New-York tribune., 1905-03-27


10 the first meeting shy, dstrustful. hopeless. It
was an odd group Of men-some had grown old
In the business and others were just beginning;
four languages were spoken. the least Of these be-
ing English All were dependent upon the en-
Qoyment agency for their living. and some had
many little hungry mouths to feed and consider
father could claim eight OF these They came
together. each with the idea that he must protect
himself and his business. and yet must live; but
they started with common principle, that the
best way 10 do this the honest way and by
raising their standards Beyond this few had
gone. The struggle for existence the East Side
IS sharp that ethics TO many must become prac-
teal, the fine theories losing their sway.
Dependent on the agency for living. in the midst
OF unfair competition and petty robbery by boarding
house keepers. with cadet and greed for
the green girls money and body every side of
them the task they had set before them indeed
great and required courage. They asked questions
which many might fear TO answer: What we
q body of poor men, do? Do you not know that the
great majority Of servants for restaurants, hotels
and houses OF questionable character are brought
from the East Side? Who else viii come here and
patronize us?"
For three stormy meetings there was a battle
between the self and community interests. In the
end the standards which they set for themselves
far exceed anything which could have been hoped
for. and IL some fall by the waysde in attempting
reach IT, IL still stands testimony Of splendid
courage These standards are embodied in their
constitution. which strikes at the very OF the
evils of the East Side employment agencies system
There are only twelve Of a hundred more
but they announced in their constitution their OBJ
sects TO be "to comply with the law: to furnish
employees at such wages their ability warrants;
TO protect honest and reliable employees from going
10 immoral places; TO discourage unworthy compe
ton between agencies; TO cooperate with all rea-
bic agents. and TO restrain dishonest agents"
Think what this intelligence enough to
meet the requirements Of law intricate and
as yet understood by few; second. TO turn away
girl (who might bring them q So fee) If she asked
for exorbitant wages. which her competency did
not warrant; then the courage to tell dishonest
employer or procurer for immoral place that
they could get girls there; then. that they them
selves would employ honest methods Of competition
and would restrain dishonest agents. What a war
OF petty 5ealousies series of lies storm of protests
and of pIeadings they foresaw and have actually
endured They have been misunderstood. accused
OF conspiracy, told they cutting the throats
OF their fellows" threatened cajoled, offered brtbes
20 leave the association. bribes to get others in
ana all because in a simple way they have said:
I'VE viii try to do a clean. honest business our
selves encourage you TO do the same, and expose
you you not. To carry out such ideals requires
machinery. and they first appointed investigating
committee. which looks up all applicants for men,
bership. and complaint committee. which investi-
gates all charges Of immortality and violations Of
the law In addition the association has employed
q counsel, Z. l. Gottlieb, who has three duties-to
explain the law and instruct the members how
70 keep their registers. etc. and otherwise obey the
law; defend them If they charged with viola
tons. and TO make complaints against other agen-
cies. ANY member who violates the rules OF the
association may be fined expelled. and the
pf an expelled member must be published.
The rules OF this association. more than anything
else. show the evils against which they are strug
Cling They refuse TO accost girls IN the streets.
Most OF the agents who not members OF the
association have runners. who literally drag un-
willing helpless immigrant girls in from off the
street. compelling them TO register and take places.
n
this must suffer through this competition.
They have limited their Office hours from a. m.
% Z ?. m and are making a determined stand
against runners accosting girls and bringing them
into the Office late from to Il O'Clock at
night. Some girls taken to places by runners
late as 10 or II o'clock. Any employer knows that
no private family respectable hotel or boarding
house viii take an ernploye at that hour. This
night placing is OF the great blinds for the
cadet. and the night employment agency is one
source OF evil
They insist that records shall be kept of lazy.
immoral and incompetent help" and these lists are
interchangeable. No member Of the association
VIII send such employees TO places. Employes
viii be sent only for wages which their ability
warrants. Can the householder ask for fairer
treatment? To the agent this often means that ne
sees such an applicant go across TO his neighbor
who IS not an association member. and pay q dol
lar for e place which she can never keep. Many
Immigrant girls, just from Europe who apply
have been coached TO esk for high wages. To
sueh the association agents say: you nave no eN-
perience. training OF knowledge OF the language;
II is impossible for TO say you have and ger
such wages you ask, sB a month All
right" says the unscrupulous agent, come over
here; will get you SIS whether you are worth
Il or not" These men do not understand that they
are handling a large economic question; they ony
kncw II is not flair"
These association members viii not pay the fee
levied by boarding house keepers. The boarding
house keeper is queen Of the East Side servant
girls" She lodges girls, sometimes ten TO iohI-
teen in z room; she tells them when TO so 10 work