Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-28
A NEW PARTY.

According 10 report IN the ST. Louis |
World. new political party was
formed the other day In that city. The
meeting at which the new movement
was started was not very web attend.
ed, but II Is thought possible that the
principles discussed will gain attention
In due time.
The father OF the new party l. a
young man named George Higgins. In
his opening address he explained that
the new party would endeavor to OBJ
tain reform IN the economic conditions
OF the people. He explained that in st.
Louis there are now over $4,000 men
idle or wording for miserably low
wages, because young women and little
girls are being employed at still more
miserable wages. The result Is, he
said. that there are about 200 men for
every Job offered to them. A great
number Of women are willing to work
for nothing. and greedy employers are
taking advantage of that fact.
He further stated:
III you 60 downstairs and stand on
any corner OF Franklin avenue you
will shortly see hundreds-nay, thou
sands-of poor little girls, some OF them
only 10 and IL years OF age, walking
home from their employment They
have been working hard In dry goods
stores from Z o'clock this morning until
IL o'clock tonight Their compensation
for these sixteen hours OF arduous Ia
Dor Is at the rate OF about 28 cents
per hour. Most Of these poor little
child-women receive about sl.b0 n week
for their nerye-hlling labor II II Is
permitted 10 go on for another ten
Years. there win be no women lett IN
our country capable Of becoming moth.
ers. There will be no men left either
for with l0-year-od girls taking theil
places they win all have starved TO
/ death. There are 10000 young women
| and young girls employed IN this city
Inv the different dry goods stores, cloth
ing factories and other makers and
| dealers In wearing apparel. There are
| 20 900 others employed IN factories OF
other descriptions These 60 O0O young
| females are supposed TO provide them
selves with food, lodging and good
| clothing and keen their virtue on an
average salary Of $500 a week. Our
houses OF il-fame are recruited mostly
from the classes have mentioned GOD
help theml say l."
The new party Is formed for the pur-
pose Of remedying these conditions
But how? Shall women by law be pro-
hibited from earning a living? Must
there be no alternative for the young,
dependent woman but charity The
case Of the woman who has a home
and friends to support her, and who
works merely for the sake Of getting
money TO spend on amusements and
extravagance needs no consideration
but what OF others who must work for
q living?
IL Is admitted that the circumstances
that force so many young women TO
seek employment outside the home, are
dealorable. and II Is perhaps well that
the matter is brought TO general at
tenton. 1t was recently shown by
census statistics that about twenty-five
per cent Of the women in this country
counting all above the age OF ten years
are employed in gainful occupations.
In Boston over 30 per cent are so EN-
ployed. In New York and Philadel.
phia. the percentage is about ~ In
some places II reaches the high figure
Of Al per cent. 1t Is evident that some
thing is wrong, when the heavy bur
dens Of life are shifted over to tender
shoulders. as Is the case among saw
ages and some half-clvilized nations
But what, under present conditions, II
the remedy? IL would be idle to dis
cuss the merits or dement's of thu
clas-s OF the ST. Louis reformers, un
III they make their plans known L
the public.