The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-17
Chief Launderer Sees Danger
in New Laws Being
Enacted
CONCERTED ACTION IS
URGED AS PROTECTION
National Convention Opens at
Jefferson With About 1000
Members of Association
Ia Attendance.

man has arisen within the last two
or three years Was the declaration OF T
President Edwin $. Purdy in his an
nual address before the Laundrymen's
National Association which he read +
Monday morning when nearly 1000 +
mem bers assembled in twenty seventh I
annual session at the jefferson hotel, /
Il refer he declared. TO the ten
dency OF legislatures to pass laws /
limiting the ages of laundry employees. t
prescribing the number of working /
hours, the restriction of machinery, +
L.reRulattons- -hAgiene-And- general :
working conditions in laundries and
other places OF female employment. 1t /
! Is but safe to say that while some of I
this legislation Is entirely wholesome /
and proper In the interests of public |
health. there Is, nevertheless, consider /
able danger that such legislative |
enactments will at times go beyond !,
their original intentions. Ill-advised |
| legislation Will result to the detriment
and financial injury OF every industry
concerned There is but one way to
protect ourselves against such adverse !
| legislation, and that is by concerted
and united action on the part OF ALI
the laundrymen within each particn-
/ lar State OF the Union We have
quite a few examples of the truth of
this statement for laundrymen of the
States Of Illinois. New York, Ohio and
! perhaps a few others have in that
manner been able 10 prevent I'M
reasonable and injurious legislation in
those respective States.
''If it were for no other reason
i than to be ready for such an emer-
gsncy. am of the opinion that every
/ laundryman belonging to State as
sociation would be well repaid by the
protection thus afforded to his fnan-
cial interests.
Prices Maintained.
General laundry conditions during
the past year based upon personal
! observation have been above the aver
age, but were at times characterized
! by unusual fluctuations. Steady prices
| on the whole have been maintained,
and some slight advances in certain
localities, especially on collars and
/ household linen; but. unfortunately,
II should also be noted that breaks
have occurred in certain localities. 1t
! Is generally conceded that laundry
| expenses are steadily rising and are
| materially affecting the profits OF our
1 business. We. as an association, are
! precluded from entering into any
proposition establishing prices to be
charged for laundry work, State as
sociations are similarly situateds and
local associations
1T Is. however. within the scope OF
this association as an educational fac
tor to impress upon our members the
fact that prices for laundry work must
be rigidly In accord with the prin-
eiples OF the cost OF production. Bull
letins upon this particular subject
have from time to time been distrib-
! uted among our members. and while
! af mo Va ar
an unnecessary expense, IT was the
Judgment OF your officers that only
by continuous hammering away at
this topic those of us who may be
weak might be shown the error OF our
ways.
Need for Education.
There Is still greater need for a
campaign of education among the
general public with reference to a
proper understanding Of the modern
steam laundry business.
We are all aware OF the remark
able lack OF knowledge on the part
OF the people, and also. unfortunate
ly, on the part OF the public press
whether Intentionally or not, concern
ing the real status OF the steam iaun-
dry OF the present time and the great
improvements which have been made
in the laundry business. 1t IL need
less for me to state that such lack
! Of understanding results first in
disinciination to patronize the laun-
dries; second, in the lack OF discrimi-
nation between sanitary and unsani-
tary establishments. and. third, In un-
| justly blaming the iaunderer for
! things over which he has no control.
! Ii the proper knowledge could be
| conveyed 10 the genera. public it is
| therefore. logical To say that Taun-
| dries would be more generally pa
| tronlzed. filthy and unsanitary wash.
| cries could no longer successfully
| compete with US. and, to use we'll
known expression of our brother from
/ Connecticut. The iniquities of the
manufacturer would be no longer WIS.,
tied upon the launarymen."
Wants Permanent Quarters.
Il President Purdy announced the es-
+ tabhshfnent of q permanent business
office FOR the association, and In doing
H SO said:
H The laundry industry is continually
1! evolving from year 10 year, large in
i Nestments running into thousands of
/ collars are constantly made. and IL
Is but fair Ia SAY that II the present
/ strides are maintained, the laundry
business Will ultimately be recognized
as one of the really big enterprises OF
/ the country.=1 have in mind the es-
adjustment of permanent business
office tor this association, to he in
charge of regular employe or OFF,
Ger, as the ease may he. Such plan
would do away with the yearly chang
ing and shifting of our office records
and would provide headquarters for
the accumulation OF literature of In
terest to the laundry industry, and
would. in time. become clearing
house for much useful knowledge and
information concerning our business
1 The convention WAS opened with
7 prayer at 10 A. M. by Rabbi r. N.
4 Calisch. Of Beth Ahabah Synagogue
4 Then followed a welcoming address
by Mayor Richardson and the response,
!. by Mr. Maurice g. Long. NJ Norfolk,
Committees Announced.
During a short recess taken to al
low the ladies and visitors to retire
(Conttnued ON TcurtA PAgaA