New-York tribune., 1909-12-20
WOMEN TO RESCUE
HELP GIRL STRIKERS.
Mrs. Belmont and Mss Nor
gan on Ne1C Committee.

New legal machinery for aiding the pick
cts of the striking waist makers when ar
rested was set I'm motion Yesterday at
prolonged conference. which was attended
by Mrs. O. ii. p. Belmont. Miss Anne Nor
gan and other invited guests. In the
Womens Trade Union League building, No.
43 East 22d street. definite plan for
furnishing legal representation in the courts
and providing bail for the girls was adopt
ed. and il was approved by Mrs Belmont
and Miss Morgan. who then went home.
statement was issued. containing the
following:
II was reported by attorneys who have
investigated the conditions before the
magistrates that in many cases no Wit
nesses were present for the defence except
the persons charged with the offence, while
the employers always see that witnesses
for the prosecution are abundant Under
these circumstances great abuses are safe
ly practised by the employers and their
hired guards. and there is virtually no re
course as we'll as no possibility OF enectiVe
defence against false charges.
\ committee of women was formed 70
deal with this matter composed of Mrs; 20, y:
II. p. Belmont. Miss Anne Morgan. Miss
Helen Marot, Mrs. Frank III. Cothren, MISS
Mary. L. Dreier, Miss Violet Pike, Miss
Woerishoffer and Mrs Eva Mcdonald Va
Iesh. They will send out a cali for volun-
teer watchers to keep in the neighbOrhood
of the pickets Of the Shirtwaist Makers
ing unlawful and unwarranted arrests and
TO be ready TO testify on behalf of law
abiding and orderly pickets. Members OF
the union on strike will not be accepted,
and watchers Will be strictly forbidden 10
take any part in the picketing. The COM
mittee makes special request for Volun-
teers from the young men of ColumDia,
young women of Barnard, members of the
Young Mems Christian Association and all
citizens interested in fair play orderly
behavior and just conditions.
strike pickets are to report, and who is to
have charge of them, is an organizer of the
American Federation of Labor The legal
defence of the strike pickets will be in
charge Of Miles NJ Dawson. who will as
sign corps of volunteer lawyers to the
police courts.
The officers of the Women's Trade Union
League yesterday arranged for big
demonstration Of girl strikers in honor Of
five women pickets who served five days
each in the workhouse and are to be
brought back this morning on the Black
wells Island boat.
In the course of a sermon at the Free
Synagogue yesterday morning. on The
Synagogue and the Workingman, Rabbi
stephen :. Wise spoke on the strike. He
SAID.
What thoughtful and unbiased employer
of labor really believes that the status of
The worker is not best protected by labor
organizations? Short of organization. there
is no way in which the workers can bring
about permanent condition which shall
assure them wages and hours that shall
be Just and reasonable.
AS long d trace unions are contested
ana fought every inch Of the way, so long
viii they continue to resort 10 every kind
and manner OF tactics in order to main
tain themselves. But If il should come to
pass, as there ought to be, a general recog
milton of the functions of the trade unions
in the social order, then / believe the evils
of trade unionism, such as thev are. would
be mininized, and the benefits of every
kind conferred by il would be magnitied.
With respect 10 the so-called lawlessneSs
OF organized labor. the heads of the SO
called labor trusts defy the law. and will
IN the end obey scrupulousiy. on the
other hand. the United States courts rem
der decision with respect to the dissolu
lion Of the lawbreaking trusts, and the
heads Of the latter profess 10 bow in
aCquiescenCe, and Immediately retain the
shrewdest legal minds of the nation in
ordeT to evade and circumvent the law
without technically violating it.