The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-23
WOMEN WORKERS OF CHICAGO
GAINED MUCH THROUGH UNloNlSM
Sacrificing Women Who Paved the Way For the Powerful
Unions For the Women Wage Farmers Of the
Great Western Metropolis.
Earliest efforts Organize the Women Workers Were At
tended With Great Difficulties Educational Work
in Unonsm Just Begun.

SssSV ~So N@As
went out of existence early In the
eighties. In 1882 a woman's assembly
was formed. Elizabeth Rogers being
presiding officer. was made statisti-
clan, my duty being to gather all pos
sible facts concerning wages, sanitary
conditions Of work rooms, hours Of
labor. and other matters pretaining to
the employment Of women. Our first
'housekeepers," the time not having ar
rived when actual wage-arners Joined
the union.'
This woman's assembly did much ex-
cellent educational work during the
next few years. Many open meetings
were held. Good speakers addressed
the audiences. The members often
spoke or read essays on labor topics.
We also visited workshops and talked
to the employees, sought out abuses,
called the attention Of the public to
them, and in every way possible ad
vanced the interests of working women.
But for many years it was slow work
and we could see but little accomplished
in comparison with our ardent hopes.
To show how little the spirit of fra
ternity among women prevailed In those
days, will relate an incident occurring
in the factory in which I worked. When
the spring work commenced some new
rules and prices were made and rigidly
enforced. They caused a great deal Of
dissatisfaction. The women would gath
er in a corner near me at the noon hour
and complain, protest, and cry, but
without suggesting any practical plan
to~relief, was not particularly dis
gruntled myself, as was doing as we'll
as I usually did, but said to them one
day: why, girls, If you think the new
rules unjust and the prices too low, why
do you not 90 to Mr.. s. and tell him
so? He might change them for you."
"Oh, we don't dare do that! He
might discharge u.s."
''Well you might write down your
grievances sign them, promise to stand
by one another, and send the paper to
him. He won't discharge all Of you."
They approved Of the idea and after
talking it over little longer, asked me
to write out the paper, as they said I
could do it better r@than any Of them. I
agreed, and set down only what they
dictated. The statement concluded with
O. clause that II any were DISCHARGED al
dnld
arou1fd the shop from one to another
quietly One hundred and fifty girls
signed the paper. Four refused: two
because being foreigners they could not
be made to understand what it was all
about. and two because they said, they
were afraid of getting into trouble, and
it was not becoming to ladies anyway"
In little over an hour the paper
completed the rounds of the shop with
out attracting the attention Of the fore
lady, and then one OF the employees,
pretty, young Mrs. Davis, volunteered
to take. it to the office.
Every one stopped work pending the
coming interview with the employer, ex-
cept the four above mentioned and the
pressers. The forelady came down the
aisle to see what was the matter, but
the spectacle Of $50 girls sitting idly by
their machines when there was nothing
wrong with the steam was so unpreced-
ented that she was frightened, and went
back to her table without saying a
word.
Presently we heard Mr.. S. come
storming up the stairs throe steps at
time. Many of the girls turned pale
and took Some work In their hands.
Mr.. S. ordered the steam turned off,
and an ominous silence reigned. He
called the employees around him and
then he commenced TRADE something
like this:
What do you silly hussies mean by
sending me such a paper as dis? Dis is
not ladyljke; dis is shameful. outrage
Gus! When me and my wife hat done
so much for you! We are your, best
friends; We know what is best for you,
and what We can do for you. You hat
been listening to some of dem danger
ous agitators; you should be shamed
nit yourselfs; If Something's does not
suit you, why you not come to me as to
a. friend. and fix 1t for you? My wife,
she lay awake nights thinking what she
can: do for you girls, and dis is de way
you pay her. know who wrote dis pa
per. Nobody here would or could do it
but Mrs. Swank. She has been going to
some of dem bad labor meetings and
dere Is where she got dis idea. She and
her sister, Miss Hunt, may get deir
books and go home. Mrs. Davis and her
sister may do de same. De rest Of you
go back to work and see dat you
behafes yourselfs.'
I tried to say word in my own be-
half, but he would not listen.
You hat been teaching desc girls to
be discontented. and want you here no
more" 90.
However. did manage to say this
much:
"Could make your work hands dis
centented II they had no cause, Mr.. s.?
You commenced your business four
years ago in one large room and you and
your wife lived in one curtained- off
corner Of it very economically. Today
yon may be considered rich and you
live in fine suburban residence. These
girls who have been with you from the
first, expending their youth, health, and
strength in your service, possess not a
penny more than they did IN the be-
ginning. They have had a poor living
in the meantime. and that is all. Where
are all the products of their labor? In
vfSS,r hand0. whv ahn,sId fhov- ha ,cov