anything like the hard
labor which twenty years ago was per-
formed by European women in shops, in
mines and on farms is unknown in Chi
caso or in this country. Only per cent
of all the women wage-earners in Chi
cago are married
On Jackson street, at the corner of
Fifth avenue, is factory which is
he. Ia oDlCH Of
In Chicago, Wilson Bros. They employ
between 200 and 800 Women making mems
neckwear and mems suspenders. Il
won't answer Mr.. Smith What he says
is too foolish, and I haven't time said
the head of the firm.
About womens work in general?
Well, We believe in it, not because its
cheaper but because 1t is indispensa BILE
and entirely satisfactory. We can't get
men and boys to sew neckties and knot
them. Men are less skillful, less reliab e
and less patient. Needlework is women 5
work.
Certainly; walk through the factory
and ask the girls what they think about
it. We appreciate their work; they are
intelligent. skillful and good women"
Up stairs, on the ninth floor, about
hundred women were making neckwear
They sat at tables in a long room, lighted
and aired by windows on three sides
Talking and sociability are permitted
and rather encouraged. II like to have
the girls cOntented,' said the forewoman
II for nothing else, they work better
The forewoman is a handsome. gray
haired woman, kindly and bubbling over
with good nature. Her face is young.
probably not more than thirty. although
her hair is white She has worked in
the factory for years and is intelligent
ana refined beyond the majority of wom-
en- in a factory or out of it.
WHAT SOME WOMEN EARN.
The neckties are cut by machinery in
stacks a foot high. This work is done
by men. The ties are then sorted and
distr buted among the stitchers Stitch
ing in a factory does not involve the
treading Of machine by foot for nine
hours at a stretch. The machines are
run by steam, and the operator sets
them In motion or stops them by a
slight pressure Of the foot Her work
consists in guiding the cloth through the
machine. Next to the st.tchers other
girls at long rows of tables sat turning
the ties right side cut. Then cams
the finishing by hand, the knotting
and the packing in boxes. 1t Is all
easy work The room in which the wom-
en- sat was very clean. The light was ex-
cellent. Wash rooms and toilet rooms
buildings. At one end of the room two
negro waitI esses conducted a lunch
counter, where hot coffee and soup and
light lurcheOns can be bought at low
rates. Many Of the women bring their
luncheons from home and buy coffee or
tea. They are allowed from half an hour
to an hour at noon, and go out to eat,
if they choose. An hour after the re-
porter left the factory she met one OF
the employees at a high-priced lunch
room on State street.
How much money do the women
earn?"
From IS % SIS week and some
times a little above $15. Work is done
by the piece. The hours are from s
to ), with half holiday on Saturday, the
year round
What do lou think of Mr. Smiths
theories?" the reporter asked the fore,
woman.
How does he expect these girls to get
a living if they can't work?" she said.
Nearly all of them help support fami-
lies. 1t is q case of necessity. Besides,
they haven't employment at home, and
they practically all live at home. Work
is better than idleness 1t would be a
positive hardship to most of these girls
TO lose their places. They never leave
US unless they marry"
DO many Of them marry?"
The forewoman laughed, and when she
thought of it more she laughed again.
Over dozen on this floor married and
left US last year, and they all did well,
too. No, they don't often marry men in
the factory; they don't get acquainted
with them. Yes, they invariably quit
work and go to housekeeping when they
marry.
SAYS IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN TALK.
Il don't know what denomination Mr..
Smith belongs to- said the fOrewOman
in the Banner waist factory on Canal
street I'm Baptist, and you can
tell him that his talk about turning
women out of work isn't Christian" Mrs.
Blank has worked in a factory for eigh-
teen years and now superintends the
work of 125 women who make shirt
waists and wrappers.
- was left a widow with four children,
and really I donc know how we should
have lived without work I've tried sew
ing at home, and I've worked at all kinds
of sewing. On the whole the factory's
the easiest. I've raised my four children
and educated them well, and they are al!
a cpedit to me. Ore girl is married and
the other will marry s-on. My health Is
good and always has been good
Mrs Blank said that the health of the
girls in the shop is good, and they looked
it.
Il don't know what Mr.. Smith is think-
| ing about,'" said one as she put the fin
ishing touches On a cuff. II have to sup
port my motheT-that is, nv sister and L
do-and that takes work. Who's going TO
support us for nothing?
Huh. does Mr.. Smith imagine that 1
work for fun; nit said another. "A nice
homo n. 70 'IOWr.lDoa Jyc11Id