The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-02
MRS. KELLY TALKS AGAIN.
Members of Unions Hear Her Lecture
at Masonic Hall.

Several hundred members of trades
unions of the city listened last night, in
Masonic Temple, to another interesting
talk by Mrs. Florence Kelly, of New York,
or the results of her personal investiga-
tions among sweat shops and tenement
house workers in Chicago and New York
and the aims and purposes of the Con-
sumers' League.
President John Feltmah. Of Central La
Dor Union. in introducing Mrs. Kelly, said
that thne present were to have an oppor-
tunity Of hearing one who had devoted her
life TO the cause of improving the condition
of lowIy women and children. Probably no
one in this country, he said, has a better
knowledge OF the hard lines of thousands
OF women and children who, i'm the great
cities of the country. exc out a miserable
existence in manufacturing under the most
unhealthful and unsanitary conditions arti-
Cles OF clothing.
Il would like TO ask the women of Indian
apolis to do one thing said Mr.. Feltman.
IF they have an interest in this cause let
them. when they so into a store to pur-
chase clothing. insist that they be supplied
with goods bearing the label Of the Con-
sumers' League. BY that they will help
us more than by anything else they could
do. and they will have the satisfaction of
knowing the articles they are taking into
their homes are free from germs of dis
ease and that they are not saturated with
tears OF the miserable"
Mrs. Kelly's address was along the same
lines as her talk at the Propylaeum Mon
day night. A considerable portion of IL was
devoted TO an exposition of the purposes
and work OF the league which she was in
strumental in organizing. Among other
things worth listening TO she said: when
l was in Chicago. living at the Hull House,
/ made daily visits to the tenement dis
tricts of the city. investigating the sani-
tary conditions and watching closely to
see II any work was being done in the pres
ence of disease. The things l found were
unlovely In the extreme. Men and women,
forced by the necessities Of their lives, were
toiling all day and sleeping all night in the
same rooms. turning their houses into mere
workshops. Whenever possible | saw that
the law was enforced with rigor. II |
found disease / required all articles In the
process OF manufacture to be thoroughly
fumigated before they left the house and
saw that manufacturers and merchants
were forbidden to send more goods to the
same place" She continued with state
ments as TO the danger buyers run in pur-
chasing goods haphazard, not knowing
where or how they were made or whether
there was not absolute risk OF contagion In
wearing them.
Speaking OF the various grades OF pros
perity which she observed among workers
In tenement houses. Mrs. Kelly said she al
ways noticed that cigarmskers were fairly
well TO do. were able to educate their chill
dren and keep their women from working.
In many cases. she said. these igarmaker
had printer brothers who were equally
successful. But in dozens of cases still
other brothers. who were ~tailors. lived a
starved existence, were not able TO afford
their children any advantages and were
forced TO work twice as hard for what little
they got.
In concluding her talk. Mrs. Kelly asked
that personal efforts be made 10 arouse
interest in the work OF the Consumers
League. She will speak for the last TIM
during her present visit TO this city at An
invited gathering in the residence of Mrs.
Sewall this afternoon.