The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-09

DRESSMAKERS PLAN
NATIONAL UNION
st. Paul and Minneapolis Dele
gates Declare for Central
Organization.

Prepriety and decorum and all that
appertains thereto in the slightest detail
was the principal subject of discussion
at the joint meeting yesterday of the
executive committees Of the st. Paul
and Minneapolis Dressrnakers' unions, IN
the ST. Paul Federation hall, although
| seams and tucks. overtime and wages,
were also considered. .7sf-ssss
True to the records of the two cities
and without creating a tiresome excep-
ton to the rule the st. Paul girls stood
for all that the extremist in department
could ask, while the Minneapolis girls
were staunch and true to the Mill City
etiquette.
1t developed early in the meeting that
IN the minds of the young women there
are other subjects of interest to the mem
bership of such unions beyond the merely
formal questions that have at various
times been considered, this having come
about through a discussion Of the pro-
gramme that will be given at the joint
annual outing to be given by the organi-
zation in the near future.
Miss Anna Rooney, the president of the
local organization. held up her hands in
metaphoricaI horror at what did happen
| at like event at Wildwood a year ago,
| and was supported by the St. Paul con-
tingent, while the Minneapolis girls were
| led by Miss Catherine Shea, the president
of the Minneapolis union, who labored
under the disadvantage of occupying the
| chair bVt received the united support of
| the Minneapolis contingent.
But we surely will not have tug-of-
| war contest this year" was the way in
which Miss Rooney introduced the sub
| ject.
"Of course. we ought to-" was the an
| swer of Miss Shea.
| And why in the world should we not?"
asked the Minneapolis girls in chorus.
Shocking commented the ST. Paul
girls. one adding, IF they do, I certain
| ly shall not attend
/ In incoherent sentences the objections
| of the ST. Paul girls to the tug -of-war
I came out. Just at the wrong moment
the, rope had broken and there was
VIII Have Tug of-War.
| TT was just dreadful argued Miss
Rooney, and the other st. Paul girls coin
cided by. nodding their heads. why, ;"
| continued Miss Rooney. in her most per-
suasfve tones, I'VE proved to be the show
of the day at wildwood, and I do really
and truly believe that we should abandon
1T was just too funny for anything, ;; :.
| answered Miss Shea, land can see those
girls tumbIing on the grass now at
which the Minneapolis girls laughed and
the st. Paul girls frowned.
Although this disposition was not salts
factory, 1t was decided by majority
| it being evident that there was at least
| one ST. Paul girl who proved recreant
| to Sanity City IDEAS
| ''And that sack race, observed st.
| Paul girl. 1T was ever so undignif1ed to
/ see those girls rolling about on the grass,
and believe that this should be abol-
But the Minneapolis contingent won out
again, and there will be another sack
| race.
About the worst that happened was
| that shoe facing contest" urged another,
| but the opposition to this novel and en-
tertaining contest could command but
Having disposed of the amusement fea-
| ture the members of the committee got
! down to real business and discussed with
| knowledge of the trade the necessity of
! being more strict in charging for altera-
| tions and repairs in dainty dresses and
| lingerie and particularly dwelling upon
| the need of a careful enforcement of the
| rule against the completion Of reception
gowns and ball dresses that are not
| brought into the shops within a reasonable
| time before being needed; It was shown
that the women of both st. Paul and
| Minneapolis have the neglectful habit
| of delaying an order to the last minute
| and then expecting the dressmakers to
complete the garment in what the dress
| makers term an unreasonable time. AL
though much has been done to correct this
| since the organization was formed further
| Improvement was said to be possible. The
| fact that women of high degree are sub
| jected to a change of mind after having
| compensa ton for the additional work is
sometimes hard to secure was another
evil that received treatment.
| Participation in the Labor day parade
| was discussed and arrangements made
for fine showing, after which the prime
business for which the meeting was called
| was attended TO.
Plan National Union.
| 1t is considered necessary that the
| dressmakers have national union and
| one is to be organized at the earliest
| possible time. The first union was organ
lied in Minneapolis some four years ago
and is therefore No. l. ST. Paul following
the efforts of these unions a few other
cities have been organized and now it has
developed that there is an urgent need for
| a central organiza tion that can enforce
union principles and decide upon the
really true worth Of a seam sewed
and st. Paul unions have a majority of
the members in the country one or the
other of the unions will secure the ma
! tional president, and 1t is fully expected
| that the decorum issue will be brought
| forth and forced to do service in the in
evita BILE campaign. Previous to the or
ganization of the national an organizer
will be sent to other cities and the dress
makers at those points made aware of
what has been accomplished in st. Paul
and Minneapolis.
I Conditions have improved wonderfully
sl1ce we organized, said Miss Shea after
the meeting. 1T was really terrible the
manner in which we were treated pre-
viously. The habit of delaying to place
the order for a gown was so very COM
mon that we dreSSmakeFs We're some
times compelled to work several nights
in succession without extra compensation
All this has changed, and when we do
work overtime we are paid extra All
competent dreSSmakerS in the city are
| eligible to become members"