The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-08-06
EMPLOYERS
BRUTALITY
Girl Tells Conditions Un.
der Which Hat Trim
mers Must Labor.

There is pathos and tragedy and cour
age and fortitude in every line and ev
cry man and woman who wants to see
the conditions under which women must
toll, lghtened and life made brighter,
should resolve to do all they can to help
theUnited Hatters strike is NOT
Contrary to reports recently sent out,
the hatters in their strike is NOT
settled. Martin Lawlor, the General
Secretary of the organization, is auth
ority for the statement that there are
still so shops fighting the Hatter's un-
ion. About 25 manufacturers signed
the agreement by which the conflict was
terminated in their shops and press dis
patches Immediately gave the news that
the strike was over. Mr.. Lawlor in
letter of recent date says: "They have
given it out that the strike was Off
This, of course, was done for the pur-
pose of stopping any donations (which
might be made to our organization and
in hope that they would be able to
starve us into submission, but the fight
is still on and is going to be continued
until all the manufacturers who broke
away on the l4th of January are again
doing business with our organization"
Unions who have contributed to the
support of this band of men and women
who are fighting last ditch fight for
the principles of unionism should do SO
again, if it is only a few dollars; un-
ions who up to the present time have
not contributed, should Immediately
do so. This fight must and will be won
if union men and women do their duty.
1t may be the turn of your organization
neXt.-Ed)
I am a hat trimmer. / was born
in little mountain village of Rumania
Shortly after my father died,
and my mother sold what she had
and we two sailed for America. 1t took
a brave woman to start, without money
or a word of English, with young child
on such a journey, but mother was a
brave woman. She was determined to
give me what she had never had her
self-an education and a chance in life.
You couldn't get an education or a
chance in Rumania.
For a few years everything went WELL
We lived in a little flat in Brooklyn
next door to hat factory, where my
mother got work. As she was young
then and quick with her fingers, she
could make good wages and kept me in
school | remember her joy the day 1
brought home my first reader. She
took the book in both hands, turned it
upside down and over and over. "You.
you!' she kept repeating. "My little
Rachel, you! What would your bless
ed father sayl A schoolar my little
Rachel, scholar!" And then she put
her head in her hands and cried long
time. After that night, as soon as she
came home from the factory, | had to
read aloud my morning lesson.
A slack season came and for weeks and
weeks there was very little work. When
he factory commenced running full
time again, we were behind both with
our rent and grocery bill.
| was eleven years old then and large
| for my age and like all children, anx-
ious to go to work. So when mother
told me would have to stop school for
little while and go to work in the
factory ! was the happiest youngster in
the block. For six months | sat on a
low stool by mothers side making the
flat bows that go on mems hats. 1t
was easy work, but the long hours in
badly aired room made me sick, and |
was glad enough to go back to school.
One year and half of study, and then
we got behind with the rent a second
time, and my little earnings were again
needed. So on my thirteenth birthday
| left school and became a hat trimmer
for good. How my mother fought ag-
ainst this! She begged the boss tor ex'
ira work TO take to her home;
she tried at night to do the neighbors'
washing, and even crowded our small
rooms with two girl boarders. She
fretted herself sick over my leaving
achool. Often in the night would hear
her praying in Hebrew that God would
succor His children.
Thirteen IS young to stop study, and
! il it had not been for mother | should
have forgotten the little | had learned
in school. But she never let me forget.
No matter how tired | was or how long
her day, each night | had to read aloud
while she sat with hands folded in her
lap and strained look on her face, try
ing to follow the English words.
She was not as strong as she had been
when we left Rumania. Hat trimming
is bad for the nerves, and after eleven
years-years of stitching, stitching
stitehing -poor mother gave out. She
had had trouble for some time with
swapping thread and breaking needles
but the thought of quitting work had
Inever entered her mind Then she got
ha. ly.4 Il