Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-28
GOOD WORD FOR WOMEN.
Wrfter Says They Are Not Treated
 Justly in Labor Matters.

Justly in Labor Matters.
 The magnates whose millions and power are the forces of the period, do not need my voice says Marie Van Vorst in Golfers, but the woman of the mills has no one to speak to her.
 Is 1t 1t patronizing to say that there are humane and noble men among the employers? Beyond doubt there are. Ignorance must be their excuse, com bined with the fatal indifference for the sufferings of others that too great luxury is sure to bring.
 The manufacturer calls the condi- tinons of the mill hands necessary evils" God help them then, employer and employed.
 They see they have strong point when they compare the mill-girl's present life with her backwoods ex- istence. The mill-girl of the back woods had no ident1ty-she was child of nature. The manufacturer has made her factor of progress. Is there any just reason why the wheels Of com merce should break these creatures as they coin millions for the individ- ual?
 If I am told by the mill people of the south that my voice is not needed, that they are content with their slav- cry and their poverty, 1t will be no dis illusion to me. should consider that state of affairs less wholesome, less prophetic of good, than an active dis content. Nothing can cloud this vis- ion have had of modern slavery nothing can change my point of view.
 Perry (the little town whose picture was by far the cheerfulest of all the volume of '.The Woman Who Toils'') has risen In arms against the truths which stirred MT Roosevelt to write his noble letter. A certain southern city would esteem my life very lightly If I should enter 1t under my own name
 The poor creatures of the mill set dement's are likely to never see the words I have written about them But message was sent me, through 2 poor, hard-working man, from the la borers at a certain trade in a promi- nent southern city, to the effect: 'Tell her that when they insult her through the state papers, and when the rich are all against her, that the poor are with her." This is one of the most valued messages I have ever received. What work requires more spectaliz- ation, more continuous and tactful at Itention. than the handling of the labor question? And yet upon whom does this delicate and difficult problem ac- ltually fall? Is 1t handled by g depart ment composed of men specially fitted for this question by their education. broad study of labor. and knowledge of labor conditions all over the coun- try? Men selected for their fair-mind- edness and practical experience in handling large bodies of men, and of such character as to gain the conf dence of the workmen? Men of ex- perfence- in making labor contracts, who know where the rights of labor end and the transgression of the rights of capital begin, even according to the union constitution?
 No! this is seldom the case. The ac- tive, actual, everyday working policy of handling labor, that part that is vii tai to the working man and the manu- facturer, is dictated not by him but by his foremen.
 The perintendent is usually so 1OduGu uOWu WIlu I6SpUUSIDuLElGS dUQ duties that it is practically impossible for him to give this subject the close attention it deserves. Again. he is of ten in the same condition as the higher officials. He Is seldom in close touch with the workers. The foremen who are experimenting the departments are exercising the direct and conse- quently the real potential influence over the men for good or bad. No matter what the manufac acturer may de- sire to do for his men. no matter what his actual policy may be, their feeling toward the firm is governed more by their feeling toward the man who has them in daily control than by any other factors. If this man is weak, the workmen will impose upon him and the company. If harsh unjust, or inclined to 'play favorites.' they will be dis contented. The foreman will either augment or annul the effect of any good action or purpose of the employ er.-C. U. Carpenter, in The Engineer ] ing Magazine for April.