New-York tribune., 1909-12-06
FOOD FOR STRIKERS
SCFFR4GISTS TREAT
WAIST MAKERS.
Mrs. Belmont the Hostess at
Mental Cheer Meeting IN
Hippodrome.

was " the cause of woman suffrage or
the strikers? 1t was hard TO tell. There
were many thousands there. members of
the Ladies' Shirt Waist Makers Union.
now striking. They We're the guests of
Mrs o. n. p. Belmont, at the Hippo
drome. yesterday afternoon. Whether
the full forty thousand were there pres
ent is questioned, as nobody counted.
But there was enthusiasm, and there
We're speeches-long speeches-on a va
riety OF subjects
The meeting was held under the
auspices Of the Political Equality A.so-
citation. Of which Mrs. Belmont is presi-
dent, in the interest of the strikers. so
the advance notices said Yet the trou-
bles Of the strikers occupied only a small
part OF the numerous speeches. The
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw took occasion
10 speak for "the cause'-that is, woman
suffrage. When William A Coakley, OF
the Central Federated Union, ventured
70 mention the strikers Mrs. Rose Pastor
Stokes took exception 10 what he said
and launched forth on a plea for So
cialism.
anu the elFlhefS S9l tnrOuSn u all
hours OF it. A smile went around when
some suffragist waxed enthusiastic. but
the talk was too lofty for most of them.
There were guests present, too, invited
10 hear the grievances OF the strikers.
Some stayed an hour. some three. but
few began at the beginning and waited
for the bitter end.
IN MRS. BELMoNT'S BOX.
In Mrs. Belmont's private box were
Bishop Greer, Controller Metz, DR.. Will
lam d. Maxwell. DIR. Thomas Darling
ton. the Rev. DR.. z NJ. Stires and Mon
signor Lavelle, representing Archbishop
Farley. Others were invited. Mrs. Bel
mont told them not TO answer her with
out realizing that what they might say
would be made public from the strikers
platform. Their answers, duly read by
the chairman OF the meeting. the Rev.
DR.. John H. Melish, rector Of the Church
of the Holy Trinity. Brooklyn. indicated.
according 10 the chairman, the utter in
difference OF public officials to the claims
of the women.
Mayor Mcclellan braved the threat
not interested in forty thousand women
on strike and expected 20 be out OF town.
District Attorney Jerome expressed the
same indifference. e L. Winthrop, jr.,
president of the Board Of Education.
said he would try 10 be present, but
doubted very much whether il would be
convenient. and so on.
William a. Coakley was the first
speaker. He said that the strikers de-
served the sympathy Of rich and poor
in demanding better pay and working
conditions, but he hoped the day was
not far distant when there would be no
further need of strikes. as the interests
of labor and capital were identical
REBUFF FROM MRS. STOKES.
Mrs. Rose Pastor Stokes followed say
ing:
Comrade CoakIey gives himself the lie
IL you will, when he says that the interests
philosophy Of Karl Marx has made clear TO
me where the struggle lies, not through the
fault of any man, but because there are two
great clasSes-those who own and control
the land and industries of a country. and
those who apply 10 them for work-between
those who are exploiters and we who are
exploited.
Then Dr. Shaw took the platform.
After outlining the status OF women in
the world to-day as compared with for
mer generations, she emphasized the
need of organization among the sex and
the necessity of having the ballot 10 OBJ
tain their rights She said:
We want no man 10 decide for US where
we are TO work We want no man 20 de-
eide for US where are 10 live and under
what conditions or what We are 10 do. We
want 20 decide for ourselves what We shall
do where we shall work and under what
conditions we shall work. How are we go
ing 10 accomplish it2
What stand for IS equal rights 10 all
and special privileges 10 none.
I say thai the interests OF one class OF
people are never safe in the hands of an
other class OF people, and | also say that
the interests OF woman are never safe in
the hands of man, and the interests OF man
are never safe in the hands of woman.
President Taft said in San Francisco: mo
class OF men are altruistic enough 10 gov
ern another class OF men without their con-
sent" II this is true. IL is certainly true
that no class of men can govern. or are
wise enougo 10 govern, class Of women
without their consent.
When the women of this city go TO Al
bany and demand Of the Legislature an
eight hour day and equal pay We should go
there backed up by the power Of the ballot
box. and II is only through the strength OF
that mower that We can ever accomplish
ANYTHING When the women Of this city go
! 10 Albany and ask for sanitary conditions
live in. our demand should have behind il
| tbe strength and power that the ballot box
caD Give ms When official knows that
We have the power 10 put him out OF ONCE