New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-28

,x i. subtect that has caused leaders OF organi1eo
labor much thought in the last few years ana -
likely to become a still greater problem In the
future Even In the allied trades OF puecherins
and packing Ghe most unlikely fields for women Is
activities) the competition is sufficient 10 nave
aroused the suspicious of organized labor
At the present time 1900 women are employed IN
the Chicago stockyards. the number having almost
doubled in the last year. Women using knives ana
steels have always been denied membership in the
Butchers Union. but recently the union has gone
further and demanded that the women engaged In
that occupation be replaced by men.
"I have seen women standing in a pool of blood.
with arms barred to the elbows. cutting open hogs
heads while the flesh was still qulvering." Kansas
City butcher told Mr.. Grant. This spirit Of COM
ercialism is going too far when It calls that wom-
ans work. he added.
Less than half of the two thousand women who
find employment in the Chicago stockyards.'' Mr..
however, the majority being engaged in painting
and labelling cans. wrapping and packing soap and
butterine.
ITO such work the butchers make objection.
But the number engaged in the less pleasing occu-
patton is gradually being increased. Last summer
the sausagemakers at the stockyards went on
strike. The strike was not sanctioned by the
national officers of the organization, and when the
men refused TO return to work the packers pro-
ceeded to fill their places with The
had struck without authority. The women are at
work to-day. filling, linking and trimming sausage.
The men seeking work What wages the
women are being paid is known only to them
selves and their employers. They are Lithuanian
peasant women Few speak the English Ian
guage. To organize them would be practically i'm
possible, even were 1t advisable which the union
oficlaIs do not believe But at frequent intervals
a few men are laid Off and a few more women
hired. Can the union stop the innovation?'
Mr.. Grant goes on to give a number OF other
Illustrations OF the way the modern woman Is
poaching on what has hitherto been mans peculiar
preserves.
The Franklin Union OF Prosecutors went on
strike nearly year ago for increase in wages.
The places OF the taken by girls at about
one-halt the wages the men had been receiving.
inc employers say that the experiment has proved
success not alone by reason of the reduced cost
OF operation but also by the increased OUTPUT
| The girls have proved more efficient than men
The strike Is still on. SO that allowance must be
made FOR the statement OF the employers but oue
In a Is certain the work Is being done by girls
| Wltnn the last year messenger boys in Boston
places we're ed BY girls In tho SS'h
the Chicago eSncern told me. The girls are more
look at windows so much -
One would hardly expect to find women at work
| IN a brass foundry Like "A slaughter houss a
foundry seems out OF woman's sphere Bur in Chit
ployed coFmaers in BRASS foundries T sT DO m.
work as wen as men, and at much lower wages.
, shops making horse nails. In can factories thew
ployed in shops and factories w OF be women e
.athet tnan diminished In the future seems certain
10 result In legislation being enacted makinS ~
more diricult for cheap foreign labor 10 come 20
our shores That will offer still greater onnortunI
ties Ior women Increased opportunities FOR women
The move OF the stockyards butchers co,auo,.,
under the guise OF sentiment, but in reality a
measure or self-protection. may prove the FORE
| runner OF similar moves the part OF Other
unions. Mr.. Grant predicts The striking mes
| senger boys n few months ago In letter 10 tba
public press appealed 10 the mothers OF the girls
who were taking their places urging them 20 Keen
their daughters out OF the messenger seryf~s o.,
moral grounds Only in few directions has mis-
open opposition 10 girls been shown but n is Ike
! 10 appear IN many before long. As woman ente-s
new fields and men displaced the feeling ~
! opposition viii grow. The unions have been com
peHed to restrict the number OF apprentices
! IN skilled trades TO prevent overcrowding as yar
as possible. They may soon find ID necesssTv ~
limit the sphere OF womaR's activity. for the same
! reason. At present the agitation Is to organize
women and secure for them equal wages with
men for equal work performed. But that polIcy,
/ Is meeting with only q very limited measure OF
success -