The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-20
GIRLS GIVEN AID
BY RICH WOMEN
Mass Meeting Of Government
Workers Held.
AN ORGANIZATION IS FORMED
Women Employees of Bureau of En-
craving and Printing Combine 10
influential Members OF National
Civic Federation Give Support.

Should the government Of the United
States be the model employer-nay, the
deal employer-of the country?
That it should be all this and more;
hat it should set the example and as
sume the leadership in promoting the
Welfare of those who are broadly grouped
lnder the title the working classes
hat it should permit and encourage the
,rganization OF the individual units in its
administrative machinery, was decisively
sffirmed at mass meeting held under the
loint auspices Of the women employees of
ne Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.
ne Wcmen's Bindery Union. and the Ma
.ional Civic Federation last evening.
Directly. the meeting was called TO bene-
Il the women employees Of the Bureau
4 Engraving and Printing. As the first
tep in the campaign Of betterment. or
.anization was made. Unionism was
made TO suppIant the vague and unhar-
7acnized protest and devious red tape"
nd "ponderous oficialdom" were threat
ned with vigorous attack.
Distinguished Gathering.
The auditorium OF the Public Library
vas packed 10 overlooking with girls i'm
1ued with the fighting spirit and bent
pom improving their social and economic
ermined and distinguished band OF
tomen gave the force Of their personality
md influence TO the meeting.
The New York and the District OF
Columbia branches of the National Civic
federation sent representatives. as did
iisO the American Federation Of Labor.
ne WOmen's Bindery Union. Local No. q,
and other societies.
Miss Anne Morgan. daughter Of J. Pier
Dont Morgan, Of New York; Mrs. Archi-
3ald Hopkins. OF New York: Mrs. Samuel
spencer, Mrs. Pinchot, Mrs. Richmond
Pearson Hobson, Mrs. Richard Vain
wright, Miss Maude Wetmore Mrs. A.
Lisner. Miss Elizabeth Marbury. Of New
York were among the women who sup
presence last night
Miss Helen Balenger is president OF the
Few organization. and the executive com
mittee viii be composed OF the Misses
Gertrude McNally. Edna Hardy, Graflln,
DANGER, and BirdsaH- The second meet
.ng of the union" viii be held next
Thursday night, when plans OF improve
ment will be formally outlined
The eaH TO organize came from those
eminently htted to give counsel. It was
drst sounded by Miss Elizabeth BIarbury.
play-broker OF New York. and one OF the
foremost business women OF the United
states; it was re-eChOed by Mrs. Archi-
bald Hopkins and by Mrs. Eva Mcdonald
Valesh. assistant editor Of the Federation
st. and it was given moral support from
al the wQFen Of the National Civic Fed
Grafton who were present.
There is no doubt that women should
combine, said Miss Marbury. 1T is
one Of the signs Of the times The selfish
young woman who looks 20 work only as
Il means Of support until she ventures
INTO matrimony may he apathetic in this
organization matter, bait she should be
made 70 realize that she is not only hurt
ng herself IN doing so. but is innictine
an injury on her fellow-workers. II may
be safely put down that this Young
woman is dreaming Of marriage as a
road TO luxury and leisure. and so far
from making her work a preparation for
wifehood and motherhood. regards II only
IS makeshift. to be laid aside entirely
when her lover leads her to the altar.
American Women Spoiled.
American men enjoy spelling their
women folk, but the time has come when
our women should call a halt The French
woman expects to do more work than
ever after the marriage tie is assumed 4,
certainly not less. The American man re-
vels in the thought that his wife can
devote herself TO the gayeties and luxu-
ries Of life. For you girls. the best a5-
vice is, make your work tell all along
the line"
To Mrs. Eva Mcdonald Valesh fell the
task OF outlining the present conditions
in what she called "the government
sweatshop," or the Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing. .,ne disclaimed any Inten-
ton OF antagonizing or OF attacking
those in charge OF the institution. In
fact. the officials were IN cordial SYM
pathy with any campaign Of improve
ment and the girls recognized this fact.
With the Taft administration a new
order OF things has been SEEN. said Mrs
Nalesh. There is no prejudice against
organization We know that under the
former administration strong feeling
was allowed TO percolate among officials
against any unionism among government
employees They were even denied the
right OF petition. and no complaint was
recognized that did not come through the
departmental heads. The right of peti-
ton has been restored without any for
mai order TO that effect We feel more
sure Of our ground.
we want to be honest about-this thing
and admit that the governments Is a good
employer. But we think il should he
more than this-we believe II should no
the ideal employer; for no stress Of com
petition furnishes anxious hours and no
necessity for strategic economy, which is
always felt by the private corporation
prevents i from recognizing our claims"
Mrs Valesh then spoke OF overcrowd
ing at the bureau; Of an inadequate locker
system; Of insanitary lunchrooms; of in
adequate wages paid out under a perni-
cious system.
For the first six months the girls are
paid SIS day; after that $50. But this
money Is paid, not by the government.
out by the man who works with the girl
at the plate machine; and against this
system. with all its implications. we pro-
test II must not be assumed that the
girls are working under conditions at all
comparable with those doing clerical
work The work is dirty. even filthy: ink
spatters about. and grease fairly oozes