Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
Social Leaders Abandoning
Joys to Aid Strikers

FTER all, the whole worlds akin,
~ and no more striking example of it
. can be found than in the alliance
which society has made with the humble
shirt waist maker.
From the fashiopable ladies. whose
range of vision does not ordinarily get
down to those who must toll for their
living, has come unexpected aid for the
girls who now all over the country are
differing with their employers as to what
hours they should work, what their wage
should be, and the kind of conditions
that should surround them.
1t is not alone by giving money and
by making speeches that the members of
the first families are testifying an interest
in tlfe fight being made by the girls,
but they are carrying their craftsmanship
so far as to run counter to the law
The novel spectacle OF a society woman
being arrested because she aided in
picketing has been one of the astonishing
developments of the last few weeks.
At the basis of the interest of society
women in the fight of their sisters for
better working conditions and Bigger
reward financially IS the desire to boo It
along the cause of Womans suffrage. This
propaganda has undoubtedly had the eff
feet o. bringing close together women
of all classes
The social elect recognize that in strikes
of this kind Is afforded an admirable
chance to cultivate relations that could
not be brought about otherwise, and
therefore in every strike of the shirt
waist makers some women of prominence
are in the foreground.
Mrs. o. H. p. Belmont did not con-
slider it beneath her dignity to play a
prominent part while the strike was on
in New York. and by speeches and contri-
buttons of money she did what she could
to add to the courage of the girls who
were standing out, Nine. Nordica, who.
in addition to being great singer. also
has an assured position in New York
society. lent her aid.
Miss Inez Mllholand of Minnesota,
who is student at Vassar and has all
the advantages of wealth and position,
has been giving just as close attention
to the struggle though her own in
come hinged on it's outcome.
Mrs. Belmont has not confined her ac-
tivittes to New York. She has visited
both. Philadelphia and Boston to add the
force Of her ability and experience
Mrs. Francis Squire Potter OF the Uni
versty of Minnesota. is another prom
inent woman who is lending valuable as
sistance. She is professor of English
recognized in Der own state as a leader
of thought.
The national leader of the Women's
Trade Union League, Mrs. Raymond Rob-
ms, president. need not, from financial
standpoint. give herself concern as to
whether the girl who makes a shirt waist
gets 10 cents or II, for her own means
are sufficient to make her immune from
questions of wages, vet she is in the fore
front of the struggle. making pilgrimages
tn h N
she can to help along the work.
1t Is no surprise that Mrs. Rose Pastor
Stokes should bel taking a part in the
warfare. for she is herself sprung from
the class for. which she is now battling.
The marriage of the wealthy Mr.. Stokes
to the Jewish cigarmaker was ro-
nance, and since their union both have
spent a large part of their time and
means doing what they could to help
along the needy.
Mrs. Stokes is an excellent speaker
and never fails to get the respectful at
tention of the girls in every instance
where she takes the platform.
Mrs George w. Biddle and her daugh-
ter, Miss Constance Riddle, both wearing
one of the most famed names in Phila-
delphia's conservative society, have been
attending meetings of the strikers and
giving them every possible aid. Miss
Biddle had the experience -of being ar
rested for aiding in the picketing work.
In this misfortune she had the sym
patty of Miss Fanny Travis Cochran,
member of one of the most aristocratic
families of the city of Philadelphia, who
was taken to the station house.
The arrest made the strikers particu-
larry jubilant. since, in their opinion, 1t
proved what they have always claimed.
that there is overeagerness on part of
the police department to curb the just
efforts of the strikers in using arguments
to keep the girls not belonging to the
union from helping to break the strike.
Miss Cochran was doing picket duty,
wearing a picket's badge, in front of an
esta blishment at 9Th and Arch streets
She was accompanied by Rosie Gratz,