New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
FACTORY INSPECTOR CRITICISED.
SPEAKERS AT A CONFERENCE MAKE BITTER
REMARKS ABOUT Mr.. WILLIAMS.

SPEAKERS AT A CONFERENCE MAKE BITTER
REMARKS ABOUT MR.. WILLIAMS.
The majority OF persons who were present yes
terday at the conference held in the guidroom Of
St Stephens Church. in West sixty-ninthst, eX-
pected to hear only a discussion about the work
ings OF the State Factory law which went into e.
feet few months ago. But they were greatly sur
prised as some of the speakers made many bitter
remarks about State Factory Inspector Williams.
There were present representatives from nearly
all the leading clothing unions in this city. and
besides members Of the Church Association for the
Advancement Of the Interests Of Labor the Con-
sumers' League. Of which Mrs. Frederick Nathan Is
PRESIDENT; the University Settlement Society the
Greenpoint Settlement. the Social Reform Club and
the Women's Industrial Organization. Deputy FAC
tory Inspectors Nicely and Flanagan were also
present The Rev. F. j. Clay Moran, who is chair
man Of the Sweatshop Committee Of the Church
Association for the Advancement OF the Interests
of Labor was chairman. He said that he had In
vited State Factory Inspector Williams to attend
the meeting and had written to him asking for
certain information regarding the sweatshop sys-
tenn but had received no word from Mr.. Williams
Then he went on 10 say that the fifth In some Oh
the sweatshops In this city was worse than in
any sweatshops in the Old World, and added that
in q shop in which uniforms for the United States
| Army were made the most unsanitary conditions
| existed He said he had told Governor Roosevelt
about the shop in which the uniforms were made,
and the Governor had sent him word that his
| letter had been referred to Mr.. Williams, who had
| not as yet paid any attention to the matter, so
| far as Mr.. Moran could learn. Mr.. Moran was
| followed by Mrs Frederick Nathan, who said she
had received all the information she desired from
| Mr.. Williams. o,,
Louis Levine. OF the United Brotherhood OF Cloak
| makers was the next speaker. He spoke ABOUT
| several sweatshops where the Factory laws were
violated and said he found II utterly useless
| to make a complaint OF the places TO the SUB
| offices OF the State Factory Department lie was
| followed by Mrs Florence Kelly, who was at one
time factory inspector in Illinois. She also criti-
cised the officials of the State Factory Depart,
| ment and Mrs. Nathan once more arose TO defend
| them. Mrs. Nathan said It was unfair to enter
into any criticism Of the heads of that Department
I in their absence. Henry White OF the United
| Garment Workers of America, spoke about the
! ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF the Factory law under dis.
| cussion and the evils OF the sweat shop system,
| and the next speaker, Herman Robinson, spoke or
| the work Of making women's garments for shops
| in Fifth-ave. in crowded tenement houses.
A committee appointed. with Instructions
to gather list of 200 unlicensed places and Verhed
| addresses of unclean shops where garments are
made, for the purpose Of placing the matter before
Governor Roosevelt Mr. White was made chalr-
| man OF this committee, and Professor Gunton was
| chosen chairman of a legal committee. Inc con-
| ference adjourned to January ..