The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-15

dividual work the added force which al
ways comes from organized effort"
AS to trades unions. Miss ScUdder writes:
Trades unions are certainly good thing
for women if they are a good thing for
men; and / believe that women can help TO
improve the industrial condition of their
sex more effectively by entering the ranks
of organized labor than in any other way.
To belong TO a trades union 'unseXes'
woman no more than TO belong 10 one or
the women'S clubs popular among the priv
ieged class. Indeed. ii strengthens moro
directly n high feminine ideal. inasmuch
as the primary aim OF the Womans cluD
is usually intellectual self-culture. while
the primary aim Of the trades union Is eth
ical and humane. Nothing more enlarees
the sympathies and uplifts the desires OF A
working woman than 10 belong 10 the right
kind of a trades union, and 10 learn 10
look beyond the personal advantage OF the
moment to the permanent welfare OF al
her comrades in labor
The Boot and Shoe Workers Union lS
found in many parts of the country. IL
numbers thousands and IS especially strong
in the West. l have letter before me
from Miss Emma Steghagen OF the exec
utive board of this union. IL Is dated Chi-
cago. She says that the Womans Label
League is a great help 10 the union. as lts
members are pledged 10 Duy none puI
union-stamped shoes. and all other com
modities which bear the union label. sac
writes that this league is national IN Us
scope and that its mission is 10 educate
trades union mems wives, women workers
and club women up TO the standard or
unionism. This league demands the union
label on every purchase ana Is helplhS
women and children workers TO better con-
ditions.
Miss steghagen says that the Boot and
Shoe Workers Union has woman IN tho
field whose duty II is 10 organize the
women of the trade, and also 10 WoTk Tor
the union label. This organization pays >
per week sick benefits, > a week 10 every
one of it's members on a strike and from
$50 to 800 in case Of death. She says tnat
her union has but few strikes. ana that
staGl lsxrf 4
ton.
AS to women's trades unions Miss Stes-
hagen writes that their objects are a ra-
tional number of working hours. fair wages
and the elimination of child labor she
says that in some parts Of the country the
shoe factories work their hands nine hours
per day and in others ten. PlecewoTk )
most common, and so a week is considered
a medium wage for experienced workers.
In her trade the hours are the same Tor
women as for men. and some women earn
quite as much as the men. She thinks
woman a good striker. but advises strikes
only as last resort She says that o.
ganiZatiOn has greatly benefited Ter trade.
She believes that womens unions viii
steadily grow. and that in time they viii
cover every branch Of woman's work. even
TO the servant girl About 20 per cent. or
the boot and shoe workers are women
THE GLOVE MAKERS.
Among the most interesting OF the
womens trades unions is.shat Of the glove
workers They have branches in Glovers-
Vile. y. Y. in Chicago and in other glove
making centers. Is to this union. have a
litter from Miss Agnes Nestor. a member
Of the executive board OF the international
Glove Workers Union OF America from
which abstract the following:
Glove making consists OF f.ne work and
heavy work. Most OF the fine work Is on
Kid gloves. which are made in the East and
chiefly at Gloversviiie. -. Y. This work
requires considerable skill. and II pays vel.
IL Is done by the piece. and the wages de-
pend upon the speed OF the worker. The
heavy work includes the making OF gloves
OF horse hide. calfskin. buckskin. etc. This
l. mainly done in the West. and is divided
up into different crafts. There Is one branch
known as closing" which is most difficult
TO learn. and which pays best the girls re-
celving % cents an hour FOR IT, Men receive
the same wages"
Miss Nestor writes that the trades union
mas done much Tor the glove workers OF CHI
cage The union there has been organized
only two years and IL has already secured
the "c!osed shop and the Saturday half
nohday during the summer months II has
abolished the system OF paying 50 cents per
week per operator for the use OF steam
power. and has gained other things The
same advantages have been secured IN other
parts OF the country.
Miss Nestor says that IL is as necessary
for woman TO belong TO "A trades union
as II Is for a man. and that IL does not un-
sex woman nor make her masculine. She
writes:
I'VE will keep our womanly dignity
through IL all. We now have our own To-
Gals. We transact our own business and
like as we'll as the men. We are sure that
the time will come when women Will have
the same hours Of work men. and when
they Will receive the same pay for the same
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
Copyright. 1904,