Evening journal., 1904-04-25
PLEA FOR THE
FACTORY GIRL
Unnatural Condition That
Makes So Many Women
and Children Laborers
is NOT PROPERLY CREATED

lis NOT PROPERLY CREATED
The Rev. Robert Arthur Elwood in
Olivet Church last evening preached on
the subject THE Factory Girl" It be-
ing the second in the series on Present |
Day People and Their Everyday Prob |
lens"
His text Matthew 7: y, Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that
men should do TO YOU, do ye even so to
them"
In beginning his sermon Mr.. Elwood
pointed out the scrlptural teaching that
God made woman to be helpmate to
man, not in the sense that she was to
be slave and do all his work. nor on
the other hand to be only an object of
admiration and never work. but to be
a co-partner In bearing the burdens
and enjoying the blessings of life. Mr..
Elwood said that he believed the proper
sphere Of woman's labor in life was as
wife and mother, and while she might
achieve success IN other ways, her
greatest glory and Joy was in the home,
the center of a happy family's affection.
Mr.. Elwood contended further that It
was an unnatural industrial condition
today that made so many women lab
orers, and showed that Of all occupa-
tions held by women today the factor
les of the nation controlled more than
any other. He took occasion to lament
the necessity Of so many little young
girls being compelled to labor in the
midst Of such unnatural conditions both
for their minds and bodies, as untitled
them from ever becoming good wives
and mothers.
There are four words" said Mr.. El-
wood. that are peculiarly significant
+ to every factory worker and tonight as
: bring them to you may we have wis
dom from above in considering them.
2 The first Is Safety the second Santa
; tlon, the third Salary and the fourth
e salvation"
D Under the first Mr. Elwood contended
that the owners of factories should be
q held accountable for any negligence on
D their part to provide for the proper
safety of all their employees in any
! time Of danger THE most Of the fac
h tories and public buildings in this city
D are mere death traps in case OF fire."
said Mr.. Elwood, "and this Is the rea-
< son, because almost all Of them have
e thier fire escapes, elevators and stair
C ways punched right together at one
DAAAts III tdHt VI IRE the fIUWu Is ENll~
gested at one place resulting in broken
e bones and crushed bodies while those
a on the far side of the building, where
there Is no outlet, are caught in the
trap. The building inspector OF this
city should see that no factories or
u office buildings are erected, or those
J. in existence allowed to remain open
until each OF them has their stairs on
e one end, elevator on the other and fire
q escapes on both sides, so as to give
o safety to each employe in the place.
Lack of Sanitation.
q Under the head of Sanitation Mr.. FL
i, wood said one of the curses of the
average factory today is the lack Of
4 proper ventilation, so as to have pure
n air for the employees; this combined
& with the uncleanness OF the floors
n caused by the grease and refuse of the
. work done is enough to cause an epi-
4 demic Of disease. The wonder is that
there is not moIh sickness among fac
tory employees that there is. Each fac
tory in the city should be compelled to
have proper toilet rooms for their EN-
lployes, not the disgraceful affairs that
are in some of them, but comfortable
= lconveniences with all sanitary precau-
. tions. If the owners Of factories in this
1 city would only apply the truth Of this
text to their employees there would be
radical transformation in regard to
their safety and comforts"
Question of Salary.
Speaking about the salaries Of the
factory employees, Mr. Elwood said: 1T
Is a monstrous shame that the factory
employees in this city are paid such
, small wages. According to estimates
: based upon wages paid in factories OF
. this city the girl employees viii not av-
y erage over S4.i0 per week, while in Mas
sachusetts the average wage paid to
= girl employees in the factories is S6.38
y che cost Of living is as high here as
y, there, and the expenses to the employ
: ers along most lines cheaper here than
there, so that II is easy TO see where
e the difference goes-into the pockets OF
the owners. Surely IL this text could
e be worked out in the lives of the fac
r tory owners of this city we would not
= have so many girls selling their honor
= for a living because they are unable tc
e live honestly upon their miserable sal.
aries
In conclusion Mr. Elwood said: "sal.
/. walton is the greatest word of all tC
n both owners and employees. for I'm each
II persons life there comes a time wher
s 1t matters not whether one Is rich OF
poor, owner or employe but the su.
|. preme thought is Am 1 saved?' You
. may have every safety for this life
n every provision that right sanitation
d and salary provide, and yet be most
miserable. Except a man or woman
=, know Jesus Christ as a personal Saw
= iour from the guilt and power OF sin
- as daily companion in everyday life
n as a comforter in sorrow, strength in
n weakness, helper I'm trouble, sharer IN
every JOY then life Is incomplete.
~ LET me point you tonight, employers
: Of your fellow creatures, to this text
A. DO unto others as you would have
,v others do unto YOU and to the Christ
4 as your helper TO perform II. Let me
/, point you factory workers, both mer
u and women, to the gentle, loving Jesus
who is both able andw illing to help all
:. those that come unto Him, and whC
Il has never yet forsaken any that came
to Him."