New-York tribune., 1908-07-05

Union of No. East Sth street given out by the
superintendent, Mrs. NJ. ]. Kemp.
Our unemployed women workers are very
brave she said 1T is amazing how they TIDE
themselves over. They seldom mention the straits
to which they are reduced when they come here
to seek work or to get their wages collected for
them. They very proud. Ihey nate oes-
perately TO ask for charity. But we are reason
ably sure that great numbers OF them are hNlhs
on a piece of bread and a cup of tea or coffee a
day They must keep a roof over their heads
They must keep one decent dress TO ask for work
in There is nothing to do but starVe One often
hears of the hardhearted landlady As matter
Of fact many. many landladies have been most
kind to the girls who come here. When the girl
has had a room in her house for a good while so
that she knows her, she has often let her stay on
week after week, and even month after month
waiting till she should get work and be able to
pay up.
MANY women who have always done dressmak-
ing are now beginning TO go out housecleaning and
scruhbing floors The work slack through the
fall it fell off entirely after New Years The wcin-
en- have been living their little savings, on the
help of friends poor themselves. or on credll
from their landadies, as l said How they man
age TO live and bow they keep so brave and cheer
fu1 about il all is mystery to There is dis
tress among actresses, among the chorus girls
chiefly. but also among actresses who nave played
good parts for good salaries. Companies are not
going out on the road. The people are not spend
have turned TO book canvassing. 1t is dreadful
work; walking all day, meeting with constant re-
bluffs in trying to get into the houses, and ~he II
is business for which actresses might be imagined
particularly fitted, most of them have been unable
10 make expenses at it. One who went into country
territory and took orders toilet articles did bet
ter.
INsoLENCE OF EMPLOYERS.
With all this poverty, misery and unemploy-
rnent the women have fight constantly to get the
money due them after II is earned. A widow with
two children, who lives with them both IN one
room had a place examiner In a shirtWalst
house She gave out the work, and examined it
rhe, returned to determine its perfection, and
Maid SO week. They discharged her the day be-
fore Memorial Day, stating that they would have
no further need OF her services Ihis was her
employer's right, but as he discharged her in the
,i5dla of the week he refused to pay her anything
for that week She protested that she was willing
- 1rork tho remainder of the week, and that the
law provided that person hired by the week Is
entitled TO the whole weeks wages ~hen dis
cbsrred during the week The employer replied
that the law made no difference: he had certain
,-,le. for his establishment. He found OUT AFTER
ward that the law came ahead Of the rules OF his
ts,ness and on July sent his check for 80 TO the
union for the woman But since May 80 sne had
b.d ', work and had been deprived OF the use OF
her money and put to endless worry ana walking
to secure il.
The insolence of employers who refuse 10 pay
when they think they are dealing only with pow
srtv stricken woman is often amazing. An r1-
holsterar in Brooklyn had given a certain Souo-
ern woman who came up 10 New forK 10 edah
a living some samples OF wall paper to match WC1h
curtains She matched the paper with material
and made the curtains for which SIS DUE ac-
cording 10 the price agreed upon. On February lS
he boy to her for the curtains, without any
order. She called him up by phone. and he as
Sursd hsr that II - I'll right. and shs Wouio ~