The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-12-24
DELEGATES
AWAKENED
BY the Powerful Plea of
Mrs. Raymond Rob-
bins in Behalf of Her
Sex.
Continued From Page l. }

e
need of overtime was the statement
made by Mr.. Rtchie that the election
committee the commissioners of Cook
'ounty named said they were always in
hurry for the boXqs, not knowing
when the elections in Cook county
would come. 1t is bad enough for the
women to be denied vote. but if in
addition they are told to work overtime
at the rate of four cents a box. in order
that the mon may have them to cast
their votes, | think it is too much
On the strength of this petition.
Judge Tuthill issued an injunction
against the enforcement of the law, de
Gliding it unconstitutional. and today
women are working sixteen hours day
in the sweat shops or Chicago under
the ruling of a Judge, who during his
official career of over fifty years, has
never been asked to work longer than
eight hours day. What chance for re-
election would he have if the working
women of Illinois could vote?
There is one other picture of this
box factory | would like to leave with
you, because it illustrates the danger of
our time: The Women's Trade Union
League of Chicago arranged an open air
meeting before the factory. Miss Mary
Macarthur spoke from the carriage, and
as the 600 young girls came out of the
factory, we tried to meet them and tell
them the story. That was in October,
but we had winter weather in October
by mistake. The thermometer had gone
down to twenty nine degrees. Coming
out of one of the doors was a child
not as high as my shoulder, with a
skirt of thin material that reached Just
below her knees, and thin black jacket
pinned at the collar. | asked her to
come over and hear Miss Macarthur
speak. She looked at me, and said, in
the most pitiful way, as though repeat
ing by note, eve are contented, we are
contmted." co." l said, don't say that
ever What makes you contented, what
are you earning?" She said she was
earning five cents an hour. Mr.. Richie
stated somewhat proudly that he was
giving cents an hour, yet that child
stood holding in her hand the power for
tho greatest national disaster in our
country. What trade is secure against
what machinery has yet been invented
that does not ultimately 90 to the
woman and child? OF every latest in
vention you will see great placards and
signs stating that any woman, or girl
or child can run that machinery.
Five cents an hour. She is your
competitor; she is our competitor; she
| is a danger to our nation, and there are
only two ways open, one to bring her
into our organized labor movement, and
YOU should bring her into your organl-
cations and protect her through the
laws of our country We need for the
women of our country, legislation; we
are entitled to it by the decisions of
the supreme court of the United States
"a most unusual backing for the state
ment. Judge Brewer declared that men
and women were differently made. l
am glad Judges do know that. But on
tho strength of that knowledge. Off
cially stated the United States in its
various stae legislatures, is entitled to
enact laws for the health and mother
hood of our people.
/ But though we separate ourselves IN
to our womens' groups, we know our
kinship with you, and because we rea-
lie that our young women and girls IN
orr unions must understand the entire
story-not only the story of their own
group-we try to bring them into re-
lationship with you. The Women $
Trade Union League of Chicago issued
set of questions and offered prize
for the best answers given. The ques-
lions pertained to the extraordinary
contempt proceedings against Brothers
Gompers. Mitchell and Morrison; these
questions were answered by many OF
the girls. and those of the prize winners
were printed 1t helped to bring before
these young workers the possibility OF
the great story of the age in which we
are living. The fact which brought out
those contempt proceedings mean lead
ership. II has been leadership on the
part of MFR. Gompers, Mr.. Morrison and
Mr.. Mitchell, and it is the high faith
that falls not by the way. 1t reminds
me of the story told of another time
and another struggle. In Illinois were
the first and last martyrs to the cause
of slavery-Elijah Lovejoy and Abra-
ham Lincoln. When Elijah Lovejoy
pleaded for the slaves his press was de
stroyed, he was murdered and his body
was thrown in ditch. Thirty years
later grave was given him, and sixty
wears later the State of Illinois and
the people of Alton placed statue to
the memory of the man who had the
courage to say: "As long as American