The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-04
500 CIGAR GIRLS
STRIKE BECAUSE
LEADER IS FIRED
Lewis Company Employees In
sist That Vice=President OF
Their Union Be Reinstated.
SUPERINTENDENT SAYS
THERE'S NOTHING DOING
Members of united and Ladies'
Protective Association Declare
They're Fighting for Principle.

Five hundred girls employed by the
Lewis Cigar Company, of Bank street
and Morris avenue, are out on strike
because Miss Sadie Silverman, of liz
Barclay street, vice president il the
United and Ladies' Protective Asso-
ciation,' was discharged by Lyman
Lewis, superintendent of the cigar
company. The girls decided today that
they would insist upon the reinstate-
ment of Miss Silverman, averring that
she has been discharged because of her
loyalty to the association, and that she
has been unjustly Disseminated
against. At the roll-call today in the
hall, 8 Prince street, it was found that
every girl employed in the rolling and
packing departments had left, as well
as about twenty-five young men not
affiliated with the protective associa-
ton"
The striking committee, comprised of
the Misses Margaret Secoben, Ida Craft
sen, Teenie Eli. Belle Seigel Celie earn
and Loretta Bennett, was authorized
to use all possible endeavor to adjust
matters amicably, but above all to be
firm in demanding the reinstatement of
Miss Silverman. Once previously the
services of Miss Silverman had been
mittee succeeded in bringing about her
reinstatement.
Hyman Lewis, superintendent of the
factory. says that he will not under
any conditions restore Miss Silverman
to her position and that she has been
discharged for insulting him.
"These girls are fighting for a prin-
ciple," said Miss Silverman today. "I
am sorry that the trouble Is all over
me, but I know that the Lewis Cigar
Company does not believe in our or
ganization. They believe that we
should not attempt to enter into any
discussion which would lead to our bet
terment. OF course am an officer in
the association and all the girls believe
that l have been singled out to be
made an example of and to deal q
death-bow to the organization.
A meeting of the girls was held last
night, and addressed in Hebrew by the
president, Miss Ida Krafzos. 1t was
said the girls were assured of all the
financial assistance necessary. All
make good wages and dress well.
The officers of the United and La
dies Protective Association" are: Presi-
fdent, Miss Ida Krafzos; vice-president,
Miss Sadie Slverman; recording secre-
tary Miss Rose Glllet: financial secre-
tary, Miss Justin Eller: sergeant-at-
arms, Miss Tillie Schnbrum
'Now that the girls have been so
unreasonable we will take back whom
we please, and when we please" said
A. l. Lewis, manager of the Lewis fac
tory, to a reporter for THE EVENING
STAR. 1--WE are entirely satisfied to
have them remain idle, and we will take
advantage of the opportunity to con-
vert our surplus stock into capital The
girl Sadie Silverman was discharged for
one reason, because she insulted the
superintendent of the factory but the
strike was caused by Ida Krafzos and
Teenie ELI. purely through selfish mo-
tives. They believed that they were
to be discharged, creation of their
minds. and to protect themselves they
called the girls out on strike.