New-York tribune., 1908-03-07
RICH WOMEN ORGANIZE
Hires and Sisters of Employers to
HeID Feminine Wage Farmers.

An of Us have an influence. and some ef Us
are the wives or sisters OF employers OF large
numbers of factory. operatives, or perhaps our
selves are owners and stockholders in com
panies Should not the woman who spends the
money which the employees help to provide take
a special interest in their welfare. especially in
that of the women wage earners?
These words were addressed yesterday after
noon by Mrs. J. Borden Hartman 10 Group OF
about seventy-fve well known women Of soci-
ETY. xhe had gathered at the Colony Club TO or
ganize New York committee Of the National
Civic Federation.
Welfare work continued Mrs. Hartman
is not charity; q decent, wholesome environ
rnent for the worker has come in this progress
sive age to be part Of the social and civic
obligation Of the modern employer.
The frank recognition Of this obligation on
the part Of employers generally, whether man
ayers. directors stockholders. not only restores
q large measure Of the old personal contact
which was the best feature Of the earlier indus
trial systerns-unfortunately lost sight Of too
often in the tremendous growth of commercial
enterprises-but IL also goes far TO remove the
arrangement and want Of sympathy out Of
which SO much social prejudice. distrust and
class feeling have grown. There IS perha ps no
better artidote for radical attacks upon present
institutions than intelligent, genuine and wisely
directed welfare work.
This proposed woman's committee therefore.
furnishes 70 the women whose cooperation is
invited an inspiring opportunity for practical
humanitarian effort, and at tSe same time for
patriotic public service along the lines most
needed under present day industrial conditions
There is word for every age, and certainly
the werd to-day is Brotherhood: and how
better We live UP 70 the obligations that this
word implies than by trying through this com
rnittee 70 arneiorate the lot Of those less fort
unate than ourselves?"
Mrs Hartman. VINO acted as chairman of
the pleeting, said that the committee purposed
learn from actual practical experience what
should be done, and would then try to secure
improvements through friendly suggestions to
those in power, not through coercive methods.
The committee elected Mrs Archibald Alex
ander chairman, Miss Anne Morgan vice
chairman. Miss c. Y. r. DelaheId secretary
and Mrs Y, Everit Macy treasurer Mrs. Har-
riman accepted the chairrarship of the COM
mittee on the needs Of workers in specific in
dustries. and Mrs. Julia K West that of the
committee on welfare work for government en-
pIoyes.
These committees Will begin work BY inform
ing themselves DIS to the conditions. They will
arrange for addresses by labor leaders. will visit
factories and attend labor meetings.
After the business of organization had been
disposed of Mrs. Hartman introduced Timothy
Healy. president Of the the International sta
tionary Firemen's Union.
Mr. Healy confessed to some past suspicions
about the motives OF the Civic Federation. He
thought az first that II was created to control the
working man in the interests of the employing
class. but he appears TO have changed
his mind. At any rate he has no suspicious Of
the women's movement.
Some of the largest establishments in New
York" said Mr. Healy. are owned by men who
are relatives Of the women prominent in this
movement. These men leave things 20 managers
and superintendents. and there are many evils
Of which they never hear. Their wives can
bring these things 10 their attention"
Edward Gould. president Of the Tearnsters'
Union. invited the women 10 attend The meet
ings of that body and also o'expressed the wish
that they would visit the tenement districts
some hot summer night and see the babies
.gasping for breath in their mothers arms"
In the morning a meeting preliminary to the
formation OF a national wonen's committee
was held at the home of Miss Anne Morgan
The meeting adopted a resolution asking the
National Civic Federation 10 organize a ma
tionaI committee of women. Those present at
this meeting were Mrs. Joseph Medtl McCor-
mick. Chicago; Mrs C. P Orr. Birmingham
Ala: Mrs. Thomas Sherwin. Boston. Mrs. Sam
uel Mather, Cleveland Mrs. Cornelius Steven
son, Philadelphia; Mrs Talcott Williams, Phil
adaIphia; Mrs Archibald Alexander. Hobcker.