United labor bulletin., 1909-11-05
eoMPERs' RETURN.
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members united.
The government now recognizes the
right of organization for all wage-work-
ers except servants and agricultural
laborers. The disabilities of these classes
the unions are striving to remove. The
laws in regard to sailors have been
amended in the last few years, giving
the men a larger liberty, in carrying out
union purposes.
This progress of trade unionism in
Germany, and its consequent beneficial
effects to large masses of the working
people. are in total violation of Socialist
party, gospel and dogma, as interpreted
by the old school of its leaders.
Poverty In Holland and Belgium.
Poverty such as exists in Belgium and
Holland can hardly be conceived by the
average dweller in an American city.
On seeing how the very poor live and
work in Brussels, Antwerp and Amster'
dam, one obtains view of the truth
that poverty has indeed most striking
differences of degree in its deprivations
and its struggles. In New York, even
dire poverty reckons its purchases IN
cents or nickels, and it looks forward 10
earning dollars; in Amsterdam, coins
circulate that equal in value fifth Oh
an American cent, and families suoslst
for a week on budget that the smallest
gold-piece might cancel.
Brussels has a rather large co-opera-
tive establishment organized by num-
ber of working people. Its headquarters
is the "Maison du Peuple." Whi'e e&'
amining the details of this coluntary Us
sociation of mutual assistance, mention
was made to me that district In Which
"home industry" was carried on was
close by. co-operator who was ac
acquainted in the neighborhood volun
teered to show our party how the dwell
ers in the house lived and gained their
living. We first went to particular
house with which our guide was best ac-
quainted and found it to be an Old one
but of substantial build. faucet IN the
alley to the building was the only sup
ply of water for all the occupants. we
mounted to the attic to find what we
had come to see. 1t was two small attic
rooms, the larger one about ten by elght
feet, the smaller room about eight pv
six, the only daylight to each room De-
ing admitted by a scuttle formed OF
single pane of glass. In the living room
were the wife, bright young woman
and four small children, with housed
pale and wasted faces. A bed, crlp'
cooking stove, cupboard, and lew Oh
other household effects, left little space
in which we could move. In the man
work-room, a tailor's table took up near
ly half the space; beside it was GRID
The rental for this attic space was Sz.oo
per month, the property being owned py
the city, which is soon to be torn down.
Formerly. the rental was $3.50. The
clothing of the family, especially OF the
children, was scant and of the least pos
sible cost.
Those in a position to know and
whose trustworthiness is unqueshoned'
declared that at least II per cent. Of
the industries of Belgium was being
carried on in the homes, in the bed
rooms of the workers of that country
and situated in much greater squalor
than had been shown me.
To leave this scene for the moment
and to take up others at Scheveningeh'
Hollands Atlantic City, few miles
from The Hague, our party, after puf-
chasing postal cards, had some taih
with two young saleswomen who were
in charge. These girls worked for four
gulden per week (s1.60), out of which
they paid their board 21a gulden, or 81
per week Their working hours were
from eight O'Clock in the morning until
ten at night, including Sundays. They
were neat in appearance, as they were
Obliged to be. They ate their breakfast
at home and, as they added, we are
not permitted to take time to eat any
thing from the moment we enter the
store at O'Clock in the morning until
we reach home about 80 in the even
ing Then we take supper and retire
for the night. We take some bread with
us from home and as we get a chance
we take a bite" They earned the cur
rent wages of salesgrls in such places
A great deal. not only of market pro
duce, but of goods to be delivered 10 'he
household, is hauled in Brussels anu
Antwerp by dogs and their human as
sistants In Antwerp the market-place
and its neighborhood the morning was
there was a pandemonium with the
barking of scores, yea, hundreds OF dogS
weary of their burdens and eVioehtis
protesting against their lot. The Bel
GUM law, in its benevolence, has takei
recognition of the dog as social factor
BEFORE the dog is permitted to be hitch
ed IN in a cart, he must have attained
certain height and weight vi cours'
no such benevolent consideration pro
tects the women.
Hollands statesmen are discussing th'