New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-27
W0MAN'S TRADE UNIONS.
Samuel Gompers addresses Meeting
to Foster Plan.

The first national conference on American soil to
consider the problem of women in industry was
held yesterday afternoon in Berkeley Lyceum. No.
ls West 4th-st The executive board of the Woman's
Trade Union League called the meeting, which was
presided over by Samuel Gompers president of the
American Federation OF Labor. Every seat was
hlled and chairs had to be brought in TO acconmo-
date the crowd, which was composed OF men and
women well known in social and philanthropic
work With Mr.. Gompers ory the platform were
MISS Jane adams. head worker at Hill House
Chicago; Miss Margaret Driee. president of the
New-York branch of the Woman's Trade Union
League; Miss Gertrude Barnum. organizer Of the
league; Miss Lillian Valid head worker at the
Nurses Settlement; Mrs. Mary O'sullvan, ex-
national organizer OF the Woman's Trade Union
League. and Miss Mary Mcdowell of Chicago
President Gompers. who spoke on THE Need and
Value of Organization for Women Workers" said
in part:
40 appeal ever made to thinking people should
49, more Fe4dy hearty and generous response
cation Of women workers. It is not charity 1t is
position to help themselves what Working - ra ae
ana women want is less charity and more rights
what they want is higher wages the establish
ment of the normal workday of eight hours and
better sanitary conditions In the factories and IN
I pray you don't let this organization Of work
vogue for a day a year. and then pass out Of
greater INJURY to the working woman than to in
spire hopes of organization and then, the fad worn
ployers It is a work Of love and of sacrifice but
the satisfaction of seeing the transition that will
its own reward. Don't divert the work Of your
enough to do to stick to the middle OF your road.
TIT has become almost the fashion to be op-
tinistic," said Miss Adams, the next speaker,
''and to say that everything is all right. Such a
cheap and shabby optimism can become, believe.
the most serious Of social deterrents. The introduce
ton of large numbers of women into industry is
i
they are wisely used in these changed conditions.
The way to find out these conditions is to work
for few months in factory but to have friendly
relations with the people who work in them year
after year. This spiritual relationship would quick
| ly change conditions and would be reason
able righteous basis, where it would be considered
as respectable for woman to pack crackers in
factory to work in a woollen mill as it was
for graDdnothers to bake bread in their own
| kitchens or to weave at their own looms
Mrs. O'Sul1van. who has been a working woman
most of her life. in her address said that there
were three classes Of women employed-tAe self
supporting woman, the woman with responsibilities
and the married woman who works for pin money.
| MANY of the married women in industry" she de-
clared -go in with the intention Of never having
| children. These women are not only an economic
disgrace, but their very presence poisons the at
| Inosphere OF the workshop Women who work to
dress better offer their labor cheaper than the SELF
supporting woman other with response
should step in and say. 'Stopi"
I'VE have been deferred from any systematic and
persistent effort to better condition workers
because Of the feeling that employment is but
a temporary expedient, from which we hope to be
released by marriage To large degree this shall
/ always continue to be true, yet there can be no
question as TO position in the Industrial world
! Women Of opportunities owe much to the workers
who give them a large part Of what they have and
enjoy"
Irba following officers for the VVouanss Trade
Union were elected; President Mrs. Ellen NJ. Hem
rotin. Of Chicago; vice-presidents. Mrs Mary Nor
ton Kehew, Of Boston: Miss Jane Adams and
| Miss Margaret Haley: recording secretary, Miss
O'Reilley; corresponding secretary, MrS- Mary K
| O'Sulnvani treasurer, Miss OHBrien.
After the meeting J. G. Phelps Stokes, who In
the audience offered the resolution stating that Ait
is tbs sentiment of this meeting that public opinion
should support the efforts OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and OF the Woman's Trade Union
| TO organize the women wage OF this coun-
try into various trades unions fer individual and
social Improvement" The resolution adopted
| by unanimous vote.