The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-12
GOOD WORk.
An ALLY OF UNION LABOR TO BE
FORMED BY. WOMEN.


ing Girls-Will Endeavor to Abo-
lish the Sale of Tenement House
and Sweatshop Products by Call
inl: for the Union Label.
Duluth will have labor or
ganizat ton of women in the very near
future. 1t is not going to be confined
to working women, or the wives
and relates of union men. 1t will ad-
nit to membership every woman who
will subscribe to the constitution and
bylaws Of the society.
Mrs. Ida M. Thompson has the mat
ter in charge, and she VIII be aided and
assisted by the wives of many promi-
nent trade unionists of the city, Mrs.
Thompson has been deputized by the
State Federation Of Labor, as special
organizer for this particular work.
It is hard to tell wnat name may be
given to the society. It may be called
the Women's Friendly Society, or may
be the Womens Labor League, but
what's in name so long as we
know the aims of the organization?
Every member will agree wherever
it is possible, to buy nothing but goods
bearing the union label. Will it not be
a nice thing to know that the good wo
men of Duluth are not wearing shoes
made in state prisons or by poor UNDER
paid factory girls in the east? They
will cause a large demand for union
labeled products. When they discover
that the only guarantee that shoes are
made under fair conditions, that the
girls engaged in their manufacture
were paid a descent living wage:
IL when they bear the union
salsh HUI Il !, iS Il ]lIlas 8 8
women otf I Dnlut ii bring about this
condition Will It not be- the result Of
true Christian work? It is the kind of
work that will bring pleasure and re-
lief to thousands of tired hearts.
The supposed Christian act of the
lady who on Sunday morning drops a
piece of gold on the plate for slum work
in the large cities, and who on Monday
morning visits a bargain counter and
purchases for almost nothing, some ar
ticle made with the tired hands of one
of the girls she gave the piece of gold
to help the day before, who is sewing
her life blood away to get part of a
living and depending upon charity for
the other part, will pale away when
compared with the true practical
Christian work that Will be done by
the members of this society. They will
not attempt to do charitable work, but
rather see that the girls get justice
done them. When the manufacturers
see that there is no market here for
their sweatshop or tenement house pro-
ducts and that their goods must bear
the union label they will Immediately
make an effort to get the label. Or
ganizers will go among the girls; un-
ions will be formed; better wages will
Immediately be paid; shorter hours of
labor will be worked, for they cannot
get the label without these conditions.
The girls will not have to appeal to
you for charity then, for they will be
self-sustaining. Maybe you will have
to pay a trifle more for the goods then,
but add the present cost to the money
then compare that sum with the in
creased cost of union label goods and
you will be money ahead at that.
The society will make a special effort
to get all the servant girls, shop and
factory girls in the city to join the or
ganization. It will study their condi-
>tions and endeavor to better them. Some
of the most prominent ladies in the city
are interested in the movement and will
give it their support. These ladies
want to do some practical work. They
know the conditions of the working
girls, they study them at their clubs
They say that they have sympathized
long enough. Sympathy will not solve
the question. The time for action is al
hand. So they intend to work and
work hard. $5
A great deal will be expected from
the wives and relatives of union men
If the organization. succeeds, as it's or
ganizers expect, it will be the banne,
organization of the city. It will dc
! more good for union labor than all the
agitators in America. Once get the
women thoroughly aroused and yor
have powerful element working
| They are sincere in everything they dt
and sincerity counts for much. .5@ -.
They will make the retail clerks show
their working card, that's something
the union men will not do. Let ever,
woman in Duluth join this organiza
ton. Announcement will be made soor
of the first meeting. For futher parti
| culars inquire Of Mrs. Ida Thompson
Woodland, or the Labor World office
Organized labor elected all the can